Father Abel Lopez

Father Abel Lopez, a retired priest of the Diocese of San José, was called home to the Lord on December 4, 2024, while visiting his family in Guatemala. Fr. Lopez was 93 years old and faithfully served as a priest for 68 years.

Fr. Lopez ministered in the Diocese of San José since its establishment, serving as Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart Parish, St. Mary Parish in Gilroy, and St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica in San José. He retired in 2001 but remained a cherished member of our diocesan family.

All services will be held in Guatemala, where he will be laid to rest.

Please join in praying for the repose of Father Lopez’s soul and for his family during this time of loss. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

 

2024 Simbang Gabi Schedule

Simbang Gabi is a devotional, nine-day series of Masses attended by Filipino Catholics as a spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ on Christmas.

The Spanish missionaries brought the practice to deepen the faith of the people of the Philippines.  The Simbang Gabi, a novena of Mass, first introduced in Mexico, was known as Misa de Gallo. The masses were celebrated as early as 4:00 a.m. to allow farmers to participate in the liturgy before they went to the fields.  Simbang Gabi is a long Catholic tradition among many Filipinos not only in the Philippines but all over the world where Filipinos find homes.

Simbang Gabi masses are occurring throughout the diocese beginning December 15th. See the scheduled below

Kick-off of Simbang Gabi 2024 is on Wednesday December 14 at 7:00P M  at St. Julie Parish.  The mass will be presided by Bishop Oscar Cantú.  There will be Blessing of Parols (Star Lanterns) and a reception following the Mass.

-CAMPBELL-
St. Lucy Parish
2350 Winchester Blvd., Campbell
Dec 16-24 at 5:30AM
-MILPITAS-  
St. Elizabeth Parish
750 Sequoia Dr., Milpitas
St. John the Baptist Parish
350 South Abel St., Milpitas
Dec 15-23 7:00 PM
-MOUNTAIN VIEW-
St.  Athanasius Parish
160 North Rengstorff Ave, Mountain View
Dec 15-23 6:00 PM
-MORGAN HILL-
St. Catherine Parish
17400 Peak Ave, Morgan Hill
Dec 16 5:30 PM
-SAN JOSE-
Holy Family Parish
4848 Pearl Ave., San Jose
Dec 16-24 6:00 AM
Most Holy Trinity Parish
2040 Nassau Dr., San Jose
Dec 16-24 5:30 AM
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
2020 East San Antonio St., San Jose
Dec 15-20 6:00 PM
St. Frances Cabrini Parish
15333 Woodard Rd., San Jose
Dec 16, 17 6:00 PM
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
15111 San Felipe Rd., San Jose
Dec 15 6:00 PM
Dec 16-21 7:00 PM
Dec 22 6:00 PM
Dec 23 7:00 PM
St. Julie Billiart Parish
6410 Cottle Rd., San Jose
Dec 15-23 7:00 PM
St. Maria Goretti Parish
2980 Senter Rd., San Jose
Dec 15-23 7:00 PM
-SANTA CLARA-
Our Lady of Peace Parish
2800 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara
Dec 16-24 5:00 AM
St. Justin Parish
2655 Homestead Rd., Santa Clara
Dec 16- 24 6 AM
St. Lawrence Parish
1971 Saint Lawrence Dr., Santa Clara
Dec 15-23 7:00 PM
-SUNNYVALE-
St. Cyprian
195 Leota Ave.
Dec 15, 5:00PM
Dec 16 – 20, 6:00PM
Dec 21 – 23, 5:00PM

 

2024 Our Lady of Guadalupe Novena and Mass Schedule

 

-CAMPBELL-

Saint Lucy Parish
2350 Winchester Blvd., Campbell

-GILROY-

Saint Mary Parish
11 First St., Gilroy

-MILPITAS-

Saint Elizabeth Parish
750 Sequoia Dr., Milpitas

Wednesday, December 11
6:00PM Holy Rosary
7:00PM Danza Saint Elizabeth
8:00PM Play, the apparitions of Our lady of Guadalupe
9:00PM-10:00PM Las Mañanitas with Band

Thursday, December 12
6:00PM Holy Rosary
7:00PM Holy Mass with Mariachi/ Folkcloric Ballet

-MORGAN HILL-

Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish
17400 Peak Ave, Morgan Hill

-MOUNTAIN VIEW-

Saint Joseph Mountain View Parish
582 Hope St., Mountain View

-SAN JOSE-

Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph
80 South Market St., San Jose

Dec. 12, 6:00 am. Spanish
Dec. 12, 7:00 pm. Spanish

Christ the King Parish
5284 Monterey Rd, San Jose

Dec 12, 5am Mananitas a la Virgen de Guadalupe
6am Spanish Mass
9am English Mass
7pm Spanish Mass

Church of the Transfiguration Parish
4325 Jarvis Ave, San Jose

December 12
8:45 am, English with Mariachis

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
2020 East San Antonio St, San Jose

Friday, December 6 (Diocesan Celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe)
6:00 pm Procession
7:00 pm Holy Mass
8:00 pm Reception and Entertainment

Our Lady of Refuge
2165 Lucretia Avenue, San Jose

Sacred Heart of San Jose
325 Willow St., San Jose

Saint John Vianney Parish
4600 Hyland Avenue, San Jose

December 12 
6:00 am Las Mañanitas Mass with Mariachi followed by Menudo and Pan Dulce Breakfast

Saint Maria Gorretti Parish
2980 Senter Rd., San Jose

-SUNNYVALE-

St. Cyprian
December 11th – 8:30pm – 11:00pm – Adoration of the Bleassed Sacrament
December 12th – 4:30am – Recitation of the Rosary followed by Mañita
12:10pm – English Mass
                           7:00pm – Spanish Mass

 

 

Bishop Cantú echoes U.S. Bishops President Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio’s Call for Prayers and Unity Following Presidential Election

Bishop Cantu’s statement: “I echo the words of Cardinal Parolin (Secretary of State of the Vatican) and the statement of Archbishop Boglio (President of the USCCB) regarding the election of President-elect Donald Trump. “

U.S. Bishops’ President Calls for Prayers and Unity Following Presidential Election

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued a statement following the results of yesterday’s presidential election.

WASHINGTON – Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued a statement following the results of yesterday’s presidential election.

Archbishop Broglio’s statement follows:

“In the United States, we are fortunate to live in a democracy and yesterday Americans went to the polls to choose who should lead our country as the next President of the United States. I congratulate President-elect Trump, as well as the national, state and local officials who campaigned to represent the people. Now, we move from campaigning to governing. We rejoice in our ability to transition peacefully from one government to the next.

“The Catholic Church is not aligned with any political party, and neither is the bishops’ conference. No matter who occupies the White House or holds the majority on Capitol Hill, the Church’s teachings remain unchanged, and we bishops look forward to working with the people’s elected representatives to advance the common good of all. As Christians, and as Americans, we have the duty to treat each other with charity, respect, and civility, even if we may disagree on how to carry out matters of public policy. As a Nation blessed with many gifts we must also be concerned for those outside our borders and eager to offer assistance to all.

“Let us pray for President-elect Trump, as well as all leaders in public life, that they may rise to meet the responsibilities entrusted to them as they serve our country and those whom they represent. Let us ask for the intercession of our Blessed Mother, the patroness of our nation, that she guide to uphold the common good of all and promote the dignity of the human person, especially the most vulnerable among us, including the unborn, the poor, the stranger, the elderly and infirm, and migrants.”

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Dispensation in the Diocese of San José of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Holy Day of Obligation

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Every December 8, we joyfully celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States. However, this year, 2024, December 8 falls on the Second Sunday of Advent. As a result, the celebration of the Solemnity will be transferred to Monday, December 9.

The Holy See has recently clarified that the obligation to attend Mass on this solemnity remains. However, given the relatively short notice of this clarification, in the Diocese of San Jose, in accordance with Canon 87, §1, I am granting a dispensation, this year only, to the Catholic Faithful from the obligation to attend Mass on Monday, December 9.

While the obligation will no longer be in effect this year, I encourage those who are able to attend Mass on this holy day, as a way to honor the Blessed Mother and to ask for her intercession for our country.
Please be assured of my prayers and blessings as we approach the great Feast of Christ the King, and enter the sacred season of Advent.

In Christ,
+ Oscar Cantú
Bishop of San Jose, California