October 30, 2011


Our Lady of Refuge: A New Parish


As many of you have received a letter from Bishop Patrick McGrath, perhaps as many heard my presentation and appeal for funding a new diocesan parish, Our Lady of Refuge. By the end of last summer, the diocese purchased a non-denominational church property for sale on Lucretia Ave. in San Jose near Spartan Stadium and Kelley Park. Presently, it falls in the parochial boundary of St. Maria Goretti Parish and boarders Sacred Heart near Willow Glen and St. Patrick in downtown San Jose. A new Catholic Parish in this area will lend stability to an area of San Jose troubled by poverty and gang violence.

It was truly a blessing for us to find a property with as many as facilities available at Our Lady of Refuge. Normally, when a new parish is formed, Catholics begin to raise funds in order to build a parish church. My home parish began in a similar way. Fr. Ronald Mentasti convened an assembly for Mass each Sunday in Santa Clara in a barn. In the case of the new parish, the church and facilities already exists, and the initial costs were covered by a fund from the Catholic Foundation. Contractors are making improvements to the church building in order facilitate Catholic Mass. Improvements are also necessary for the other gathering spaces on the property.

Our Lady of Refuge Parish will incorporate the Santee Mission. For some time now, Sisters of the Holy Names have worked with Catholic Latinos in the Santee area very near the new parish. Now this same community will be able to call Our Lady of Refuge their new home. If everything goes as planned, the new parish will be ready by late January of 2012.

St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish continues to play an important role in the development of this new parish. Our partnership with the Sisters of the Holy Names and our current participation in forming leaders is an essential element to the growth of this new endeavor. Our commitment of $250,000.00 over a five-year period will allow the parish to form administration for parish finances, catechetical programs, sacramental preparation, and community organizing. It will take time for the administration to put into place these aspects of parish life, and we are committed to assisting them for this purpose.

Just as with the formation of any parish, funds provided by the diocese must be reimbursed. The funds provided by Catholic Foundation will be repaid so that we may endeavor to create other parishes. I urge you to help by contributing whatever you are able to this worthy cause. Let’s share our wealth with the people of Our Lady of Refuge.


Fr. Rick