About St. Martin of Tours · San Jose, California
St. Martin of Tours Parish is a Catholic parish in San Jose, California, belonging to the Diocese of San Jose. Located on O'Connor Drive on the west side of San Jose, the parish worships in a church building whose roots trace back to a chapel originally built by pioneer Martin Murphy in what is now San Martin around 1853; the current San Jose parish was separately established in the early 20th century and has grown around its parish school, which opened in 1955. Today, with weekend Masses in English on Saturday evening and four Sunday morning/afternoon times, daily weekday Masses livestreamed, and a Confirmation/RCIA faith formation program, the parish serves a diverse West San Jose community under pastor Fr. Celso Singson and parochial vicar Fr. Tony Famave.
- Established
- 1912
- Patron
- St. Martin of Tours
- Rector
- Fr. Celso Singson
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Jose
Why belong here
St. Martin of Tours is a welcoming West San Jose parish that puts its Catholic identity into visible practice — daily and weekend Masses with livestreaming, Saturday Reconciliation, and a Sunday schedule (5:00 PM Saturday; 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 AM and 5:00 PM Sundays) that lets working families and young adults find a time that fits. A parish school (opened 1955) sits alongside the church, and a full Faith Formation office runs Children's Catechetical Ministry, Youth and Adult Confirmation, and the Order of Christian Initiation (formerly RCIA). Outreach through St. Vincent de Paul, the Giving Tree, Coat Drive, Food Box, Farm Workers' Families ministry, and a Homebound Visits program lets parishioners serve neighbors in need — a community that openly describes itself as "People Ministering to People."
Mass times at St. Martin of Tours
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM, or by appointment in the Church
About St. Martin of Tours Parish
St. Martin of Tours is a Catholic parish in the Diocese of San Jose serving the west side of San Jose from its 200 O'Connor Drive campus, which includes both the church and St. Martin of Tours School. The parish community describes itself as striving to live the Gospel through daily actions, embracing Christ's teaching and serving the broader community through a wide range of ministries. Its motto in practice is 'People Ministering to People.' The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Diocese of San Jose parish
- Located at 200 O'Connor Drive, San Jose, CA 95128
- Phone: 408-294-8953
- Parish office hours: Mon–Thu, 10 AM–4 PM
Parish History
The parish's history reaches back to the chapel built by pioneer Martin Murphy around 1853 in the South Valley (now San Martin), named for his patron saint. That original building was later relocated to Mayfair for Our Lady of Guadalupe, while the current San Jose parish developed separately, beginning in 1912 as St. Martin Mission under Rev. John McNally. By 1928 the church was operating at 2327 West San Carlos Avenue under Rev. Edmond McAllister. In the early 1950s, Fr. Donald McDonnell arranged for the original church building to be moved to Kammerer Street to serve the growing Latino community. The parish school opened in 1955.
- c. 1853: Pioneer Martin Murphy builds a chapel in what is now San Martin.
- 1912: St. Martin Mission founded by Rev. John McNally; first Masses in Oblizalo's grocery store at San Carlos & Infirmary Rd (now Bascom Ave).
- Early 1950s: Original church relocated to Mayfair for Our Lady of Guadalupe under Fr. Donald McDonnell.
- 1955: St. Martin of Tours Parochial School opens; first staffed by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM until 1971).
- September 2024: Fr. Celso Singson installed as pastor by Bishop Oscar Cantu.
Faith Formation and Sacraments
Faith Formation is coordinated by Catechetical Director Ed Ibarra and covers the parish's catechetical, sacramental, and adult-initiation ministries. Programs prepare children and youth for the sacraments and welcome adults seeking to complete their initiation into the Catholic Church.
- Children's Catechetical Ministry (CCM) and First Eucharist preparation
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW)
- Youth Confirmation — one-year program for students in grades 7–12, with formation sessions for parents and sponsors and a Family Day of Prayer
- Adult Confirmation — for adults 18+ no longer in high school (must be baptized)
- Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA, formerly RCIA) — for adults and youth seeking full initiation
- Contact: Ed Ibarra at [email protected] / (408) 294-8953 x321
St. Martin of Tours School
St. Martin of Tours School is the parish's parish school, opened in 1955 to serve the growing Catholic community on San Jose's west side. Originally staffed by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM), who served until 1971, it continues as part of the parish campus and shares its identity with the parish mission of forming children in faith.
- Opened 1955 at the request of Rev. William Butler
- Originally staffed by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) until 1971
- Current Principal: David Cortese
- School phone: 408-287-3630
- Email: [email protected]
Pastoral Care and Outreach
Pastoral Care at St. Martin of Tours extends beyond the parish walls to homebound parishioners, families in need, and farmworker communities. The parish partners with St. Vincent de Paul to support neighbors in crisis and runs seasonal and ongoing drives for coats and food.
- Pastoral Care Director: Aevanne Ni Sheoighe (x316)
- St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) conference
- Homebound Visits and Anointing of the Sick
- Food Box ministry
- Farm Workers' Families ministry
- Coat Drive and Giving Tree
Parish Groups and Community Life
Beyond staffed ministries, the parish is home to a wide range of lay-led groups — from scouting to women's fellowship to the Cursillo movement — that strengthen community through service, spirituality, and social connection. These groups are active partners in fundraising for the parish and provide many of the parish's social events.
- Parish Scouting Program (Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts)
- Cursillo Movement — 'Make a friend, be a friend, and bring a friend to Christ.'
- Women's Alliance — built on three pillars: service, spirituality, and social connection
- Other volunteer-run groups supporting the parish through fundraisers and 'fun-raisers'
Liturgical Ministries
Worship at St. Martin of Tours is supported by many lay liturgical roles, coordinated through the parish office, with new and returning ministers regularly welcomed.
- Ushers
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
- Altar Servers
- Choir
- Environment / sanctuary care
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is currently led by Pastor Fr. Celso Singson, installed in September 2024, with Parochial Vicar Fr. Tony Famave and resident priest Fr. Jonathan Cuarto. A full lay staff coordinates faith formation, pastoral care, school leadership, business, and facilities.
- Pastor: Fr. Celso Singson — 408-294-8953 x312
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Tony Famave — 408-294-8953 x314
- Resident Priest: Fr. Jonathan Cuarto
- Catechetical Director: Ed Ibarra — 408-294-8953 x321
- Pastoral Care Director: Aevanne Ni Sheoighe — 408-294-8953 x316
- Business Manager: Candy Berenguer — 408-294-8953 x311
- Buildings & Grounds: Samuel Aguilar — 408-294-8953 x310
- School Principal: David Cortese — 408-287-3630
- Pastoral Council Chair: Stephen Lencioni
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John McNally1912 (mission founding)
Founding pastor of St. Martin Mission; first drove the orchards and farmlands to find parishioners, started Sunday School, first Masses held in Oblizalo's grocery store.
- Rev. Edmond McAllister1928
Listed as pastor in 1928 Polk's Directory, with the church then at 2327 West San Carlos Avenue.
- Fr. Donald McDonnellearly 1950s
Acquired the original St. Martin church building and arranged its move to Mayfair (Kammerer Street) to become Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Rev. William Butlermid-1950s
Requested the founding of St. Martin of Tours Parochial School, which opened in 1955.
- Fr. Celso Singsoninstalled September 2024
Current pastor; installed by Bishop Oscar Cantu at the 11:30 Mass in September 2024.