About St. Joseph Parish / Old Mission San Jose · Fremont, California
St. Joseph Parish / Mission San José is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Oakland located at 43148 Mission Boulevard in Fremont, California. It is the spiritual successor to Mission San José, the fourteenth of the 21 Spanish missions founded in Alta California on June 11, 1797 by Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén. Today the parish complex includes the reconstructed 1985 adobe Mission Church (the Diocesan Shrine of St. Joseph), the 1965 Main Parish Church, the historic Mission San José Museum, an historic mission-era cemetery, and St. Joseph Catholic School, and serves a multilingual community with Masses in English, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Spanish.
- Established
- 1797 (mission) / 1853 (parish)
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Fr. Thi Van Hoang
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland
Why belong here
St. Joseph Parish offers a rare combination: an active, multilingual Catholic community (English, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Spanish Masses every Sunday) rooted in one of California's most historic mission sites. Parishioners can attend daily Mass in the reconstructed 1809 adobe Mission Church, pray before the Blessed Sacrament in a 24-hour Adoration chapel or Thursday Holy Hour with Vespers and Benediction, send their children to St. Joseph Catholic School (founded by the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose in 1960), and serve the broader Fremont community through the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, the Sr. John Marie's Pantry, the Prayer Team Ministry, and Pastoral Care to the homebound. The parish also gathers annually for the St. Joseph Conference, a year of Consecration to St. Joseph, and regular pilgrimages to the historic Mission grounds.
Mass times at St. Joseph Parish / Old Mission San Jose
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday to Friday 7:30 AM (Mission Church)
- By appointment: call Parish Office 510-656-2364
Adoration times
- Monday through Friday 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM in the Main Church Adoration Chapel
- 24-Hour Eucharistic Adoration following the Friday 8:00 AM Mass on First Fridays (begins after Mass, concludes with Benediction Saturday morning)
- Thursday Holy Hour 5:00 PM in the Main Church, followed by 6:00 PM Vespers with Benediction, then 7:00 PM Vietnamese Mass
History of Mission San José and St. Joseph Parish
Mission San José was founded on June 11, 1797 by Father Fermín Francisco de Lasuén on the site of the Ohlone village of Oroysom, the fourteenth of the 21 Spanish missions in Alta California. The missionaries introduced the Ohlone to farming, ranching, and trades; under Father Narciso Durán the mission's choir and 30-piece orchestra became famous throughout California. After Mexico's 1821 independence from Spain, the Secularization Act of 1833 stripped the missions of their lands, and in 1836 José Jesús Vallejo was appointed civil administrator — the mission declined and the native population was scattered. Following California statehood in 1850, a small portion of the original mission lands was returned to the Catholic Church, and in 1853 the site formally became St. Joseph Parish.
- 1797 — Mission San José founded June 11 by Fr. Fermín Francisco de Lasuén
- 1809 — Adobe and redwood Mission Church dedicated
- 1821 — Mexican independence; missions continue under Mexican rule
- 1833 — Secularization Act; 1836 Vallejo appointed civil administrator
- 1850 — California statehood; small land parcel returned to Catholic Church
- 1853 — Mission formally becomes St. Joseph Parish
- 1868 — Hayward Fault earthquake destroys adobe church and most buildings
- 1965 — New combination church-hall opens for the growing parish
- 1982 — Reconstruction of the 1809 adobe church begins; the 1869 wooden church is moved to San Mateo
- 1985 — Reconstructed adobe church completed; considered the most authentic of the California missions
- 2001–2002 — Museum building (former convento) seismically retrofitted
- 2023 — Major renovation of the 1965 main parish church completed
- 2024 — Bishop Michael C. Barber, S.J. designates the Mission Church as the Diocesan Shrine of St. Joseph
The Mission Church and Diocesan Shrine of St. Joseph
The 1985 Mission Church is an authentic adobe-and-redwood reconstruction of the 1809 original (walls 5 ft thick, 126 ft long, 30 ft wide, 24 ft high) with hidden modern steel seismic reinforcement and Sir Richard Menn as master craftsman and consultant. It is the Diocesan Shrine of St. Joseph, designated by Bishop Michael C. Barber, S.J. in 2024. The Mission is a California Registered Historical Landmark and the Mission and museum building are on the National Register of Historic Places; the surviving 1809 adobe west wing (the padres' convento) is the oldest standing building in Alameda County and now houses the Mission San José Museum. The mission-era cemetery adjoins the Mission Church. The City of Fremont has classified the Carriage House as a 'primary historic resource' and identified hundreds of 'landmark trees' on the property.
- An historic mission-era cemetery adjoins the Mission Church
- The Carriage House is a City of Fremont 'primary historic resource'
- Mission San José is frequently visited by 4th-grade California mission project classes; historical information packets are available
- Docent-led tours of the Mission grounds are offered; the grounds are open free of charge seven days a week
- Mission San José receives no sustaining support from any governmental agency; donations go to restoration, operation, and preservation
Clergy, Staff, and Parish Leadership
The parish is currently shepherded by Fr. Anthony Huong Le. He is assisted by two permanent deacons — Deacon Benjamin Lai and Deacon Dick Bayless (who also coordinates OCIA) — and is supported by Msgr. Manuel C. Simas as Pastor Emeritus. Lay staff include Gina Mehta (Business Manager), Sandra Hernandez (Parish Secretary), Donna Yap (Diocesan Shrine / Mission and Communications Coordinator), Ronald E. McKean (Director of Music Ministries), Helen Campbell (Pastoral Care Ministry), Grace Lichauco (Family of Faith Secretary), Nancy Flores-Mai (Director of Evangelization and Family of Faith), Aaron Loverro (Youth and Confirmation Coordinator), Ralph Martinez (Maintenance), and Laurie Lopez (Principal of St. Joseph School).
- Permanent Deacon: Deacon Benjamin Lai — [email protected], 510-656-2364
- Permanent Deacon / OCIA: Deacon Dick Bayless — [email protected], 510-656-2364
- Pastor Emeritus: Msgr. Manuel C. Simas — 510-656-2364
- Business Manager: Gina Mehta — [email protected]
- Parish Secretary: Sandra Hernandez — [email protected]
- Director of Music Ministries: Ronald E. McKean — [email protected], 510-656-1055
- Director of Evangelization and Family of Faith: Nancy Flores-Mai — [email protected], 510-657-0905
- Youth & Confirmation Coordinator: Aaron Loverro — [email protected], 510-657-0905
- Pastoral Care: Helen Campbell — [email protected], 510-795-7958
- Diocesan Shrine / Mission & Communications: Donna Yap — [email protected], 510-656-2364
- Principal, St. Joseph School: Laurie Lopez — [email protected], 510-656-6525
Sacraments and Devotions
In addition to daily and Sunday Mass, Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration, the parish celebrates Baptism, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and the OCIA / OCIA-for-children (OCIC) process for adult and child Christian Initiation. Devotions include a weekly Tuesday devotion to St. Joseph, monthly Devotion to St. Joseph on the first Wednesday at 7:00 PM, Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the first Friday at 8:00 AM, Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the first Saturday at 8:00 AM, Anointing of the Sick on the 19th of the month in the Chapel of Healing, and an annual parish-wide Consecration to St. Joseph culminating in the annual St. Joseph Conference.
- Baptism, Matrimony, and Anointing of the Sick available by arrangement through the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — 8:00 AM on the 19th of each month in the Chapel of Healing / Museum Chapel (live-streamed)
- Records of sacraments are handled by the parish office, not the mission
Faith Formation, School, and Youth Ministry
St. Joseph Catholic School, founded by the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, opened September 6, 1960 and continues the four pillars of Dominican spirituality: Prayer, Community, Study, and Service. Modular buildings were added in 1994 (library/computer lab) and 2013 (Kindergarten/Transitional Kindergarten), and a new ADA-compliant playground was installed in 2023; the school now enrolls new students under Principal Laurie Lopez. The Faith Formation Office (510-657-0905) offers Family of Faith K-8, Youth Ministry & Confirmation for grades 8-12, OCIA for adults, OCIC for children, and Adult Faith Formation, under Director of Evangelization and Family of Faith Nancy Flores-Mai and Youth and Confirmation Coordinator Aaron Loverro.
- St. Joseph School: 510-656-6525; [email protected]
- Faith Formation Office: 510-657-0905; [email protected] (Grace Lichauco, FFM Secretary)
- Open Monday–Friday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (school)
- Youth Ministry: Aaron Loverro — [email protected]
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music Ministries are led by Director of Music Ministries Ronald E. McKean, with a continuing call for experienced volunteer accompanists (pianists and organists) to share their gifts. The parish seeks Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, and Altar Servers to serve at Mass; those discerning a call may contact Deacon Dick Bayless at 510-656-2364 or the music office at 510-656-1055. A Liturgy Committee oversees the parish's liturgical life, including the Ad Orientem Mass on the first Sunday of the month.
- Music Director: Ronald E. McKean — [email protected], 510-656-1055
- Lectors & Eucharistic Ministers: contact Deacon Dick Bayless, 510-656-2364
- Altar Servers: contact Richard Allen at [email protected]
Outreach and Charity: St. Vincent de Paul and the Food Pantries
Outreach is a core part of the parish's life of charity and mercy. The St. Vincent de Paul Conference (510-661-9572) operates a food pantry, expanded during the 2023 church renovation to a larger space. Sr. John Marie's Pantry (510-490-4171) is a separate food ministry of the parish. The Pastoral Care Ministry, led by Helen Campbell (510-795-7958), brings the Eucharist to the sick and homebound and visits parishioners who cannot attend Mass. The Prayer Team Ministry prays for the needs of fellow parishioners and the parish's outreach partners.
- St. Vincent de Paul — 510-661-9572 (larger food pantry after 2023 renovation)
- Sr. John Marie's Pantry — 510-490-4171
- Pastoral Care (Communion to the sick and homebound) — 510-795-7958
- Prayer Team Ministry — listed in the parish Discipleship section
Pilgrimages, Tours, and the Old Mission Gift Shop
The Mission San José campus welcomes docent-led tours, individual pilgrims, and school and tour groups year-round; the grounds are open free of charge seven days a week for public viewing. Father Anthony Le extends a personal welcome to all visitors, inviting them to come as pilgrims for spiritual renewal or to learn the mission's history. Pilgrimages to the Mission can be arranged through the mission office at 510-657-1797 or [email protected]. The parish also operates an online gift shop, the Old Mission San Jose Online Gift Shop.
- Mission office: 510-657-1797; [email protected]
- Historical information packets available for 4th-grade mission projects
- Tours: see https://www.saintjosephmsj.org/mission-visit/
- Pilgrimages: see https://www.saintjosephmsj.org/mission-pilgrimage/
Parish Office, Communications, and Getting Involved
The Parish Office is open Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM and on Saturday and Sunday. Mass intentions and records of sacraments are handled through the parish office (Masses often book months in advance). Parishioners and visitors can register online, join Flocknote email blasts, and submit content to the Communications Team at [email protected]. The official Facebook page (facebook.com/StJosephMSJ) and YouTube channel (youtube.com/SaintJosephParish) carry announcements and live-streamed Masses. A complete list of ministries and job openings for the parish, mission, and school is maintained on the website.
- Parish Office: 43148 Mission Blvd., P.O. Box 3276, Fremont, CA 94539; 510-656-2364; Fax 510-656-2438
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–4 PM; Fri 9 AM–12 noon (closed 12–1 PM for lunch)
- Flocknote email blasts, The Witness Project, and a full ministries directory are accessible from the parish website
- Job openings for the parish office, mission, or school are posted on the Contact page