About St. Joseph · Rio Vista, California
St. Joseph Parish in Rio Vista, California is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Sacramento, serving the small Delta community of Rio Vista in Solano County. The parish traces its origins to 1861–1862, when the first mission church was built on land donated by founding father Joseph Bruning, and was formally established as a parish in 1885. Today the parish offers daily Mass in English, three Sunday Masses (one in Spanish), Saturday confession, monthly First Friday adoration, OCIA, faith formation for children, liturgical ministries and active pastoral and finance councils. Worship takes place in the 1904 Gothic-style church building — two steeples, stained glass and all — that has anchored downtown Rio Vista for more than a century.
- Established
- 1862
- Patron
- St. Joseph (spouse of the Virgin Mary, foster father of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. Mervin P. Concepcion
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Roman Catholic; Solano Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a historic Delta parish that has welcomed Catholics in Rio Vista since 1862, and it remains a close-knit community where the same families have worshipped for generations. The parish offers the fullness of Catholic life in a small-town setting — daily Mass, a Spanish-language Mass, Saturday confessions, monthly First Friday adoration, OCIA for adults, faith formation for children, Bible study, and a wide range of liturgical ministries (altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, hospitality, music, sacristan). With an active Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Council, plus Eucharistic ministers who bring Communion to the sick and homebound, St. Joseph is a place where parishioners are easily known by name and can serve in ways that matter.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM (begins after the 8:00 AM Mass; Adoration and Benediction). Everyone is welcome.
Parish History
St. Joseph Parish in Rio Vista traces its roots to 1861–1862, when a single-spire mission church was built on land donated by founding father Joseph Bruning after the great flood that relocated the town. Dedicated by Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany, it served as a mission of the Archdiocese of San Francisco until 1885, when it was elevated to a parish of the newly formed Diocese of Sacramento. The present Gothic-style church, with two steeples, was built in 1904 during the pastorate of Rev. James J. Gannon and dedicated by Archbishop Riordan in December of that year.
- 1862 — Original mission church built on land donated by Joseph Bruning.
- 1876–1930 — St. Gertrude's Academy, founded by the Brunings, run by Sisters of Mercy.
- 1885 — Mission becomes St. Joseph Parish under the Diocese of Sacramento.
- 1903–1932 — St. Joseph's Military Academy, also run by the Sisters of Mercy.
- 1904 — Present Gothic-style church with two steeples built and dedicated.
- May 1985 — Centennial renovation: taller steeple replaced, stained glass re-leaded, sanctuary expanded, altar replaced; Bishop Francis Quinn concelebrated the rededication Mass.
- Since 1861, 35 pastors/parochial administrators have served the parish.
Mass & Liturgical Schedule
St. Joseph offers a full week of Masses in the parish church at 130 S. 4th Street, including a Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses (one in Spanish), and daily Mass Tuesday through Friday. The Saturday vigil at 5:00 PM and the three Sunday Masses at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM (Spanish) make up the Sunday obligation schedule.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM (English); 12:00 PM (Spanish)
- Tuesday–Friday: 8:00 AM (English)
- First Friday Adoration & Benediction: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
- Confession: Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM, or by appointment
Baptism
Baptisms at St. Joseph are normally celebrated on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month at 11:00 AM. Parents and godparents are required to attend a preparation class on the 1st Thursday of the month at 5:30 PM in the Parish Hall, and this class must be scheduled before the baptism date is set. Families are encouraged to call the parish office for more information and to schedule.
- Celebrated 2nd & 4th Saturday at 11:00 AM
- Required preparation class: 1st Thursday at 5:30 PM, Parish Hall
- Contact the parish office to schedule
Faith Formation & OCIA
St. Joseph Parish runs faith formation for children, coordinated by Elsa Vega, and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — the new name for the former RCIA) for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, led directly by Father Mervin. Both programs are the main entry point for sacramental preparation in the parish.
- Faith Formation for Children — Leader: Elsa Vega; email: [email protected]; phone: (707) 374-2607
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Leader: Fr. Mervin; contact the parish office
- Bible Study — see parish bulletin / website for current schedule
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass in a wide range of liturgical roles, with bilingual leadership for English and Spanish celebrations. Coordinators and contact people are published on the parish website so newcomers can easily get involved.
- Altar Servers / Acolytes — Dado Marques
- Altar Society / Linens / Environment — Patty Harrison or Heather Brophy; Linens: Michele Kogelschatz
- Eucharistic Ministers — open listing
- Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick and Homebound — Anne Ostrich and Fr. Mervin
- Hospitality / Greeters — Parish Office
- Lectors (English) — Parish Office; Lectors (Spanish) — Martina Ruiz
- Liturgy Committee — Anne Ostrich
- Misas en Español — Carlos Zepeda
- Music — Fr. Mervin
- Sacristan — Anne Ostrich
Parish Councils & Leadership
Two councils help steward parish life at St. Joseph. The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) advises on mission, programs and pastoral direction; the Parish Finance Council (PFC) oversees temporal and financial matters. Both meet monthly and are open to parish input.
- Parish Finance Council (PFC) — meets 2nd Tuesday of the month; Leader: Mike Pine
- Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) — meets 3rd Tuesday of the month; Leader: Jim McCracken
Clergy & Staff
The parish is pastored by Rev. Mervin P. Concepcion, who became the 35th pastor of St. Joseph on July 1, 2017. Rev. Julian Medina, who served as pastor from 2000 to 2006, now holds the title of Pastor Emeritus in recognition of his long service. The Diocese of Sacramento lists the parish in the Solano Deanery.
- Pastor: Rev. Mervin P. Concepcion
- Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Julian Medina
- Faith Formation Director: Elsa Vega
- Solano Deanery, Diocese of Sacramento
Visit, Contact & Location
St. Joseph is at 130 South 4th Street in downtown Rio Vista, two blocks south of Main Street, in Solano County in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. The parish office can be reached by phone at (707) 374-2155 or by email at [email protected]. The official parish website is stjosephriovista.org.
- Address: 130 S. 4th Street, Rio Vista, CA 94571
- Phone: (707) 374-2155
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stjosephriovista.org
- Diocese: Diocese of Sacramento (Solano Deanery)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Peter Deyaert1861–1868
Traveling priest serving the mission
- Rev. Lucovicus Alphonsus Auger1868–1872
Rio Vista / Suisun City
- Rev. Michael McNaboe1872–1885
Rio Vista / Suisun City
- Rev. Thomas McNaboe1885–1893
- Rev. William D. McKinnon1893–1897
- Rev. Bernard McKinnon1897–1898
- Rev. James J. Gannon1898–1906
Pastor when the 1904 Gothic church was built and dedicated
- Rev. Bernard Praught1906–1913
- Rev. Barnarbas Cantillon1913
- Rev. William J. Butler1913–1915
- Rev. Denis Bailey1915–1921
- Rev. James Donohue1921–1925
- Rev. Robert J. O'Connor1925–1928
- Rev. Arthur O'Connell1928–1929
- Rev. Arthur A. Walsh1929–1931
- Rev. Harry A. Smith1934–1940
- Rev. James L. McLaughlin1940–1941
- Rev. John J. O'Brien1941–1946
- Rev. Patrick J. Morris1946–1947
- Rev. Edwin J. Becker1947–1950
- Rev. Joseph F. Kenney1950–1954
- Rev. Glen A. Kelly1954–1960
- Rev. Robert F. Coffey1960–1964
- Rev. Thomas Phelan1965–1980
- Rev. William Spring1981–1983
- Rev. William Walsh1987–1994
- Rev. Eugene G. Lucas1994–1996
- Rev. Patrick J. McGrath1996–1999
- Rev. John Hannon1999–2000
- Rev. Julian Medina2000–2006
Now Pastor Emeritus
- Rev. Manuel Soria2006–2010
- Rev. Sherwin Colaste2010–2013
- Rev. Richard Boyle2014–2016
- Rev. Godwin Xavier2016–2017
- Rev. Mervin P. ConcepcionJuly 1, 2017–present
Current pastor