Jun 5, 2025
With profound sorrow, I condemn the antisemitic attacks that have wounded our nation in recent weeks — the June 1 Molotov-cocktail attack on Jewish walkers in Boulder, Colorado, and the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. These assaults on innocent lives spring from a hatred that goes against the tenants of all world religions. Antisemitism is a grave sin against God and humanity, and it has no place in the heart of a just society.
While many have legitimate concerns about the war in Gaza, targeting civilians with violence can never be justified. Pope Leo expressed his own heartfelt cry, “I am deeply hurt by what is happening in the Gaza Strip.”
I ask the faithful of the Diocese of San José and all people of goodwill to join me in fervent prayer for the healing of the injured, the consolation of grieving families, and the conversion of hearts, so that peace may be sought, beginning in our hearts, and the dignity of all humanity might be respected. May our voices and actions always stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters, witnessing to the dignity of every person of every religion and to the peace that God wills for the entire human family.
† Most Rev. Oscar Cantú
Bishop of San José
May 26, 2025
To serve the people of God and following extensive consultation with the Clergy Personnel Board over the last few months, Bishop Oscar Cantú has made the following new clergy assignments effective July 1, 2025, unless otherwise indicated.
Office of Pastor
- Rev. Edgar Elamparo I from parochial vicar of Saint John the Baptist Parish in Milpitas to pastor of Santa Teresa Parish in San Jose
- Rev. Mark Gazzingan from pastor of Saint Victor Parish in San Jose to pastor of Church of the Resurrection Parish in Sunnyvale
- Rev. John Offor from parochial vicar of Saint Victor Parish in San Jose to pastor of Saint Victor Parish in San Jose
- Elias Puentes, SJ from outside the diocese to pastor of Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose
Parish Administrator
- Rev. Manuel Pato from outside the diocese to parish administrator of Five Wounds Parish in San Jose, effective August 1, 2025.
Office of Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Ukeme-Abasi Bassey from outside the diocese to parochial vicar of Saint Joseph of Cupertino
- Rev. Christopher Bolongo from parochial vicar of Saint Simon Parish in Los Altos to parochial vicar of Saint Mary of Immaculate Conception Parish in Los Gatos
- Rev. Vincent Duong, SJ from outside the diocese to parochial vicar of Most Holy Trinity Parish in San Jose
- Rev. Mr. Thanh Ho, to parochial vicar to Saint Simon Parish in Los Altos following his ordination to the priesthood
- Rev. Louis Lava from parochial vicar of Saint John Vianney Parish in San Jose to parochial vicar of Church of the Resurrection Parish in Sunnyvale
- Rev. Gabriel Lee from parochial vicar of Saint Joseph of Cupertino to parochial vicar of Holy Korean Martyrs Parish in San Jose
- Rev. Miguel Lombardi from administrator of the San Jose Chinese Catholic Community to parochial vicar of Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph
- Rev. Timothy Moran, LC from outside of the diocese to parochial vicar of Saint Leo the Great Parish in San Jose
- Rev. Joseph Nguyen from parochial vicar of Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph to parochial vicar of Saint John Vianney Parish in San Jose
- Rev. Joseph Page is assigned as parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish in San Jose
- Rev. Pedro Perez-Sencion from parochial vicar of Saint Julie Parish in San Jose to parochial vicar of Saint Maria Goretti Parish in San Jose
- Rev. W. Eric Piczon from parochial vicar of Saint Maria Goretti Parish in San Jose to parochial vicar of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph, concurrently serving as Director of Vocations
- Msgr. Francisco Rios from parochial vicar of Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph to parochial vicar of Saint Clare Parish in Santa Clara
- Rev. Victor Trinidad from parochial vicar of Saint Clare Parish in Santa Clara to parochial vicar of Saint John the Baptist Parish in Milpitas
- Rev. Lieu Vu from parochial vicar of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in San Jose to parochial vicar of Saint Victor Parish in San Jose
- Rev. Arthur Yabes from parochial vicar of Church of the Resurrection in Sunnyvale to parochial vicar of Saint Julie Parish in San Jose
Special Assignments
- Rev. Michael Carson, returning from assignment with the USCCB, has been appointed interim director, Life, Justice and Peace.
- Rev. John Phong Nguyen from pastor of Resurrection Parish in Sunnyvale to Chaplain for Regional Medical Center
- Rev. Hao Dinh is assigned as director of the Vietnamese Catholic Center while continuing to serve as pastor of Ascension Parish in Saratoga.
Retirement with our deepest gratitude for their service
- Rev. George Aranha
- Rev. Anthony Tuong Nguyen
- Rev. Antonio Silvera, effective July 30, 2025
Departures from the Diocese of San José with our deepest gratitude for their service
- Rev. Dominic Delay, OP
- Rev. Martin Ezeador
- Rev. Andrew Garcia, SJ
- Rev. Francis Nguyen, SJ
- Rev. Duc Vu, SJ
Permanent Deacons
- Deacon Claus Dahm has been assigned to Saint Julie Billiart Parish in San Jose
- Deacon Dinh Chu is assigned as associate director of the Vietnamese Catholic Center
- Deacon John Kerrigan on sabbatical
May 12, 2025
Fr. Joseph Tinh Nguyen was born on April 25, 1931, in Vinh Ha Parish, Diocese of Phat Diem, Vietnam. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 29, 1957, at the Cathedral of Lyon, France. The Lord called him home at 12:24 AM on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Garden Grove, California. He was 94 years old.
Fr. Joseph entered Phuc Nhac Seminary at a young age and was known for his intelligence and devout character. Recognizing his potential, Bishop Thaddeus Le Huu Tu selected him to pursue studies in Europe from 1950 to 1972.
- 1950–1953: Studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome
- 1953–1958: Continued studies at the Institut Catholique de Lyon and in Paris
After his ordination, he pursued advanced studies in physics while also engaging in pastoral ministry:
- 1957–1958: Chaplain to Vietnamese students in France and Germany
- 1958–1960: Studied at the University of Sorbonne, France
- 1960–1971: Earned a Doctorate in Physics from the University of Bonn, West Germany
- 1971–1973: Professor at the University of Bonn; pastoral ministry in France and Germany
- 1973–1975: Lecturer at Phu Tho Institute of Technology, Saigon, Vietnam
- 1975–1988: Incardinated into the Diocese of San José; served the Vietnamese Catholic community
- 1980–1983: Founding President of the Federation of Vietnamese Catholics in the USA
- 1988–2005: Pastoral ministry in Germany
- 2005–2025: Retired
Fr. Joseph is survived by many nieces and nephews residing in both Northern and Southern California, as well as in Vietnam.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at Our Lady of La Vang Church on May 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM, followed by burial at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in the priests’ section on the same day.
May his soul rest in peace.
May 8, 2025
Spanish
With grateful hearts, the Church proclaims Habemus Papam! — We have a pope.
I join Catholics throughout the Diocese of San José in welcoming Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, OSA. A son of Chicago who answered the Lord’s call as an Augustinian missionary, he spent much of his priestly and episcopal ministry in Peru—eventually becoming a citizen of Peru—before serving the universal Church in Rome.
By choosing the name Leo, our Holy Father nods to Pope Leo XIII, author of Rerum Novarum (1891), the landmark encyclical that placed the dignity of workers and the demands of justice at the heart of Catholic social teaching. Pope Leo XIV’s first words from the loggia — a call to “build bridges, not divide” — signal a pastoral desire to span the distance between divisions. Our new Holy Father embodies the richness of the Church’s global family: he understands the rhythms of North America while carrying within him the lived faith of the global South. Having shepherded the Augustinian Order and most recently advised the universal Church on episcopal appointments, he brings both administrative wisdom and a missionary’s heart for evangelization in the 21st century.
Let us entrust our new pontiff to the Holy Spirit, asking that his ministry as Bishop of Rome and Successor of Peter be marked by humility, courage, and tenderness toward all. May he inspire us to be a people who listen, accompany, and proclaim the Gospel with joy.
To unite our prayers, I will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the Election of Pope Leo XIV on Monday, May 19, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph at 7:00 p.m.. I invite every parish and school to remember the Holy Father in their liturgies and devotions in the days ahead.
Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, intercede for Pope Leo XIV and for us, that together we may “keep our arms open” in welcome and walk faithfully in the love of Christ.
+ Oscar Cantú
Bishop of San José
May 8, 2025
English
Con un corazón agradecido, la Iglesia proclama ¡Habemus Papam! —Tenemos un Papa.
Me uno a los católicos de la Diócesis de San José para dar la bienvenida al Papa León XIV, cuyo verdadero nombre es Robert Francis Prevost, OSA. Oriundo de Chicago, Illinois, y quien respondió al llamado del Señor como misionero agustino. Pasó gran parte de su ministerio sacerdotal y episcopal en Perú, donde finalmente se nacionalizó peruano, antes de servir a la Iglesia universal en Roma.
Al elegir el nombre de León, nuestro Santo Padre rinde homenaje al Papa León XIII, autor de Rerum Novarum (1891), la encíclica histórica que situó la dignidad de los trabajadores y las exigencias de la justicia en el centro de la doctrina social católica. Las primeras palabras del Papa León XIV desde la logia —un llamado a «construir puentes, no dividir»— indican un deseo pastoral de salvar las distancias entre las divisiones. Nuestro nuevo Santo Padre encarna la riqueza de la familia global de la Iglesia: comprende los ritmos de Norteamérica y lleva en sí la fe viva del Sur global. Habiendo pastoreado la Orden Agustina y recientemente asesorado a la Iglesia universal en nombramientos episcopales, aporta sabiduría administrativa y un corazón misionero para la evangelización del siglo XXI.
Encomendemos a nuestro nuevo pontífice al Espíritu Santo, pidiendo que su ministerio como Obispo de Roma y Sucesor de Pedro se caracterice por la humildad, la valentía y la ternura hacia todos. Que nos inspire a ser un pueblo que escucha, acompaña y proclama el Evangelio con alegría.
Para unir nuestras oraciones a la Iglesia Universal, celebraré una Misa de Acción de Gracias por la Elección del Papa León XIV el lunes, 19 de mayo en la catedral de San Jose a la 7:00 pm. Invito a todas las parroquias y escuelas a recordar al Santo Padre en sus liturgias y devociones en los próximos días.
Santa María, Madre de la Iglesia, intercede por el Papa León XIV y por nosotros, para que juntos abramos los brazos y caminemos fielmente en el amor de Cristo.
Monseñor Oscar Cantú
Obispo de San José
