At 2040 Nassau Drive in San Jose, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church is the only Jesuit parish in the Diocese of San Jose. The parish serves an ethnically diverse community that includes Hispanic, Vietnamese, Filipino, Samoan, and other families, and it identifies four language communities: English, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Tagalog. Its mission is concise: We discover and proclaim God's love through worship, prayer, study, and good works. The church combines multilingual Catholic worship with a full formation life, an active young adult community, an Ignatian Spirituality Center, a Catholic school, and service that includes a food pantry and health ministry.
The Only Jesuit Parish in the Diocese of San Jose
Most Holy Trinity was founded in 1961 as a parish of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, with Father Thomas Bowe as its first pastor. In 1981, the Vatican formed the Diocese of San Jose from the southern portion of the Archdiocese, bringing Most Holy Trinity into the new diocese. The Society of Jesus was placed in charge of the parish in 1992, when St. Joseph Church became the diocesan cathedral. The Jesuits had administered St. Joseph for 141 years, from 1851 to 1992, before transferring their work to Most Holy Trinity.
The parish's Jesuit identity shapes its worship, formation, and service. Its charism emphasizes the greater glory of God, a personal love for Jesus, labor with the Church, apostolic availability, unity of hearts and minds, a preference for spiritual ministry, discernment, adaptability, respect for human and natural gifts, and a synthesis of contemplative and active life. This is the spirit described by St. Ignatius and carried forward in the parish's emphasis on prayer, discernment, education, and service.
Most Holy Trinity states that human beings are created by God in love and that the dignity of the person is fundamental, even though people are capable of sin. The parish affirms the Holy Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Incarnation in Jesus, the crucifixion, death, and resurrection, the communion of saints, and stewardship of creation, time, talent, and treasure. Believers are understood as members of the living Body of Christ, called to share their gifts in community.
Its cultural communities do not merge into a single ethnic identity. The Hispanic, Vietnamese, Filipino, Samoan, and other communities share in multicultural liturgies and events while retaining language-specific formation, prayer, music, and leadership. Fr. Elias Puentes, SJ, has described the four language communities as needing one another, with the parish strongest when they live as one diverse community.
Mass in English, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Tagalog
Mass is the center of parish life, and the weekly schedule gives visitors several choices of language and time:
- Monday through Saturday: English Mass at 8:00 AM.
- Monday through Friday: Vietnamese Mass at 5:30 PM.
- Friday: Spanish Mass at 7:30 PM, with a Healing Mass on the first Friday of each month.
- Saturday vigil: Vietnamese Mass at 4:00 PM in person and livestreamed, followed by Spanish Mass at 6:00 PM.
Sunday worship continues throughout the day with the following Masses:
- 7:30 AM: English.
- 9:15 AM: English.
- 11:00 AM: Spanish.
- 12:45 PM: Tagalog and English.
- 3:45 PM: Vietnamese.
- 5:30 PM: English for youth and young adults.
- 7:00 PM: Vietnamese.
The Mass of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, including novena prayer, follows the 8:00 AM Mass on Wednesdays. The Friday evening Spanish celebration carries a special healing emphasis on the first Friday of the month. Saturday confession is offered from 3:00 to 3:30 PM, and additional confession times are available on the first Friday of each month from 8:45 to 9:15 AM and from 4:45 to 5:15 PM. Longer appointments can be arranged with a priest through the parish office.
The Saturday 4:00 PM Vietnamese Mass can be watched through the parish's YouTube livestream. The 5:30 PM Sunday Mass has a distinct youth and young adult character, with a meditative setting and candlelight that complement the multilingual worship offered throughout the day.
Rosary, Adoration, and the Four Weeks of the Spiritual Exercises
Prayer begins before the daily English Mass with the Rosary at 7:10 AM from Monday through Saturday. A Spanish Rosary is prayed on Fridays at 7:00 PM, followed by Adoration and Contemplation of the Blessed Sacrament from 8:05 to 8:30 PM. In St. Ignatius Chapel, Eucharistic Adoration is available daily from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. On the first Saturday of each month, the parish celebrates a 9:00 AM Marian Mass in Vietnamese and holds Spanish Eucharistic Adoration at 9:00 PM.
At the Ignatian Spirituality Center, retreats, workshops, and a dedicated prayer environment extend the parish's worship life into contemplative formation. The center's approach is rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, which are presented as four stages of prayer:
- The First Week invites prayerful awareness of one's identity before God, the reality of evil, and the gift of God's mercy.
- The Second Week focuses on an deepening commitment to Jesus and his mission.
- The Third Week places people in prayerful presence with the passion and death of Jesus.
- The Fourth Week turns toward the joy of Christ and the resurrection, encouraging an awareness of God in ordinary life.
The Christian Life Program adds another route into community through an eight-session experience for singles, couples, and families with children. Childcare and age-appropriate activities are part of the program, allowing children to participate while adults take part in faith-sharing and formation.
Stained Glass, Oyster Shell, and a Renewed Sanctuary
The church interior was overhauled after the pandemic. Those returning to the parish encounter new stained-glass windows, new pews, and a prayerful sanctuary. Even before entering from the Cunningham side, visitors can see the facade's image of the Trinity, modeled after the famous icon created by Russian painter Andrei Rublev.
Inside, an image of the Holy Spirit has replaced an old circular nuclear sign. A new baptismal font is positioned below the rose window of the Holy Spirit; together they represent Jesus's baptism, when all three persons of the Trinity were present. The sanctuary's central panel is covered with off-white oyster shell tiles, symbolizing the brilliant white garment of Jesus at the Transfiguration.
At the center of that panel are the crucifix and tabernacle, with the altar on the same line of sight. The parish describes these three elements as the essence of the mysteries of salvation reenacted at every Mass. Around the walls, 28 stained-glass windows use flowing lines to suggest the movement of the Holy Spirit. Among the scenes are the Holy Family, representing the Incarnation, and the Great Commissioning of the Apostles, continuing the mission of Jesus.
The sacred-space plan includes the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, a prayer garden, landscaped grounds, and a Marian Grotto intended for young families. Together, these spaces make room for both communal worship and contemplative prayer.
Children, Parents, and Adults in Formation
Children and parents preparing for the sacraments
The Order of Christian Initiation for Children serves children who are not baptized and those preparing for First Communion or Confirmation. Preparation is generally a two-year process built around Jesus, the Church, community, moral values, the sacraments, Reconciliation, the Eucharist, the Creed, Scripture, and life as a Christian. Families are expected to participate fully, with parents attending sessions alongside their children and at least one sponsor or godparent joining during the final phase of preparation.
Children's catechesis is offered from September through May on Sundays from 10:45 AM to 12:15 PM. Confirmation preparation for students age 13 or in eighth grade is a two-year Track A and Track B program meeting from 3:30 to 6:30 PM and concluding with Mass. The program combines classroom formation, parish service, retreats, and the sharing of faith among peers. Younger children in First Communion preparation also take part in a retreat at the parish campus with a parent or sponsor.
English and Spanish Family Faith Formation accepts children from age six or first grade through age 13. Spanish sessions meet from 9:00 to 10:30 AM on Sundays, while English sessions meet from 10:45 AM to 12:15 PM. At least one parent attends the parallel family session in the gym while students participate in their classes.
Children under seven preparing for Baptism follow a separate process that includes gathering documents, attending a baptismal preparation class, and meeting with a priest or deacon. English and Spanish classes meet in the Trinity Center Community Room from 2:00 to 3:30 PM on the third Sunday of each month.
Adults joining the Catholic faith
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is open to people 18 and older. Candidates may be baptized Catholics who never received religious education, First Communion, or Confirmation, as well as members of other Christian denominations, followers of other religions, or people with no religious affiliation. Weekly sessions meet on Monday evenings in Spanish and Tuesday evenings in English, with monthly summer sessions. Preparation for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation is completed together, with the sacraments generally received at the Easter Vigil.
Marriage and family formation include Couples for Christ in English and Spanish, Movimiento Familiar Cristiano, the Spanish Cursillo de Cristiandad, a Vietnamese marriage preparation program, and Worldwide Marriage Encounter. Cursillo begins with a three-day retreat focused on God's love and its effect on personal, community, and work life, then continues through retreats, prayer gatherings, and service.
Vietnamese formation and youth leadership
The Vietnamese Faith Formation Program prepares children and adults for the sacraments of initiation, with instruction organized by age group under the direction of Sr. Bernadette Nguyen. The Vietnamese Youth Leaders Program adds weekly community, cultural learning, faith workshops, retreats, liturgy participation, and charitable service. Its three pillars are belonging, believing, and becoming, with the aim of forming compassionate disciples who serve people on the margins.
Doan Teresa Thang Hoi Dong, founded in 1999 under the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement, also trains young people to become better people and good Christians while spreading the Gospel through charitable service. The parish's Filipino and Samoan communities likewise have dedicated organizations, while Equipo Pastoral coordinates the Hispanic community's groups and ministries and the Vietnamese Leadership Group coordinates Vietnamese community activities and participation in multicultural events.
A Place to Belong at the 5:30 Mass
The Young Adult Ministry serves people ages 18 to 39 and those who consider themselves young at heart. Its aim is to provide a safe place to encounter God's transforming grace, build authentic relationships, and grow in faith through worship, prayer, study, service, and community. The 5:30 PM Sunday Mass is the group's central gathering point.
Young adult activities include a homeless service day, social events, candlelit worship, Eucharistic Adoration with music, and a collaboration with Christus Ministries called Java, Jazz & Jesus. The ministry's leadership team, SALT, or Servants as Leadership Team, includes Fr. Marty Silva as chaplain, Nathan Dias for spiritual formation, Natalie To for liturgy, Nancy Le for events, Vivian Truong for external communications, and Harry Zhu for internal communications and administration.
Baptism, Marriage, Reconciliation, and Funerals
The parish's sacramental life includes preparation rooted in prayer, documents, and participation in the community. For a child's Baptism, parents are encouraged to begin early because the process takes about two months. The parish gathers an official birth certificate and the godparents' Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation certificates; married godparents also provide their Catholic marriage certificate. The parents and godparents attend a preparation class, while the parents meet with a priest or deacon. Godparents must be at least 16, received the sacraments of initiation, and be practicing Catholics living in accordance with the teachings of the Church.
First Communion and Confirmation also belong to a two-year formation process. Adults seeking these sacraments are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Reconciliation is offered every Saturday from 3:00 to 3:30 PM, and the parish teaches that the sacrament is an encounter with Jesus whose mercy calls people to conversion and repentance.
Marriage preparation at Most Holy Trinity asks couples to set aside six to nine months for preparation, diocesan marriage preparation, and reflection on their shared life. The process includes interviews with a priest or deacon, the FOCCUS premarriage inventory, a wedding license, and a 90-minute ceremony that includes time for photography. Wedding dates are reserved after a non-refundable deposit, with the remaining offering due at least one month before the ceremony. Music is arranged through the parish's Director of Music so that selections fit the Catholic liturgy.
The Anointing of the Sick is offered to anyone facing a serious health issue, whether or not the person is in immediate danger of death. In addition to the hoped-for gift of physical healing, the parish emphasizes the sacrament's spiritual healing, including peace and courage during illness or the frailty of old age. Funeral arrangements begin with the funeral home, which coordinates the vigil, Funeral Mass, and burial with the parish.
Most Holy Trinity also supports discernment about priestly, religious, and lay vocations. Reflective signs considered in this process include an uncommon peace, recognition of one's deepest desire, unexpected possibilities, confirmation from others, and deep joy in considering a life of religious service.
Catholic School, Multilingual Music, and Cultural Communities
Most Holy Trinity School was founded in 1965 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur to provide Catholic education and formation to parish families and the surrounding area. Jesuit priests participate in and support the school, and Fr. Martin Silva serves as its chaplain. The school serves children from transitional kindergarten through eighth grade under principal Darlene Sanchez. Its educational approach emphasizes faith, academic excellence, lifelong learning, and servant leadership. More information is available through the Most Holy Trinity School program.
Music helps carry the parish's languages and cultures into worship. Spanish, Vietnamese, and Filipino music ministries welcome people who love God and music, with no prior musical background required. The Liturgy Planning Committee coordinates major liturgical seasons and feast days and supports lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, ushers, Mass coordinators, the music ministry, and the ministry to sick and homebound people.
The parish's wider community life includes Equipo Pastoral, Samahang Filipino, the Samoan Community, the Vietnamese Leadership Group, the Legion of Mary, the Spanish Grupo de Oración, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Columbus Squires, and the young adult and youth leadership groups. These ministries give the four language communities distinct ways to participate while sharing in the life of the parish.
Food for Families and Care for Health
The MHT Food Pantry has served the local community since 2007 and reports feeding hundreds of thousands of families over the years. Its purpose is to provide food in a loving, caring, and compassionate way. Food distribution takes place at Most Holy Trinity on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. A separate distribution for people experiencing homelessness occurs every Wednesday from 10:00 AM to noon at the Tully Road location.
The MHT Parish Health Ministry provides education and support in health and wellness. It offers monthly blood pressure and blood sugar screenings after morning Masses. Registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and students in accredited nursing programs also take part in annual flu-shot clinics with Walgreens and community health fairs. Licensed health care professionals can volunteer with the ministry.
Comunidad Activa Socorro, a Spanish-language outreach ministry, helps people facing cancer by easing financial burdens. The St. Vincent de Paul Society provides a concrete channel for parish service, while PACT's - People Acting in Community Together - brings together another community organization connected to the parish. These efforts continue the social justice and service dimensions of the Jesuit charism.
Shared Stewardship and a Welcoming Parish
Stewardship at Most Holy Trinity includes financial support through the WeShare giving service, which allows one-time or recurring contributions and direct allocation to weekly offerings and other parish collections. The offertory basket continues, and weekly envelopes remain available for people who prefer that form of giving. Donors may use checking accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, and major credit cards, and electronic receipts are available. Giving is handled through MHT Online Giving.
The parish office at 408-729-0101 is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed Saturday through Monday and during legal and church holidays. The church is at 2040 Nassau Drive in San Jose, with worship, formation, music, sacraments, school life, contemplative prayer, and community service all forming parts of one parish life.
Most Holy Trinity's shared identity is found in the meeting of four language communities and the church's mission to discover and proclaim God's love through worship, prayer, study, and good works. In the renovated sanctuary, the St. Ignatius Chapel, the classrooms, the music ministries, the food pantry, and the many cultural organizations, that mission takes a concrete and shared form in San Jose.