Fr. Kevin Joyce

05/28/1949 – 03/01/2025

Passed on to God’s Eternal Care, in Palo Alto, on March 1, 2025, at 75 years of age, Reverend Kevin Patrick Joyce, dearly beloved son of the late Patrick and Margaret (Margie) Joyce; loving brother of the late Brian Joyce, preceded in death by all of his aunts and uncles and many cousins; survived by numerous cousins and many friends both locally and nationally.

Fr. Kevin was born on May 28, 1949, and was raised as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ at St. Philip Neri Parish in Alameda. He was a graduate of St. Joseph High School and St. Patrick College, Mountain View, and St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park. Fr. Kevin was ordained to the priesthood on April 12, 1980, for the Archdiocese of San Francisco by the late Most Reverend John R. Quinn. In 1981, when the new Diocese of San Jose was formed Fr. Kevin decided to serve in the new presbyterate. He served with distinction for almost 45 years in the following assignments, St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Morgan Hill (1980-1985), faculty of St. Joseph College, Mountain View, CA (1985-1988), director of the permanent diaconate (1985-1988); completed his doctoral dissertation in Catholic spirituality through Catholic University of America (1988-1991), parochial vicar at St. Maria Goretti Church, San Jose, CA (1991-1993) and then pastor (1993-2005), founder of SpiritSite Spirituality Center, under the auspices of the Diocese of San Jose (2004-2009), pastor of St. Lucy Church (2009-2015). Following retirement, Fr. Kevin served at Our Lady of Guadalupe, San Jose (2015-2018), full-time chaplain of Presentation Center, Los Gatos (2018-19). For the past 6 years, Fr. Kevin has served on the faculty of St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park, both as professor and spiritual director and serving at St. John Vianney Parish in San Jose.

Fr. Kevin recently published an autobiography about the first 30 years of his spiritual journey entitled, “Surprised by Grace.” He was greatly influenced by the spiritual masters of St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, and the Desert Fathers. He had great hopes that his journey would help people see the beauty and truth of the Christian faith in the modern day. Fr. Kevin was an accomplished pianist and organist and composer of sacred music.

Please join us in praying for the repose of Fr. Kevin’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.