About St. Perpetua · Lafayette, California
St. Perpetua is a Roman Catholic parish in Lafayette, California, in the Diocese of Oakland, established in 1952 by Archbishop John J. Mitty of San Francisco. Located at 3454 Hamlin Road, the parish serves the residential hills of the Lamorinda corridor in Contra Costa County and is paired with a parish school that opened in 1963. The faith community gathers for daily morning Mass, four Sunday Masses (including a Saturday vigil), Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of liturgical, formation, and outreach ministries. The parish has been led since July 1997 by Fr. John Kasper, OSFS, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- Sts. Perpetua and Felicity
- Rector
- Rev. John Kasper, OSFS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland
Why belong here
St. Perpetua welcomes Catholics and seekers into a friendly parish and school community that focuses on contemporary spiritual growth, warm fellowship, and compassionate outreach. Daily Mass in the convent chapel, four Sunday Masses (including a Saturday vigil), and Friday Eucharistic Adoration give parishioners multiple ways to worship each week. Active ministries—from the Adult Choir, Children's Choir, and cantors to RCIA/CIA, children's and youth faith formation, Confirmation, the Welcoming Committee, Ministers to the Sick, the Outreach Committee, and the annual parish carnival—make it easy to find a place to serve and belong.
Mass times at St. Perpetua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: for 15 minutes after daily Mass in the Chapel
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:50 PM in the church (or by appointment)
- Sunday: 9:10 AM – 9:30 AM in the church
- Sunday: 11:15 AM – 11:30 AM in the church
Adoration times
- Friday: 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Chapel)
History of St. Perpetua Parish and School
Archbishop John J. Mitty of San Francisco established St. Perpetua Parish in 1952, and the present church and original hall opened in 1953. The rectory and school were built in 1961, and the school opened in 1963 with 200 students in grades 1–5, expanding through grade 8 over the next three years. The school was originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, whose convent—built in 1963–64—was the first building constructed in the newly established Diocese of Oakland.
- 1952 — Parish established by Archbishop John J. Mitty
- 1953 — Present church and original hall opened
- 1961 — Rectory and school built
- 1963 — St. Perpetua School opens with 200 students (grades 1–5); Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet staff the school
- 1963–64 — Sisters' convent built (first building in the new Diocese of Oakland)
- 2002 — School expansion adds ~13,000 sq ft of classroom space
- 2017–2019 — Great Hall expansion grows the hall from ~3,500 to 10,500 sq ft
Parish Staff
St. Perpetua is served by a pastor from the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales along with pastoral associates, faith formation directors, music ministry, and office and maintenance staff. The parish office shares the former rectory with daily-Mass chapel space.
- Rev. John Kasper, OSFS — Pastor
- Sr. Laurel O'Neal, Er. Dio. — Pastoral Assistant
- Christoph Nauer — Pastoral Associate (x203)
- Katherine Korsak — Pastoral Associate / Business Manager
- Karen Goodshaw — Pastoral Associate
- Kristine Kvochak — Director of Faith Formation / Children's Faith Formation (x204)
- Gary Guerrero — Director of Youth Ministry and Confirmation (x208)
- Jan Stegner — Middle School Faith Formation (x206)
- Director of Music Ministries — TBA (x205)
- Arlene Connors — Secretary (x201)
- Pat Fela — Office Volunteer (x213)
- David Ramirez — Maintenance (x214)
Sacrament Schedule
Reconciliation is offered daily in the chapel for 15 minutes after morning Mass, on Saturday afternoons before the vigil, and before the two later Sunday Masses. Eucharistic Adoration is held in the chapel every Friday through the early afternoon. The parish also hosts the annual diocesan Mass for the Feast of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity on March 7.
- Confessions — Monday–Friday after daily Mass (15 min, Chapel)
- Confessions — Saturday 4:00–4:50 PM (Church, or by appointment)
- Confessions — Sunday 9:10–9:30 AM and 11:15–11:30 AM (Church)
- Adoration — Friday 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Chapel)
- Feast of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity — March 7, annual diocesan Mass with the Bishop
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Perpetua runs a full faith formation program for children and teens, from Pre-K through high school, with separate tracks for the sacraments of initiation. Adult initiation is supported through the Christian Initiation of Adults (CIA / RCIA) process, and a parallel Christian Initiation of Children (CIC) is offered for ages 7–17.
- Pre-K and Kindergarten Faith Formation
- Children's Faith Formation, grades 1–5 (Director: Kristine Kvochak)
- Middle School Faith Formation (Jan Stegner)
- Christian Initiation of Children (CIC), ages 7–17
- Christian Initiation of Adults (CIA / RCIA)
- High School Youth Group, grades 9–12 (Wednesdays 7:30–9:00 PM)
- High School Confirmation Process (~every other Sunday, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
- Baptismal Preparation Program for parents
Liturgical & Music Ministries
Liturgical life at St. Perpetua is supported by a Liturgy Committee, lay liturgical ministers, and a three-tiered music ministry of cantors, children's choir, and adult choir that rehearses weekly.
- Liturgy Committee
- Adult Choir — sings at 9:30 Mass; rehearsal Wednesdays 7:00–9:00 PM
- Children's Choir (grades 3–8) — sings at 9:30 Mass once a month; rehearsal Wednesdays 3:25–4:30 PM
- Cantors — lead psalm and congregational singing; rehearsal Wednesdays 6:30 PM
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (K–4) during 9:30 Mass, September–June
Parish Life, Outreach & Fellowship
St. Perpetua's parish life is built around small, welcoming ministries that connect newcomers, families, seniors, and those in need. The Outreach Committee links the parish to wider community service, while Helping Hands supports families at the time of funeral, and the Baby Sitting Co-op and annual Carnival are longtime fellowship traditions.
- Welcoming Committee — helps newcomers feel at home
- Outreach Committee — supports service organizations in need
- Helping Hands / Funeral Ministry
- Ministers to the Sick & Homebound — weekly visits to local convalescent homes
- Baby Sitting Co-op (toddlers ages 1–3 during 9:30 Sunday Mass)
- Seniors' Activities Group
- Carnival Committee (annual parish carnival)
- Collection Counters (Monday mornings)
- Office Assistance
Parish Governance
Two advisory bodies assist the pastor in setting direction and stewarding parish resources.
- Pastoral Council — advises the pastor on mission, goals, and implementation
- Finance Council — assists with administration of parish finances and related concerns
St. Perpetua School
St. Perpetua School is a parish Catholic elementary school that opened in 1963 and is now led by the pastor together with a lay principal and roughly 33 teachers and staff. The school serves grades K–8 and supports student faith formation and academic education in partnership with the parish.
- Opened in 1963 with grades 1–5; grades 6–8 added by 1966
- First graduating class: June 10, 1967 (35 students)
- Original educators: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
- Today led by the pastor and a lay principal, with ~33 teachers and staff
- 2002 expansion added ~13,000 sq ft of classroom space
- School mailing address: 3445 Hamlin Road, Lafayette, CA 94549
Feast of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity
St. Perpetua parish is named for St. Perpetua, a Roman martyr of the early third century who, along with her servant St. Felicity, was killed in the arena at Carthage on March 7, 203. Their memorial is celebrated in the Roman Canon of the Mass, and the parish hosts the annual diocesan Mass for the feast each March 7, typically celebrated by the Bishop of Oakland.
- Feast day: March 7
- Sts. Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs (c. 203 AD)
- Names included in the Roman Canon of the Mass
- Patronages include martyrs, mothers, expectant mothers, catechumens, ranchers, and butchers
- Diocese of Oakland celebrates the annual Mass at the parish each year
Visit & Contact
St. Perpetua is located at 3454 Hamlin Road in Lafayette, California, in the residential hills east of the Lamorinda corridor. Visitors are warmly welcomed at any of the weekend or daily Masses; the parish office is open by phone and email.
- Address: 3454 Hamlin Road, Lafayette, CA 94549
- Phone: (925) 283-0272
- Fax: (925) 283-6534
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stperpetua.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/st.perpetua.3/
- Diocese: Diocese of Oakland
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas Collins1952–1956
Founding pastor; celebrated first Masses at a local mortuary, then the Park Theatre.
- Fr. John Quinn1956–1970
Resigned in 1970; remained in residence until his death in 1973.
- Fr. Arthur Ribeiro1970–1980
- Fr. Brian Timoneyafter 1980
- Fr. John Kennedy
- Fr. Tim Johnson
- Fr. John Gilmore
- Fr. John Kasper, OSFS1997–present
Oblate of St. Francis de Sales; previously served at St. Joseph Basilica in Alameda and Corpus Christi in Piedmont.