Name of Church St. Joseph Church
Address 837 Tennent Avenue, Pinole, CA 94564
Phone number (510) 741-4900
Website www.sjcpinole.org
Mass Schedule Saturday vigil at 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. (Spanish) Sundays, 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (youth) Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. First Fridays, 7:30 p.m.
Confessions Saturdays, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. & 6:15 – 6:45 p.m.
Names of priests Fr. John Direen, pastor. Fr. Direen is known for his piety and orthodoxy. He was a Franciscan for six years, but did not take final vows, and opted instead for the diocesan priesthood. He has also served as a chaplain for COURAGE, the Catholic Church’s apostolate for persons with same-sex attraction. Fr. Eddie Castanas and Fr. Peter Son Vo serve as parochial vicars.
School Yes, K – 8th grade.
Special activities and groups St. Vincent de Paul Society, Cursillo, Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph Seniors, San Lorenzo Ruiz Society, Respect Life, Bereavement & Caring Ministry.
Music Depends on mass: choirs, cantors, piano and organ
Fellow parishioners It is an ethnically diverse parish, but predominantly English-speaking.
Parking It gets crowded on the weekend. If the church lot is full, park by the parish school or the Bank of the West.
Acoustics The sound is better in the front.
Cry room No.
Additional observations St. Joseph Church is located in the Diocese of Oakland. The first St. Joseph Church was a wooden structure built in 1881 on the site of the rectory today. It was a parish mission for many years until 1947, when it became a parish. In the early days of the church, it was located next to a dynamite factory; in 1967, the church caught fire and the fire department was called to extinguish it.
Any priest that is doing work for COURAGE is a saint in our times. I’m sure his holiness and piety touch everything at this parish. What a blessing for all of us. I wish I lived closer!
I agree Carol.
Why do so many Catholic churches have the “risen Christ” instead of the crucifix that they should have?
Good question, “Gretchen”: These are “Catholics” that believe the Mass is a “communal meal” and have never heard of it as a “sacrifice” (or reject it if they did). They also reject most things in the Catholic Catechism about sexual ethics and morality, and see little wrong with abortion, contraception, fornication, divorce/remarriage/taking communion, homosexual sex and marriage, masturbation, pornography, why, the list is endless.
Why would you want to visit here? Perhaps to see a “reverse wreckovation” to bring back true Catholic identity to the Church. Christ died a horrible death, a murder, to give us a narrow path to salvation. He said, “without me you can do nothing” and left the Church in charge of religion on…
(Continued) “the Earth. Too bad so few Catholics belief in this, including Pope Francis who insults the tradition of Catholic evangelization throughout the centuries. But, hey, we are all the same, right? My uncle said that he found God on the Golf course, but he was a pretty good guy; probably playing the heavenly back nine right now. Fore!!!
Gretchen, look to the right of the altar and you will see the crucifix. Because Christ died on the cross, our sins are forgiven and we are given the opportunity, if we love (obey) Gods plan for us, to be with Him in heaven. Remember Easter? “He is Risen! He is risen indeed!”
Nothing happens without repentance “Bob One”. When the priest consecrates the wine in the chalice, he reflects the biblical phrase — talking about the Blood of the New covenant — “which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins” (NO Missal.) Not everyone, “Bob One”, the salvific impact of Christ’s sacrifice is “for many”.
Thank God for Benedict XVI, who understands Latin and the need to translate “pro multis” properly. The Zombie-Liberals howled the most about this, and who knows what Francis and the Vatican crazies will ultimately do. But, for now, even the NO Mass is closer to an accurate notion of Christ’s sacrifice.
Once again the “risen Christ” cross has been replaced by the Roman Catholic crucifix, this is a Protestant practice, not a Roman Catholic one. And first and foremost where is the Traditional Latin Mass??????
Stunning on the outside as a Roman Catholic church would be, but looking at the inside “WRECKOVATION” risen Christ not the crucifix, 1970’s felt banners, people’s table in the middle, not the high altar, ripped out communion rails, no tabernacle in the center, no statues. A total shame what they did to this once Catholic gem. And not one Traditional Latin Mass at all!!!
This parish has seven Masses on weekends. It must do a horrible job, Janek, or they would have ten or fifteen instead of so few. Those who know this parish will tell you that it is a faith filled community of believers. The Tabernacle is front and a bit to the side with flowers decorating the sacred space. The altar is a gorgeous piece of art, with the last supper on the front. We are in Ordinary Time, so the green banners are appropriate. High altars are no longer the norm. The priest, according to GRIM should be able to walk around it. Look at the parish web site for a better look at this faith community.,
Some clarification is needed “Bob One”. The language of GIRM 299, to which you refer, is mistranslated, as has been shown by many blog discussions. See, e.g., Fr. Z’s blog, of Nov. 7, 2011. Certainly the present regime insists on this wrongly stated language for the simple reason that it appears to insist that Mass vox populum is also necessary, when that is not the case.
Put another way — and very similar to the demand that “pro multis” be mistranslated as “for all” — the Zombie-Liberals hate the Mass Ad orientum and will do all they can to insist that the GIRM inhibit (or prohibit) the NO being said in that way. How stupid do the Zombie-Liberals think that we are?
Apparently zombie conservatives think everything is a mistranslation.
And Zombie-Liberals want nothing more than to destroy the institutional church and re-make it like, well, the Anglicans!! Everything is OK if done in the name of “love”. Why, this is just like in High School, where “love” takes many forms, and often changes.
Your point is completely wrong, “Anonymous” and you know it. The VII implementers long ago decided to ignore what the words say, in Latin, and to make up new ones to fit their own philosophy (which is actually much more like the Masons).
GIRM isn’t a documument of VII.
In order for Fr Z to be correct, one must rearrange the sentence. Of course rearranging sentances changes their meaning, which is why Fr Z is wrong on this issue. You can’t simply move words around and pretend that you don’t change the meaning, yet that is exactly what Fr Z has to do in order to promulgate his false notion of what 299 says.
Sorry, “Your Fellow Catholic”, this issue is far beyond Fr. Z (although you are wrong about what he proposes).
The literature on this issue is not insubstantial, and includes explanation from Benedict XVI. See, “What they didn’t tell you about Mass facing the people,” by Jeff Ostrowski (Aug. 22, 2013), in “Views from the Choir Loft”. Pay more attention, please, and stop trying to politicize every issue.
…and here I thought you were the advocate for rearranging everything, YFC. I’m stunned to find you advocating precision in defending placement and actual meaning of words. No, “…recognize the life of love” for this thread, huh? I guess we can count on you across the board now for dissuading the promulgation of false notions.
There is a statue of Jesus in the middle, then a crucifix, and I can also see the tabernacle and what seems to be the ambry (for the holy oils).
So why are people upset?
If the statue of Jesus were of the Sacred Heart, we’d not hear a peep, but for some reason this statue enrages a few.
[If the crucifix and tabernacle were hard to spot, it would be more understandable for the usual suspects to get annoyed, but in this photo, I can’t see what’s up…]
Ah yes, those words “faith community” not a Roman Catholic parish, as for the high altars no longer being the “norm” they were the norm for over 1,000 years and the the protestant revolt changed all that!!! Great church if you are a protestant.
As usual, all of the Pharisees are on here commenting on how the outside of the cup isn’t as clean as they think it needs to be….
Soon after Fr Direen arrived, that risen Jesus was replaced by an almost life-sized crucifix; too bad no parish website photo found. Church exterior image also misleads; camera points north at the original entrance, on left is 1960s/1970s addition which easily doubles interior dimensions. Sanctuary is on compass-west wall.
Janek and St. Christopehr, Google Fr. John Direen – the man is a saint for what he was put through at the parish in SFO. He has done more to stand up for and defend the faith than many priests will have to face in their lifetime. He more than deserves your prayers and respect. Stop complaining and start saying thank you! God is so good!
Father Direen appears to have done some “conservative” things in Berkeley, but so what, he is supposed to. (In fact, in one circumstance, in replacing confessionals to include a “privacy” screen, he was conforming to Church requirements.)
The blog comments were focused on what goes on with the present Church. Perhaps Fr. Direen will change things. And, all should pray for him. But the present circumstances at St. Joseph’s are not really very good for traditional Catholicism and need to be changes.
St. C, do you belong to St. Joseph’s parish? If not, how do you know what needs to change. The Church conforms to the requirements of a church in today’s world.
So what? He’s supposed to? Really? Yes, when he stands before God he will hear, “Good job faithful servant.” Yes, he did what he was supposed to do but that doesn’t make it any less extraordinary. You sound callous, ungrateful and dismissive to his efforts and struggles in a way that is really kind of stunning. The blog comments are under a story “Churches worth driving to” and the church featured is where Fr. Direen is the priest. And then you go onto gripe that the parish isn’t good for traditional Catholicism when the reality is closer that it just isn’t good enough for you. Your spiteful attitude toward this parish and Fr. Direen is shameful. I hope it’s just that you don’t hear yourself.
eft, I’m sure Fr…
Actually, Carol, such observations, both yours and those of St Christoper demonstrate how far the Church in practice has distanced itself in many ways from what the Church actually teaches. So much so that to live a Catholic life and do one’s basic duty becomes a martyrdom of sorts.
For stating, ‘…what he was put through at the parish in SFO,’ is to indicate that the flock isn’t precisely agreeable when it comes to Catholic practice. Father Direen seems to be the man, God give him strength, tasked with navigating the massive skid and getting the car back on track is a work still in progress. Noting that the work is still in progress is not to detract from Fr Direen, but to aid him.
The good father didn’t stand up to faithful Catholics who went to the NO mass – he stood up to those in the parish who, for example when he gave a homily that was pro-life they would put a note in the collection basket saying that instead of giving money to the church they would give it to Planned Parenthood. I understand what you are saying but I disagree. The people who need to be rooted out of the Church are the ones he stood up to – not people attending the NO mass. Janeck and St. Chris have constantly griped about many parishes here – not because there is anything wrong with them but because it’s not what they like. I just wish they could see the good God has given us.
It’s not just a matter of ‘rooting out’, Carol, but promoting and preaching in all fullness. That is why I say we should be watchful not to fete the first 5lbs. Otherwise, we run the risk of falling short of the goal and, in time, gaining back the 5 plus more because the environment that fostered the rebellion hasn’t changed.
…sorry, Carol, that Anonymous was me. Cleared the cache and forgot to repup the name.
eft, I’m sure Fr. Direen had done tremendous good since he arrived and will continue to do so. God bless him!
Klaus, you hit the nail on the head. So sad, but you are so right.
Ann, I appreciate your effort to be fair. I know there are problems that exist in the Church as a whole and in individual parishes. But St. Christopher looks at this priest and the parish and makes comments that come across as though they are part of the problem. On the contrary, I look at Fr. Direen and see him as a big part of the solution. In our dark world full of ugliness and evil, I would content that in a very real sense every parish is part of the solution and some are just better than others.
….would that ‘every’ parish were a part of the solution, Carol. Many could be, but openly choose to advocate for heterodoxy or, at the very least, downplaying the Truth. The fact that each bears the name Catholic puts an even greater onus on them to be truly Catholic or otherwise they only contribute to the ugliness and evil by confusing those who are seeking. That is why clerics are admonished to not lay hands on another lightly 1:Timothy 5:22.
This is not to deride the individuals involved, but the flock are precisely that and if led to do good, can, if led to do that which they think is good but isn’t, won’t. We can only preach/teach/evangelize what we hear.
‘ Many could be, but openly choose to advocate for heterodoxy or, at the very least, downplaying the Truth.’ Not this one and not this priest. Let’s give credit where credit is due and be grateful for the wonderful priests that are out there. I’m relieved you don’t want to deride Fr. Direen or this parish. We should in fact thank God for such a wonderful priest. We can do that while we simultaneously work to make the Church stronger.
Carol, I was merely responding to your assertion that you believe that ‘all’ parishes are working toward the good. All parishes are obviously not working toward the good or else there would be no need to praise Fr. Direen for standing apart as some sort of martyr – which, in a certain sense, is true as it is becoming almost an heroic task to simply do one’s Catholic duty, even in one’s own parish.
That is why having commentary like that of St. Chris, contrary to what you may perceive, is necessary to keep the push for the good and the heroic in place. Fr. Direen has a huge job still ahead of him. Negating that reality too often leads to complacency. For if the standard is so low that only a few improvements lead folks to think…
that ‘this’ improvement constitutes ‘it’ then the momentum toward the good will cease. So let us thank Fr. Direen, absolutely, but let us also keep the perspective that there is still far to go and encourage by keeping that truth in mind.
We don’t want to stop short and party at losing the proverbial first 5 lbs, but carry on until our goal is achieved.
Thank you Ann Malley, St. Christopher and Steve Phoenix! : ) Keep the prayers coming! They are appreciated!
Thank you, too, Catherine for seeing clearly that true encouragement is had by keeping the end goal in mind. Not getting overly excited about the progress that, while laudable, is not the end.
Put in the context of a war scenario, in which we certainly are, one should celebrate the victory of particular battles, but no deride those who rightfully point out that there is still a war to be won.
We must encourage our heroes to strive all the harder to go from victory to victory. And that is not had by feting prematurely.
Great! A fallen away Catholic lecturing faithful Catholics on heterodoxy! Because of course, those who don’t attend a Catholic Church must know more about what goes on in them than those who do attend. And, of course, Catholics who are so stupid that they actually attend a Catholic Church are dumb little sheep who will follow any heterodox thing any body tells them.
“… dumb little sheep who will follow any heterodox thing any body tells them.”
That’s why you confuse me with a fallen away Catholic, Anonymous. Because you refuse to think and engage logic or the actual Faith. God bless you just the same.
It was a euphemism.
A humble person would have apologized and corrected themselves.
You have fallen, AND you have fallen away, o SSPXer.
The Church is not to conform to modern times, that is a “Novus Ordo” thinking, just one look at the intierior and it tells alot.
Once again all the vulgar tounges are spoken here expect the most important: LATIN the official language of The Roman Catholic Church.
Many, perhaps too many, want to tell everyone else what is wrong with the church. A good resolution might be to label the rest of August “what’s right with the Church” month. We could celebrate that millions of people still go to Mass every weekend. We could celebrate the number of people who work to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, provide shelter for the homeless. We could celebrate the Priests who serve double duty every week because there are so few of them. We could celebrate the hundreds of thousands who are baptized and confirmed each year, the tens of thousands who join the Church each year. Rather than run down a parish or Priest because there is no altar rail is just plain ridiculous when there is so much good going on…
Amen Bob One. I see this as supposed to be being about that. In our dark world we need to see Christ is with us. And he is in all these parishes, the people who fill them, and the priests who run them.
Let me try one. St. Mary’s Parish in Salinas, CA where 6,000 people show up for Mass on weekends. It is one of four parishes in this small city. The web site shows a vibrant parish which ministers to the needs of the people.
Non denominational mega Churches also draw huge crowds, Bob One. They also minister to the corporal needs of people. You seem to confuse large numbers and corporal works of mercy (as important as corporal works of mercy are) as substitutes for teaching the Truth about the Faith, whole and entire.
You misinterpret speaking the truth about what aids in the fostering of grace and the promotion of the Catholic Faith as somehow tearing down the efforts of others. That’s a shame. For isn’t our duty to encourage each other to be what we are called to be? Not fall short because our particular needs are met?
That smacks of personal attachment, Bob One, much like those who cleave to a particular confessor too tightly and over time…
… can and often do stunt themselves for they begin in slow measures to not seek Christ and the Faith, but rather the person with whom they are comfortable.
That is why St. Paul himself chided the people to follow Christ, not himself or another other minister. For it is the Faith and the fullness of teaching that comes from Christ channeled to the flock through said minister that is what we are to follow. Not what appears to be vibrant.
Ann Malley, let me try one more time. Instead of castigating, let’s try a positive approach. Think of the thousands of people who are hearing the word of God every weekend. Think of the hundreds and hundreds of kids who are learning the Truth and building their Faith in weekly classes, first communion, confirmation, etc. Think of the hundreds of people who are hearing the Word interpreted by the Priest from the ambo each week. These are all positives, and they are occurring in parishes all over the country.
Bob One, that sounds like a wonderful meditation if one is attempting to feel better. But one gets better by looking at the realities while taking the positives into account. So let’s get those folks into Church, absolutely, but let’s give them the full dose of Catholic teaching.
It is precisely because we, “…Think of the hundreds of people who are hearing the Word interpreted by the Priest from the ambo each week,” that the focus needs to be on making certain that the interpretation is a faithful one…. the priest, too.
Ann, to be fair, I’m sure Bob One doesn’t want well fed people going to hell but we all must agree that a full church is the sign of something being done right.
To be fair, Carol, a full church is not always the sign of something being done right You cannot extol Fr. Direen and state that he stood up to the people you want ousted and then promote what you just posted.
You’re inconsistent, Carole. And to be fair, we should all try to understand that teaching the fullness of the Faith is what is paramount. Like speaking out against Planned Parenthood despite the ‘fear’ of folks leaving and numbers going down.
No doubt the pastor prior to Fr. Direen allowed much to go untaught – that’s why Fr. Direen is now taking the hit.
The good father didn’t stand up to faithful Catholics who went to the NO mass – he stood up to those in the parish who, for example when he gave a homily that was pro-life they would put a note in the collection basket saying that instead of giving money to the church they would give it to Planned Parenthood. I understand what you are saying but I disagree. The people who need to be rooted out of the Church are the ones he stood up to – not people attending the NO mass. Janeck and St. Chris have constantly griped about many parishes here – not because there is anything wrong with them but because it’s not what they like. I just wish they could see the good God has given us.
“…The people who need to be rooted out of the Church are the ones he stood up to – not people attending the NO mass.”
It’s not the ‘people’that need rooting out, Carol,but the bad spirit. Much of that has come along with the NO. You may not see it or agree with it, but this is the case observed by many. Those parishioners with the bad spirit didn’t get that way overnight or without any input or lack thereof from previous leadership. This is what those you would judge as ‘griping’ understand. That is why they push for the whole enchilada as the saying goes.
Just because you don’t understand St. Chris and/or Janek’s position or agree with it does not mean that they are speaking, “…just because it is not what…
… ‘they’ like.” I wish you could attempt to see the good that God has given to other folks, Carol, outside of those whose opinions you share.
“I wish you could attempt to see the good that God has given to other folks, Carol, outside of those whose opinions you share.”
Please don’t misunderstand – I don’t lack appreciation for tradition and the traditional Latin mass. I’m just unwilling to put down the people who don’t get it and don’t know about it, the priests that say the NO or the parishes where they are at. Especially a priest of Fr. Direen’s caliber. He is a holy priest for whom we should be thankful. I wish there were more priests like him.
Carol, you radar seems fixed to perceive other folks as putting down ‘people’. That is your narrative. That patent misunderstanding of others motives is too often what keep all Catholics from ‘getting it or knowing about it’.
As for Fr. Direen, nobody is denying his holiness, but that is a long road, Carol. And helping priests ‘get it’ is precisely what Catholics need to aid the whole flock to move forward. Not putting a gag on or attempting to gag others because we fear we’ll be misunderstood.
Just in this thread alone St. Chris has used the term zombie-liberal and Janek has referred to the vulgar tongues spoken at this parish. I have no “narrative”. I call it like I see it. I don’t want to put a “gag order” on anyone I simply want to respond to that sort of rhetoric with a voice of gratitude and love for what God has given us – I holy priest who is going to make a good parish even better. I hope God will continue to bless Fr. Direen and his work!