About the Diocese of San José

The Diocese of San José makes its home in a fertile valley surrounded by rolling hills and pine-covered mountains. Known from the 19th century as “the Valley of the Heart’s Delight, ” ours is a history and legacy of abundance—orchards heavy with sweet fruit—apricots, prunes, cherries, and pears.

Today, Santa Clara County is identified as “Silicon Valley” — a world-renowned center of computer technology. Over the years, orchards have given way to industrial parks and crops of “dot-coms” have replaced the fruit. As Northern California’s most populous county, our valley is filled with the opportunity and challenges of economic, cultural and ethnic diversity.

We are a community of approximately 525,000 Catholics, encompassing 54 parishes, missions, and pastoral centers, eight preschools, 26 TK/K-8th grade, 28 elementary schools and one high school, three university campus ministries, one of which part of a Catholic university, and several Catholic cemeteries. We also partner with two independent Catholic elementary schools, five independent Catholic high schools, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, and Villa Siena Retirement Community. 

We serve the people of this valley in collaboration and conjunction with scores of Catholic organizations, movement and religious orders, dedicated to carrying out Christ’s mission on earth.