About St. Thomas of Canterbury · San Jose, California
St. Thomas of Canterbury is a Roman Catholic parish in San Jose, California, part of the Diocese of San Jose in California. Located at 1522 McCoy Avenue in the 95130 ZIP code, the parish describes itself as 'a family of Catholic Christians where all are welcomed' and is guided by the mission of making disciples, serving others, and changing the world through the Holy Spirit. It offers a full schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, regular Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, faith formation for youth and adults, and a small but active set of ministries including Liturgical, Catechetical, Community, and Homebound ministry.
- Patron
- St. Thomas of Canterbury (Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, martyred 1170)
- Rector
- Rev. Vincent Tinh Dang
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Jose in California
Why belong here
St. Thomas of Canterbury is a welcoming, mid-sized parish in west San Jose offering daily and weekend Mass, weekly Confession, and frequent Eucharistic Adoration (including a long second-Saturday adoration block). It runs a two-year Confirmation program for 7th–12th graders, year-round OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults seeking full initiation, and four core ministries — Communion to the Homebound, Community Ministry, Liturgical Ministry, and Catechetical Ministry — giving parishioners concrete ways to live out their baptismal call.
Mass times at St. Thomas of Canterbury
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM
- By appointment (request through the parish office)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM (following the 8:30 AM morning Mass)
- Second Saturday of the month 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Welcome and Parish Mission
St. Thomas of Canterbury Parish welcomes visitors and new members with an explicit statement of identity: 'We are a family of Catholic Christians where all are welcomed. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we follow Jesus by making disciples, serving others, and changing the world.' The parish encourages newcomers to 'Become a Member' through its website and frames its life around the universal call of the baptized to share in the Church's mission of salvation. Visitors can request a connection or more information directly from the homepage.
- Mission statement: 'We are a family of Catholic Christians where all are welcomed.'
- Guiding triad: making disciples, serving others, changing the world
- Online 'Become a Member' request available from the main site
Anointing of the Sick
On the first Thursday of each month, St. Thomas of Canterbury celebrates a special Anointing of the Sick Mass at 8:30 AM. This provides a regular, predictable opportunity for parishioners who are elderly, ill, or preparing for surgery to receive the sacrament in a communal setting within the regular Mass.
- First Thursday of each month
- Celebrated within the 8:30 AM Mass
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish is led by Fr. Vincent Tinh Dang, who was appointed pastor effective July 1, 2023 by Bishop Oscar Cantú. Fr. Vincent previously served as parochial vicar at Saint Frances Cabrini Parish in San Jose. Parish staff includes Anton Vu (who also serves on the Finance Council). A staff member named 'Kimmee' handles office appointments and can be reached at (408) 766-3273 (direct) or by text at (408) 726-7281. Faith formation inquiries are directed to Vicki Schwoob.
- Fr. Vincent Tinh Dang — Pastor (since July 1, 2023)
- Anton Vu — parish staff
- Kimmee — office appointments (408-766-3273 / text 408-726-7281)
- Vicki Schwoob — faith formation / OCIA / Confirmation contact
Parish Ministries
St. Thomas of Canterbury organizes parish life around four 'Active Ministries' named on its ministries page: Communion to the Homebound, Community Ministry, Liturgical Ministry, and Catechetical Ministry. The parish grounds this in the U.S. Bishops' teaching that, by baptism, every Christian is 'called to participate actively and collaborate in the Church's mission of salvation in the world,' supported throughout life by 'God's love, grace and mercy.' A Finance Council assists the pastor in administering parish goods in keeping with Canon Law 537.
- Communion to the Homebound — bringing the Eucharist to parishioners unable to attend Mass
- Community Ministry — building parish fellowship and outreach
- Liturgical Ministry — serving the Mass as lectors, extraordinary ministers, sacristans, etc.
- Catechetical Ministry — religious education and faith formation
- Finance Council — budgeting, fiscal reporting, and internal controls (chaired by James Besio)
Finance Council
Operating under Canon Law 537, the St. Thomas of Canterbury Finance Council assists the pastor in administering parish goods and oversees financial budgeting and planning, fiscal-year performance and reporting, and internal controls and communications. The council meets quarterly on the third Thursday of March, June, September, and December at 7:30 PM. To promote transparency, the parish publishes summarized weekly income and expenditures in its STC eBulletin and posts a downloadable annual financial report.
- Chair: James Besio
- Members: Fr. Vincent Dang (Pastor), Anton Vu (staff), Thomas Beno, Jim Delzer, Edna D'Souza, Marilyn Hofman
- Meets 3rd Thursday of March, June, September, December at 7:30 PM
- Fiscal Year 2024–2025 Financial Report available for download on the parish website
Becoming Catholic — OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and Children)
St. Thomas uses the name OCIA — the updated designation for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA — for its process of formation for those seeking full entry into the Catholic Church. The parish describes OCIA as 'an ancient process revived recently at the Second Vatican Council,' open year-round and respectful of each inquirer's unique journey. The team welcomes the unbaptized, baptized Catholics seeking First Eucharist or Confirmation, lapsed Catholics, and anyone curious about the faith, with Vicki Schwoob as the listed contact.
- Open to unbaptized adults and children age 7+
- Year-round inquiry and formation
- Inquiry form available on the parish website
- Contact: Vicki Schwoob, [email protected] or (408) 378-1595
Confirmation Program
The parish Confirmation program is a two-year formation process for youth in 7th through 12th grade who have already received Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Eucharist. Both years include Confirmation class time, youth nights, service projects through 'Passport,' parent/sponsor sessions, a retreat, and additional events. A baptismal certificate is required unless the youth was baptized at St. Thomas of Canterbury, and registration from Year 1 to Year 2 is not automatic. The parish also lists a separate sacraments inquiry form for adults 18 and older needing to complete their sacraments.
- Two-year formation for 7th–12th graders
- Includes Youth Ministry, Passport service projects, parent/sponsor sessions, and a retreat
- 2026–2027 cycle is Confirmation Year One (registration opens Fall 2026)
- Adults 18+ completing sacraments: use the Sacraments Inquiry Form
Office Hours and Contact
The parish office is open Monday and Tuesday from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM, and Thursday and Friday from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, and is closed Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. To make an appointment, parishioners can call or text Kimmee at (408) 766-3273 (direct) or (408) 726-7281 (text). General inquiries go to [email protected], and the main listed parish phone is 408-378-1595.
- Mon & Tue: 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Thu & Fri: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Wed, Sat, Sun: CLOSED
- Appointments: Kimmee — (408) 766-3273 / text (408) 726-7281
- Email: [email protected]
Diocese of San Jose
St. Thomas of Canterbury is one of roughly 29 parishes in the city of San Jose that make up the Diocese of San Jose in California. The diocese comprises Santa Clara County and is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of San Francisco; it was canonically erected on March 18, 1981, with Bishop Pierre DuMaine as its first bishop. Its patron saints are Saint Joseph and Saint Clare of Assisi, and the diocesan directory lists St. Thomas of Canterbury as parish #95.
- Diocese established March 18, 1981
- Comprises Santa Clara County
- Suffragan of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
- Diocesan patron saints: St. Joseph and St. Clare of Assisi
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Andrew C. Nguyen2020 – July 2023
Appointed pastor in July 2020 (concurrent with role as Director of the Office of Vocations); reassigned July 1, 2023 to become pastor of Saint Maria Goretti Parish in San Jose.
- Rev. Vincent Tinh DangJuly 1, 2023 – present
Appointed pastor effective July 1, 2023, moving from parochial vicar of Saint Frances Cabrini Parish in San Jose.