About St. Joseph · Clarksburg, California
Saint Joseph Catholic Church is a serene, red-brick mission-style parish set among vineyards and orchards along the Sacramento River in Clarksburg, California. Founded by Portuguese and Azorean pioneers in 1893, it remains a spiritual home rooted in hard-work, family, and the traditions of the Holy Spirit Festival. The parish offers daily Mass, weekend liturgies in English and Spanish, and a wide range of ministries from faith formation to a large food-outreach program. Whether you are drawn by the beauty of the church, the friendly community, or the call to serve, St. Joseph’s welcomes you.
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Santiago Raudes
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento
Why belong here
St. Joseph’s offers a peaceful riverside setting, a warmly multicultural community with deep Portuguese-Azorean roots, daily and weekend Mass, robust outreach through the Food Locker and Mobile Mall, and active parish life from Bible study to the annual Festa do Espírito Santo.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
History
St. Joseph’s was founded in 1893 by Portuguese Catholics, the vast majority from the Azores, on the banks of the Sacramento River. The original church stood in front of the present location. After levee work forced relocation, the current red-brick church was built in 1924 with lumber from the first church, and the 1893 I.D.E.S. Chapel was moved to the property in 1941 to become the parish hall. The parish marked its 100th anniversary in 1993.
Architecture & Sacred Art
The church adapts California Mission architecture with a red-brick exterior that looks surprisingly recent. Inside, visitors find statues, sacred oil paintings, and fine woodworking throughout the ambo, pews, and altar area.
- St. Joseph Memorial Walk with fourteen Stations of the Cross
- Historic Saint Elizabeth of Portugal statue
- Replica of Raphael’s Transfiguration
- Painting of Veronica showing the veil to the Blessed Mother
- Image of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Ministries & Outreach
The parish organizes its ministries around liturgical life, outreach, parish life, and prayer life.
- Liturgical: Adoration, Altar Servers and Ushers, Bereavement, Bible Study, Children’s Catholic Faith Formation, Choir/Music Ministry, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers & Lectors, Gratia Continua
- Outreach: Bishop Gallegos Home Liaison, Food Locker, Mobile Mall
- Parish Life: Memorial Bricks, SJP Library, St. Joseph Parish Social Club
- Prayer Life: St. Joseph Women’s Group
Sacraments
St. Joseph’s provides the full range of ordinary parish sacraments and sacramental preparation.
- Baptism
- Reconciliation
- First Communion
- Confirmation
- Holy Matrimony
- Sacrament of the Sick
Annual Festa do Espírito Santo
For more than a century the Freeport/Clarksburg Festa has taken place each Trinity Sunday. The day begins with a procession from the I.D.E.S. Hall to St. Joseph’s Church, where a young girl representing Saint Isabel is crowned during Mass. The procession returns to the hall for a traditional meal of Sopas e Carne, and festivities continue through the afternoon.