In the heart of East San José, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish stands as a place of faith, welcome, and hope. Every week, thousands of parishioners gather for Mass, prayer, formation, and fellowship, creating a vibrant community rooted in devotion to Christ and care for one another. As a recipient of a Catholic Community Foundation Living the Faith Grant, the parish is building on that strong foundation to strengthen families, enrich worship, and expand opportunities for spiritual formation.
Each year, the Foundation visits a handful of grant recipients to deliver their Living the Faithawards and learn firsthand about the ministries transforming parish life across the Diocese. During our visit to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, we encountered a community marked by extraordinary faith, dedicated volunteers, and a shared desire to grow deeper in discipleship.
A Parish with Deep Roots in Community
For generations, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish has been a spiritual home for East San José’s immigrant communities. Located in one of the city’s most diverse yet economically vulnerable neighborhoods, the parish serves a predominantly Latino immigrant community while also welcoming a vibrant Filipino community through its English-language Masses.
The parish’s impact is evident not only in its size, but also in the depth of its engagement. Each weekend, between 3,000 and 3,500 people participate in one of six Masses. Spanish-language liturgies regularly exceed the church’s seating capacity, reflecting a community where faith remains a guiding force in daily life.
The parish is perhaps best known throughout the Diocese for its annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration. What begins as a devotional observance grows into a two-day expression of faith and culture, drawing as many as 15,000 to 17,000 participants for Masses, prayer, music, food, and fellowship.
Beyond Sunday worship, the parish serves as a hub of support, advocacy, and accompaniment for families throughout East San José. Parishioners participate in Bible studies, faith formation programs, and sacramental preparation, while community members benefit from a wide network of services offered through parish partnerships. Working alongside Catholic Charities, PACT (People Acting in Community Together), and other local organizations, the parish hosts immigration legal assistance, educational workshops, and community support gatherings. The Rotary Mobile Medical Clinic also visits the parish once a month, offering a range of free and low-cost healthcare services for those in need. These ministries reflect the parish’s longstanding commitment to addressing both the spiritual and practical needs of its neighbors, especially immigrant families seeking guidance, resources, and a welcoming community.
A Community Eager to Grow
Leading the parish is Fr. Hugo Rojas, who became pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in 2024, bringing with him nearly three decades of priestly ministry. Originally from Argentina, he served as a missionary in Taiwan for ten years before ministering at St. Mary’s in Gilroy, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph, and Our Lady of Refuge in San José.
Drawing on his years of pastoral experience, Fr. Hugo recognized both the tremendous strengths of the parish and the opportunities for continued growth. The people of Our Lady of Guadalupe are eager to serve, to learn, and to share their faith with others.
Fr. Hugo is confident that parishioners will respond when given opportunities to serve. As he has seen throughout his ministry, many people are simply waiting to be invited.
– Fr. Hugo
“People are just waiting for you to open the door. They ask me, ‘Father, what can I do for the Church? If you don’t invite me, I don’t show up.’”
That spirit of generosity is one of the parish’s greatest strengths. From Bible studies and faith formation programs to liturgical ministries and community outreach, parishioners are eager to share their gifts in service of the Church and one another.
Bible study groups regularly draw dozens of participants, daily Masses are well attended, and more than 500 children, youth, and adults participate annually in sacramental preparation and faith formation programs. The parish’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) program helps people prepare for the sacraments and deepen their Catholic faith. These programs reflect a community that is eager to grow in faith and deepen its relationship with Christ.
The need became even more apparent during a challenging period in early 2026, when concerns surrounding immigration enforcement created anxiety for many families and led to a decline in Mass attendance. In response, the parish expanded support services, offered opportunities for education and accompaniment, and created spaces where community members could receive reliable information and encouragement. The experience highlighted both the vulnerability of the community and the parish’s commitment to walking alongside its people in times of uncertainty.
Pastoral Ministry with Families
After listening to parishioners and consulting with the Parish Pastoral Council, parish leaders identified family ministry and formation as two of the community’s highest priorities. Through the Living the Faith Grant, the parish will offer workshops and formation opportunities led by Catholic psychologists, marriage counselors, therapists, and other professionals to help families strengthen communication, navigate life’s challenges, and grow in faith together.
Building on a successful partnership with the University of Notre Dame, the parish will continue expanding its family ministry offerings, including a special event with internationally recognized Catholic musician and speaker Martín Valverde, whose presentations on faith, family, and discipleship have inspired audiences throughout the Spanish-speaking world. Parish leaders hope these opportunities will provide practical tools and spiritual support that help families become stronger witnesses of Christ in the home and the wider community.
“Formation is a great need here. We have volunteers eager to serve, but they lack formation. Some are in [the Diocese of San José’s] ILM [Institute for Leadership in Ministry], and some can’t participate right now. But formation is essential for both our parishioners and our leaders,” said Fr. Hugo.
Worship and Liturgical Enhancement
The Eucharist is the heart of parish life, and creating an environment where parishioners can fully participate in the liturgy remains a priority. Living the Faith Grant funding will support upgrades to the parish sound system, including new speakers and wireless microphones that will improve the clarity and reliability of audio throughout the church.
For a parish welcoming thousands of worshippers each weekend, these improvements will help parishioners more fully engage in the Mass by clearly hearing Scripture readings, homilies, prayers, and music.
Youth Ministry / Spiritual Formation
Formation extends across every generation at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. The parish plans to host two Youth Encounter Retreats, creating opportunities for young people to grow closer to Christ through prayer, reflection, the sacraments, and community.
The retreats complement the parish’s broader commitment to leadership development and faith formation, helping young people deepen their Catholic identity while encouraging them to become active participants in the life and mission of the Church.
Looking Ahead
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish is a powerful example of a community rich in faith, service, and possibility. Throughout the community, parishioners are already stepping forward, asking how they can serve. The opportunity before the parish is providing the formation, support, and leadership development that will help them fully live out their faith.
The Catholic Community Foundation’s Living the Faith Grants support parish ministries that bring the Diocese of San José’s Pastoral Plan to life. In 2025, the Foundation awarded $327,000 across 45 parishes throughout the Diocese of San Jose, supporting initiatives aligned with the Diocese’s pastoral vision, Renewed in Christ, Together in Mission. By supporting parishes like Our Lady of Guadalupe, these grants help strengthen families, deepen faith, and create long-term impact throughout the diocese.
Learn more about the Living the Faith Grants for parishes in the Diocese of San José: https://catholiccf.org/grants/living-the-faith/.
If you’d like to support the endowments that make these grants possible, visit: https://catholiccf.org/funds/#foi.