St. Joseph

Our Story

St. Joseph Parish traces its roots to the first Catholic church built in Mountain View in 1867 — a small white wooden chapel erected with funds gathered by Rev. Joseph Bixio, S.J., of Santa Clara on land donated by John Sullivan. The present church on Hope Street was built in 1905 on land donated by the Castro family (heirs of Mariano Castro's 1802 Spanish land grant), after Rev. John J. Cullen became the first resident pastor of Mountain View in 1901. The 1905 wooden church was destroyed by fire in 1928 and rebuilt in 1929 as the Gothic-style church parishioners know today. The parish's territory once stretched from San Francisco Bay to Skyline Ridge, and four daughter parishes (St. Martin's Sunnyvale, St. Aloysius Mayfield, St. Nicholas Los Altos, and St. Athanasius Mountain View) grew out of St. Joseph's.

Parish Mission

The parish states its mission as: 'A Catholic community of faith-filled parishioners living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, uniting people of many cultures in loving service to our brothers and sisters.'

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry

The parish offers formation in English and Spanish for children, youth, and adults. Children in grades 1–5 attend Sunday sessions that begin at the 10:00 AM Mass; First Eucharist preparation is a two-year program typically begun in 2nd grade. Middle School Youth Ministry meets Thursdays 7:30–8:45 PM; the High School Youth Ministry schedule is set annually. Adult OCIA meets Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 PM in the Parish Conference Room (first session September 24, 2025). The Faith Formation Office is led by Erika Underwood (English) and Robert Quijano (Spanish / Youth / Choir).

• 1st–5th Grade Sunday Faith Formation — begins at the 10 AM Mass
• First Eucharist Preparation (2-year, starting in 2nd grade)
• Confirmation Preparation for teens (2-year, traditionally in 8th grade); Saturdays 9:00–11:00 AM in Conference Room 1
• Middle School Youth Ministry — Thursdays 7:30–8:45 PM
• High School Youth Ministry — schedule TBD
• Adult OCIA — Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 PM
• Registration fee $75/child (Sunday Sessions); $75 OCIA; $100 OCIA retreat

Becoming Catholic (OCIA)

The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) — formerly RCIA — is the parish's process for adults and older children (7+) seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. Sessions are held on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM in the parish conference room and walk inquirers through Pre-Catechumenate, Catechumenate, Rite of Election, and Mystagogy. The Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist) are received at the Easter Vigil. Bilingual registration is available; English inquiries go to Erika Underwood, Spanish inquiries through the Parish Office.

• Pre-Catechumenate (Period of Inquiry)
• Rite of Initiation
• Catechumenate
• Rite of Election
• Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil
• Mystagogy

Sacraments

Information and preparation for all the major sacraments is available on the parish website, with requirements clearly spelled out for parents, godparents, and adult candidates.

• Baptism — Infants (0–6): Saturday 10:00 AM; Baptism Prep Class in English (2nd Monday, 6:45 PM) and Spanish (3rd Saturday, 9:00 AM); Godparents must be 16+, baptized, confirmed, practicing Catholics
• First Reconciliation — preparation through Faith Formation
• First Eucharist — 2-year preparation; traditionally celebrated in 2nd grade
• Confirmation — 2-year preparation; traditionally celebrated in 8th grade
• Marriage — Marriage Preparation Inquiry Form; wedding dates confirmed by parish office; Marriage Prep Retreat/Workhop required, including Natural Family Planning intro
• Anointing of the Sick — available through the Parish Office
• OCIA — adult and child initiation process

Liturgical Ministries

The parish invites parishioners to serve in a variety of liturgical roles, with training provided in most cases.

• Altar Servers — grades 5 through high school
• Lectors / Proclamadores de la Palabra (English & Spanish)
• Eucharistic Ministers (Home Ministry) — confirmed and 16+, distributes Communion to the sick and homebound
• Ushers / Acomodadores
• Music Ministry / Ministerio de Música — choir, cantors, instrumentalists
• Voices of One – St. Joseph Choir — serves the Saturday 5:30 PM Mass; rehearses Monday evenings; contact [email protected]
• Art & Environment Ministry — 'Lilies of the Valley' (seasonal flowers and liturgical decor)

Devotions & Prayer

Beyond the regular Mass schedule, the parish keeps a steady rhythm of devotions in English and Spanish throughout the week.

• Novena to St. Joseph — Saturdays 3:00 PM (English)
• Jornada de Oración — first Saturday of the month, 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Spanish)
• Holy Rosary — Monday–Friday 6:30 PM; Saturday 11:00 AM; Sunday 12:00 PM (Spanish)
• Holy Rosary (Men) — 1st and 3rd Saturdays after the 7:00 PM Mass (Spanish)

Parish Staff

The parish team is led by the pastor and supported by a parochial vicar, retired priest, deacon, coordinators, and office staff.

• Rev. Fr. Engelberto G. Gammad, JCD — Pastor
• Rev. Fr. Noel Sanvicente, JCD — Parochial Vicar
• Rev. Fr. Thierry Geris — Retired (in residence)
• Dc. Oscar Godinez — Permanent Deacon
• Erika Underwood — Youth/Young Adult Coordinator & English Faith Formation Coordinator
• Robert Quijano — Spanish Faith Formation Coordinator / Youth / Music (Voices of One)
• Juan Berrios — Spanish Faith Formation
• Diane Wollants-Bayona — Business Manager
• Maria Godinez Trejo — Administrative Assistant
• Gabriel Valencia — Liturgical Musician
• Oscar Alarcon — Liturgical Musician

Contact & Visiting

The church is at 582 Hope Street, Mountain View, CA 94041. The Parish Office is next door at 580 Hope Street, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 1:30 PM to 7:30 PM (Monday by phone only). Visitors should ring the doorbell at the Parish Office building. The mailing address is P.O. Box 27, Mountain View, CA 94042. Phone: 650-967-3831. Fax: 650-969-3116.