Saint Joseph Parish (Mountain View, California)

St. Joseph Parish
Exterior view of St. Joseph Parish Church in Mountain View
St. Joseph Parish
37°23′17″N 122°04′54″W / 37.38814°N 122.08158°WCoordinates: 37°23′17″N 122°04′54″W / 37.38814°N 122.08158°W
Location	582 Hope Street Mountain View, California
Country	USA
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.sjpmv.org
History
Founded	1905
Founder(s)	Rev. Fr. John J. Cullen
Dedication	Saint Joseph
Events	Feast Day of St. Joseph, Confessor (March 19) · Feast Day of St. Joseph the Worker, Confessor (May 1)
Architecture
Status	Parish church
Functional status	Active
Architectural type	Church
Style	Gothic
Groundbreaking	1905
Specifications
Capacity	650
Administration
Deanery	Deanery 2
Archdiocese	Archidioecesis Sancti Francisci
Diocese	Dioecesis Sancti Josephi in California
Province	Ecclesiastical province of San Francisco
Clergy
Bishop(s)	The Most Rev. Patrick Joseph McGrath
Vicar(s)	Rev. Fr. Jonathan Cuarto
Dean	Rev. Fr. Matthew D. Stanley (St. Thomas Aquinas Parish)
Pastor(s)	Rev. Fr. Engelberto Guzman Gammad, JCD
Laity
Director of music	Robert M. Quijano
Organist(s)	Denis D'Aoust
Lay member(s) of chapter	Knights of Columbus St. Sebastian Council #4926
Religious education coordinator	Erika Underwood
RCIA coordinator	Ian McKay Tony Berrios
Youth ministry coordinator	Kathi M. Horn
Parish administrator	Diane Wollants-Bayona

Saint Joseph Parish in Mountain View, California is a parish of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. The parish and its church are located in Mountain View in the state of California, the parish falls under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose in California and its bishop.^[1] It is named after Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus; for whom the diocese and the nearby city of San Jose is also named.

The parish church is located on Hope Street, having been in continuous service since its initial building in 1905.

The parish school, St. Joseph Catholic School is located on Miramonte Avenue, and is an elementary school for children from kindergarten through eighth grade.

History

The first Catholic church in the City of Mountain View was built in 1867 with funds gathered by Rev. Joseph Bixio, S.J. of Santa Clara. The original structure was a little white wooden building, topped by a cross, nestled among tall shade trees and enclosed by a white picket fence at the corner of El Camino Real and Alviso Road. The land was donated by John Sullivan whose teams hauled the lumber from Watsonville. It was a small church accommodating 150 people until 1884 when its capacity was increased to 250. Rev. John J. Cullen was appointed the first pastor in 1901.^[2]

The present church property, located on Castro, Church and Hope streets, was donated by the Castro family. In 1905 concrete was poured for the foundations and a wooden church was established. St. Joseph's Parish then included the towns of Mountain View, Los Altos, Sunnyvale, and Mayfield (south of Palo Alto), ranging from San Francisco Bay to Skyline Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains at that time.

The population growth, spurred by the railroad, put great pressure on the parish and its church within a few years after its completion. Therefore, in 1916 St. Martin's Parish was established in Sunnyvale, followed by St. Aloysius in Mayfield in 1919, St. Athanasius in Mountain View in 1947, St. William's in Los Altos, and St. Cyprian in Sunnyvale in 1962.

In 1928, St. Joseph's Church burned down as a result of a fire set by a pyromaniac. In 1929 the present church was built with a seating capacity of 650. Starting in 1948, under the direction of Father James Doyle, the church acquired 15 acres (6.1 ha) off Miramonte Avenue near El Camino Real and established St. Joseph's Elementary School and Holy Cross High School for girls.

Architecture and design

St. Joseph Parish Church is designed along the cruciform lines of the Gothic period. As such, the main floor of the church contains the narthex, nave, transept, sanctuary, and sacristy. The bottom floor contains Father Doyle Hall, a meeting hall, as well as the church's restrooms.

Altar of St. Joseph Parish

Because the parish church was founded prior to the Second Vatican Council, the church contains a high altar, behind which the large portrait of St. Joseph served as a reredos. These two features were common though by no means universal at that time (see ad orientem). The altar rails have since been removed, allowing easier access to the laity who now participate in the service of the Mass.

At either side of the church, on the altar side of the transept are two grottoes. Upon the left is the tabernacle, containing the reserve of the consecrated hosts. Upon the right is the almery which contains the vessels of the Oil of the Catechumens, Oil of the Sick, and Sacred Chrism. These vessels are replenished annually, when a new supply is blessed at the chrism mass by the bishop. The oils are then received at the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper, in accordance with local ritual.^[3]

The main floor of the church is decorated with several stained glass windows, reflecting the Gothic architecture. These may be found at the ends of the transept, along the nave, and above the high altar. There is an additional stained glass window not easily seen at the rear of the church, above the choir loft and organ pipes.

Choir Loft: great pipes, stained glass, and choir in 2009

Voices of Praise
Voices of Praise Choir, 06/03/2012
Origin	Saint Joseph Parish (Mountain View, California)
Founding	2001
Genre	Liturgical and Church Music
Members	19
Music Director	Robert M. Quijano
Organist	Denis D'Aoust
Associated groups	Morning Glory, Evening Praise, Son de Dios, St. Joseph Parish Youth Choir
Website	St. Joseph Parish Liturgical Ministries

The pipe organ of the church is in frequent use at weekly services, and during services scheduled during the week. This point is of significant mention, as many churches no longer use the organ on a regular basis for service music. The church bells are not normally rung; due in part to the close proximity of residential neighbors,^[4] and due also in part to the adverse effects the tolling of the bell may have upon the organ pipes, which share the common rear wall of the building.

The organ pipes occupy most of the choir loft, with the great pipes centrally located at the rear, the chorus pipes upon one side, and the swell pipes upon the other. The chorus and swell pipes are contained in chambers on either side of the church.

Succession of pastors

	Name[5]	Photo	Start[6]	End	Background
1	Rev. Fr. John J. Cullen		1901	1910	First pastor
2	Rev. Fr. Michael Horan		1910	1917
3	Rev. Fr. John Smyth		1917	1922
4	Rev. Fr. Lawrence Murphy		1922	1923	He died December 29, 1923, aged 45, in Mountain View, and buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California
5	Rev. Fr. James W. Galvin		1923	1944
6	Rev. Fr. John M. Kennedy		1938	1947
7	Rev. Fr. James B. Doyle		1947	1963	The parish hall is named for him
8	Rev. Fr. George D. Moss		1963	1976
9	Rev. Fr. William M. Lenane		1976	1984
10	Rev. Msgr. Eugene P. O'Donnell		1984	1996	Currently serving as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, he returns to St. Joseph to celebrate Mass in Gaelic every year. He was invested as a Chaplain of His Holiness on April 2, 2011.[7]
11	Rev. Fr. Oscar D. Tabujara		1996	2009	Currently serving as pastor of Saint Athanasius Parish, also located in Mountain View
12	Rev. Fr. Timothy J. Kidney		2009	2010	Retired in 2012 [8][9]
13	Rev. Fr. Roberto Adrian Rojas		2010	2011	On leave of absence[10]
14	Rev. Fr. Luis E. Vargas		2011	2015	Currently serving as pastor of Christ the King Parish[11]
15	Rev. Fr. Engelberto Guzman Gammad, JCD		2015	Incumbent	Current pastor[12][13]

Parish School

http://sjmv.org

The school was founded in 1952 by Rev. Fr. James B. Doyle. Originally the school was housed in temporarary quarters on what is now part of St. Francis High School. The current school location was constructed in 1954. As with St. Francis High School, the school was originally staffed by the Sisters of the Holy Cross Order. The order ceased to staff the school in 1982, thereby opening up staff positions to the laity. The former principal, Mrs. Stephanie Mirenda Knight, was a student of the school.^[14]

Although it is a Catholic School, a non-discriminatory policy is in effect, whereby students of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin may be admitted. Students who are not Roman Catholic are exempted from parts of the curriculum which are specific to religious education or ministration of sacraments. Grade placement is determined by a test battery to verify basic skills.^[15]

The school maintains one classroom per grade, with a school network connecting at least two computers in each classroom. In addition, the school maintains a science room, library, auditorium, and computer lab.^[16]

The school serves approximately 200 families, and has an enrollment of over 200 students.^[17]

References

1. "Saint Joseph Parish". Diocese of San Jose. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
2. "History". St. Joseph Parish. 2006-09-11. Archived from the original on April 7, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
3. "Rite for Receiving the Holy Oils". Diocese of San Jose. 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
4. "What was Mountain View like in the '70s". Mountain View Voice. 2008-04-13. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
5. Note that each pastor is listed with their current honorifics, or honorifics granted at time of death; the dates correspond to term as pastor, not to lifespan
6. "Parish History". St. Joseph Parish. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
7. "Six new Monsignors honored at Vespers ceremony". The Valley Catholic. 2011-04-19. Retrieved 2011-04-21.
8. "Saint Joseph Parish (see staff at bottom)". Diocese of San Jose. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
9. On 18 April 2010, Father Tim Kidney announced that he would be replaced as Administrator/Pastor on 1 July 2010
10. "Clergy Assignment 2010 - Part I". Diocese of San Jose. 2010-05-10. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
11. "Clergy Transitions 2011". Diocese of San Jose. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
12. "June 7, 2015 - Corpus Christi" (PDF). Saint John Vianney Catholic Parish. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
13. "Official Appointments [3-24-15]". The Valley Catholic. Retrieved 2015-06-05.
14. "Parish School History". St. Joseph Catholic School. 2003-05-13. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
15. "Parish School Enrollment Policies". St. Joseph Catholic School. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
16. "Parish School Facilities". St. Joseph Catholic School. 2003-02-11. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
17. "Parish School Information". St. Joseph Catholic School. 2003-03-31. Retrieved 2010-05-05.

External links

• St. Joseph Parish
• St. Joseph's Elementary School
• Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose
• St. Francis High School