About St. John the Baptist Catholic Church · Milpitas, California
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church is the oldest Catholic parish in Milpitas, California, established as a mission in 1866 and elevated to parish status in 1877. Originally founded to serve the Portuguese immigrant community from the Azores, the parish today sits in the heart of Silicon Valley and serves a vibrant, multicultural congregation with Mass celebrated in English, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. The current church on South Main Street was dedicated on June 27, 1971, replacing an earlier wood-frame church and a second church with a tall steeple built in 1901. The parish campus also includes St. John the Baptist K-8 School, a rectory, the historic Imperio chapel, a Catholic Education office, bell tower, parish hall, and the historic St. John the Baptist Cemetery (established 1898) on Piedmont Road.
- Established
- 1877
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Monsignor Wilfredo S. Manrique
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist is a thriving, multilingual parish in the heart of Silicon Valley where English, Tagalog, and Vietnamese Masses, weekday devotions, and a 24-hour Adoration Chapel provide daily opportunities for prayer. The parish combines deep historic roots — it is the oldest Catholic community in Milpitas, founded in 1877 for Portuguese Azorean immigrants — with active ministries, faith formation for all ages, a K-8 Catholic school, and the annual Parish Fiesta around the June 24 feast of St. John the Baptist. Members are called to active discipleship through stewardship, welcoming, worship, and service to the wider border community.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00pm
- By appointment — call the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel open 24 hours with personal access code (visit the parish office to obtain one)
Welcome to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
St. John the Baptist is a Catholic community in Milpitas, California located in the heart of Silicon Valley. The parish serves a vibrant and diverse community, comprised of a multitude of talents and all working for the glory of God. The parish extends a warm "Welcome Home" to visitors and offers Mass in English, Tagalog, and Vietnamese to serve its multicultural flock.
- Address: 279 S. Main St., Milpitas, CA 95035
- Phone: (408) 262-2546
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 9:00am–12:30pm and 1:30pm–5:00pm
- After-hours line (Funerals / Anointing of the Sick): (408) 966-4612
Parish History
St. John the Baptist is the oldest Catholic parish in Milpitas, originally established as a mission in 1866 and formally established as a parish in 1877 to serve the large Portuguese immigrant population from the Azores. The first steeple wood-frame church stood near the middle of what is now the parking lot from around 1870 to 1900; after it burned down, a second church with a tall steeple was built on the same site in 1901. In the late 1960s the second church was deemed unsafe, and the present church was constructed on the other side of the property facing Abel Street and dedicated on June 27, 1971.
- 1866 — Established as a mission
- 1877 — Became a parish
- c. 1870–1900 — Original wood-frame church with steeple
- 1901 — Second church with tall steeple built after first burned
- Late 1960s — Second church deemed unsafe
- June 27, 1971 — Current church dedicated
- 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake severely damaged the old parish hall
- Today the campus includes K-8 school, rectory, church, Imperio, Catholic Education office, bell tower, hall, and cemetery
The Imperio and Portuguese Heritage
The only historic building still standing on the property is the small chapel-like structure called an "Imperio" (pronounced "Em-peddy-oh" by long-time Milpitans). It was an integral part of every Portuguese Catholic church and was primarily used during the Feast of the Holy Ghost — an annual fiesta featuring a parade down Main Street and the selection of a queen, whose crown was placed inside the Imperio for the day.
- Wood-frame building on the northern side of the property
- Central to Portuguese Catholic tradition
- Used for Feast of the Holy Ghost celebrations
Mission, Vision & Strategic Plan
The parish is called to active discipleship — to live the values taught by Jesus Christ through acts of faith, hope, and charity. Members seek to grow by remembering the past, celebrating the present, and believing in the future; strengthen the parish through stewardship and healthy finances; witness through service to the border community and the world; worship through creative, vibrant liturgy; welcome diversity; and share their faith with all generations of spiritual seekers.
- Growing — unafraid to grow
- Strengthening — strong sense of stewardship
- Witness — service to border community and world
- Worship — creative, vibrant liturgy
- Welcoming — diverse, inclusive, collaborative
- Word — share faith with all generations
Parish Staff
The parish is shepherded by Monsignor Wilfredo S. Manrique (Pastor since 2018) and Father Victor Trinidad (Parochial Vicar), supported by Sr. Myrna Arcegono, A.R., a Faith Formation Director & Office Manager, a Music Director, Administrative Assistant Monica Gonzalez, Justin Cortez, Ed Sacramento, and the principal and vice principal of St. John School.
- Msgr. Wilfredo S. Manrique — Pastor
- Fr. Victor Trinidad — Parochial Vicar
- Sr. Myrna Arcegono, A.R.
- Faith Formation Director & Office Manager
- Music Director
- Monica Gonzalez — Administrative Assistant
- Justin Cortez
- Ed Sacramento
- St. John School — Principal
- St. John School — Vice Principal
St. John the Baptist School (K-8)
The St. John's complex includes a parish K-8 Catholic school, supported by its own principal and vice principal and integrated into the broader campus alongside the rectory, church, Imperio, Catholic Education office, bell tower, and parish hall.
- Catholic K-8 school on the parish campus
- Led by a Principal and Vice Principal
Faith Formation & Sacraments
The parish's Faith Formation Director oversees catechism and sacramental preparation. Inquiries about Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Funerals can be directed to the parish office.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Communion / Catechism
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Funerals
- Sacrament of Reconciliation
Annual Parish Fiesta
St. John's signature community event is the Annual Parish Fiesta, held around the June 24 feast day of St. John the Baptist. For 2026 the fiesta is scheduled June 21–24, beginning with the first day of a Triduum and concluding with the Feast Day Mass, a procession around the church parking lots, and a Fiesta Dinner in the Parish Hall. The tradition carries forward the parish's deep Portuguese Catholic heritage, which historically featured a parade down Main Street and the crowning of a queen during the Feast of the Holy Ghost.
- 2026 dates: June 21–24, 2026
- Triduum evenings at 7:00pm
- June 24 — Feast Day Mass 7:00pm
- Procession around the church parking lots
- Fiesta Dinner in the Parish Hall
- Feast Mass Sponsorships and Mass Intentions offered
Live Streaming & Online Presence
Parishioners who cannot attend in person can watch the 10:00am Sunday Mass and the 7:00pm First Friday Mass via livestream on Facebook and YouTube.
- 10:00am Sunday Mass livestreamed
- 7:00pm First Friday Mass livestreamed
- Available on Facebook and YouTube
St. John the Baptist Cemetery
The parish owns and maintains St. John the Baptist Cemetery on Piedmont Road in Milpitas, established in 1898 — one of the oldest continuously used Catholic cemeteries in the area.
- Location: Piedmont Road, Milpitas, CA
- Established 1898
- Owned and maintained by the parish
Contact the Parish
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, with a lunch closure from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, and is closed on weekends. For after-hours emergencies involving funerals or Anointing of the Sick, a separate emergency line is provided.
- Phone: (408) 262-2546
- After-hours line: (408) 966-4612
- Address: 279 S. Main St., Milpitas, CA 95035
- Office hours: M–F 9:00am–12:30pm and 1:30pm–5:00pm
- Closed Saturday and Sunday
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Wilfredo S. Manrique2018 – Present
Current pastor