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St. Joseph Parish
Exterior view of St. Joseph Parish Church in Mountain View
St. Joseph Parish
37°23′17″N 122°04′54″W
Location	582 Hope Street, Mountain View, California
Country	USA
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.sjpmv.org
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1905 (1905)
Founder(s)	Rev. 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
Functional status	Active
Specifications
Capacity	650
Administration
Province	Ecclesiastical province of San Francisco
Archdiocese	Archidioecesis Sancti Francisci
Diocese	Dioecesis Sancti Josephi in California
Clergy
Bishop(s)	The Most Rev. Patrick Joseph McGrath
Vicar(s)	Rev. Robert B. Moran
Pastor(s)	Rev. Timothy Kidney
Deacon(s)	Rev. Mr. Hector Basañez
Laity
Director of music	Dr. Rajna Klaser Ledoux
Organist(s)	Patricia Gough-Eldred

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. 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 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.

The Castro family donated the present church property, on Castro and Hope streets, and 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 this time.

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

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 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 are particular to the celebration of the Tridentine Mass, which predated the Novus Ordo Missae promulgated by the Second Vatican Council. This form of the mass is now known as the Extraordinary form of the Roman Rite, in accordance with the Summorum Pontificum of Pope Benedict XVI. 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 anually at the chrism mass where the oils are blessed by the bishop.

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

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, 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

• Rev. John J. Cullen, 1901–1910
• Rev. Michael Horan, 1910–1917
• Rev. John Smyth, 1917–1922
• Rev. Lawrence Murphy, 1922–1923
• Rev. James W. Galvin, 1923–1944
• Rev. John M. Kennedy, 1938–1947
• Rev. James B. Doyle, 1947–1963
• Rev. George D. Moss, 1963–1976
• Rev. William M. Lenane, 1976–1984
• Rev. Eugene P. O'Donnell, 1984–1996
• Rev. Oscar D. Tabujara, 1996–2009
• Rev. Timothy Kidney, 2009-Present

Parish School

The school was founded in 1952 by Rev. 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 current principal, Mrs. Stephanie Mirenda Knight, was a student of the school.

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.

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.

The school serves approximately 200 familes, and has an enrollment of over 300 students.

External links

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