San Jose area

[majick275]

I am in the process of moving from Texas to San Jose, Ca. I would like some info on the religious “climate” here. I have been told by my TBM father (he is a bishop in TX) that LDS stakes here are actually being “closed” due to declining memberships. He attributes this to people selling expensive homes and then moving to lower cost areas with the money to retire early. on the catholic side I was told that churches in this diocese are either conservative or ultraconservative.
My first mass here last sunday seemed to contradict that. I certainly didn’t notice any liturgical abuse and the people were kind and the mass glorified God BUT it was certainly not what I would consider traditionalist or conservative. I have also noticed a wide variety of “ethnic” churches here (chaldean rite, portugese national, etc) on the catholic side. My “ulterior motive” here is help in picking a parish but I posted this thread because it did make me curious to see the seeming variety in catholic churches and also to hear about the LDS declining numbers.
I welcome comments/theories from LDs and Catholics on this (others welcome too) on just what the religious situation is here.

 

[FCEGM]

I am in the process of moving from Texas to San Jose, Ca. I would like some info on the religious “climate” here. I have been told by my TBM father (he is a bishop in TX) that LDS stakes here are actually being “closed” due to declining memberships. He attributes this to people selling expensive homes and then moving to lower cost areas with the money to retire early. on the catholic side I was told that churches in this diocese are either conservative or ultraconservative.
My first mass here last sunday seemed to contradict that. I certainly didn’t notice any liturgical abuse and the people were kind and the mass glorified God BUT it was certainly not what I would consider traditionalist or conservative. I have also noticed a wide variety of “ethnic” churches here (chaldean rite, portugese national, etc) on the catholic side. My “ulterior motive” here is help in picking a parish but I posted this thread because it did make me curious to see the seeming variety in catholic churches and also to hear about the LDS declining numbers.
I welcome comments/theories from LDs and Catholics on this (others welcome too) on just what the religious situation is here.

Majick, I lived in the San Jose Diocese for over 30 years (moved 5 years ago to NC), so can give you some help in the spiritual tenor of the place. There is one notably orthodox parish: Our Lady of Peace in Santa Clara; others good ones - though more along the lines of what you’ve already experienced - are St. Victor’s in northeast San Jose, and St. Francis Cabrini in southern SJ. There is also a strictly Tridentine parish (forget the name of it) that is approved by Bishop McGrath; it’s in Santa Clara near the University.

On the whole there is definitely a very liberal “bent” in the diocese, but there are also some excellent spiritual supports for one’s life, especially with the presence of the Discalced Carmelite nuns (in Santa Clara - Carmel of the Infant Jesus) and their beautiful monastery, and the Discalced Carmelite Friars (Mt. St. Joseph Monastery in SJ) - a wonderful group of men that I know you would enjoy meeting. There is also a Poor Clare monastery in Los Altos.

I hope you find a good parish home.