A Chronicle of Locations Over the Past Three Years

A Chronicle of Locations Over the Past Three Years

 

 

 

Canon Aaron Huberfeld's visit

Canon Aaron Huberfeld's visit

 

 

 

Holy Thursday 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory

Holy Thursday 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory

 

Photos from Holy Thursday, April 18, 2019.

 

 

Stations of the Cross April 5, 2019

Stations of the Cross April 5, 2019

 

Photos from the Stations of the Cross on April 5, the Friday before Passion Sunday 2019.

 

Passion Sunday 2019

Passion Sunday 2019

 

 

 

 

Coadjutor Bishop Cantu Visit Solemn High Mass, March 2, 2019

Coadjutor Bishop Cantu Visit Solemn High Mass, March 2, 2019

 

A visit of San José's Coadjutor Bishop Oscar Cantú on March 2, 2019.

 

San José Epiphany Water Blessing January 5, 2019

San José Epiphany Water Blessing January 5, 2019

 

Saturday, January 5, 2019, on the “Vigil of Epiphany”, Canon Ueda blessed Epiphany Water after a low Mass for First Saturday. 

 

San José Midnight Mass 2018

San José Midnight Mass 2018

 

First Mass of Christmas, Midnight Mass, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory in San José, at Five Wounds Portuguese National Church.

San José

San José

Oh Lord, provide us a suitable location where we can worship you!

 

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory is the western-most outpost of the ICKSP.  Like the Israelites wandering in the desert, we have moved from place to place since the pandemic hit in 2020.   For the past three years with great faith and a common goal, we have held Mass in a parking lot, shopping center, school chapel and an office complex, where we currently are today.  View our mini-documentary below and click on the Development tab to learn more about our journey.

 

"Tradition for Tomorrow" - Mini Documentary

 

 

"I hope that even more people become aware of your pilgrimage of this great trial and the hope that you’re exhibiting throughout all of this, and I do of course hope that leads to a generous response in terms of material support for your quest, but above all, I hope it leads more people to be impressed by your courage and of course to pray for the success of your great endeavor, which I certainly pray for as well."

~ Canon Aaron Huberfeld, Rector - St. Mary's Oratory

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"The Latin Mass"

Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory at Five Wounds Portuguese National Parish

 

Thank you for your continued support and generosity!

 

Upcoming Events

 

Schedule Highlights

 

  

Additional Information

 Visit our FAQ page for information on Mass Intentions and the Administration of the Sacraments.

 

New Location of the IHM Oratory

With the permission of Bishop Oscar Cantú of the Diocese of San José, we are celebrating Masses at 1101 S Winchester Blvd, Building C, San José, CA 95128 as of May 2022.

Please check the bulletin for changes in Mass schedules, which occur fairly often.

The 11:15 AM Sunday Masses are live-streamed. To attend live-stream mass, click here.

Confessions are offered before and after Masses, time permitting.

 

To view more photos of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory, visit our SmugMug gallery here.

 

San Jose About

About the Oratory

Institute of Christ the King

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is a society of apostolic life erected by Msgr. Gilles Wach and Canon Philippe Mora on September 1, 1990. Today the Institute maintains houses and apostolates in countries on several continents, including the United States. In 2013, San Jose, CA Bishop Patrick McGrath established the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory at Five Wounds Portuguese National Church to serve as the center of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Latin Rite for  the diocese and entrusted the ministry of the Oratory to the priests of the Institute of Christ the King.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory

The Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory is dedicated to the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass (also called the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite) in the Diocese of San Jose, CA.  A canon of the Institute is appointed as rector of the Oratory.

Read Bishop McGrath's letter issued on December 11, 2013

See the Decree from the Office of the Bishop of San José that established the oratory.

From the Desk of Canon Ueda, Oratory Chaplain: What is Spirituality?

December 22, 2017

It has already been four years since the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory was erected on December 11, 2013. I am pleased that the Oratory family has been growing little by little with the grace of God. It is good to grow in size, but, most importantly, we are all invited to grow spiritually. But do we really know what it means to be spiritual? In the current situation, there are so many false paths which tempt us to stray away from a true spirituality. I hope that this  will give you some insight concerning the genuine spirituality which we are invited to follow.

In the Catholic Church, spirituality is generally seen as an integral part of religion, as much for the laity as for those who have taken formal vows in the Church. There is a variety of charisms that emphasize particular ways to serve God and humanity. In the Church, “spirituality” basically signifies a method for growth, a path of progress in our friendship with Christ. This itinerary has as its final destination what we call holiness, an individual’s firm, deep, integral, and dynamic communion with God. We call this itinerary “spirituality” because we achieve communion with God through the purification of our spiritual faculties (intelligence and will) and in the alignment of these faculties with the wisdom and will of God. Our intelligence, our capacity to perceive and understand truth in a self-conscious manner, was severely darkened by original sin; it is darkened even more by our personal sins and the sinful tendencies of the world around us. Growth in the spiritual life gradually increases the influence of God’s revelation and wisdom (a “light for our path and a lamp for our feet” as Psalm 119 puts it) which corrects, heals and strengthens our minds. In his way we come to see and understand ourselves, God and the world around us truthfully, i.e. as God does.

Our will, that capacity of self-determination which allows us to make conscious choices, is also severely weakened by original sin, personal sin, and the world’s evil tendencies. Growth in the spiritual life gradually heals and strengthens our will so that we emerge out of self-centered and self-indulgent habits into virtuous living. Virtues are those good habits of the will that enable us to choose what is truly good and right in any circumstance, even at great immediate cost to ourselves.

Spirituality is also like a bridge. Every bridge does pretty much the same thing: it gets you from one place to another, sometimes over perilous ground, a body of water or a deep valley. But different kinds of bridges do their job in different ways: they might be built of rope, wood, bricks, stone or steel; they might be shaped as arches or as suspension bridges. In the same way, every genuine spirituality offers us a distinctive pathway to God. Many of the most well-known Catholic spiritualities flow from our religious orders such as the Benedictines, the Francis- cans, and the Carmelites. Over the course of the centuries, each order has developed its own spiritual traditions, some of them originating with the order’s founder. Today, members of religious orders live out what is called a family tradition, a tradition particular to that order.

The IHM Oratory is served by the priests of the Institute of Christ the King, and the Institute has been blessed to have St. Frances de Sales as our spiritual father. I hope that, through this newsletter, we will be able to make more widely known and better loved the Salesian spirituality of the Institute. May St. Francis de Sales continue to guide us on the path of Salvation.

The Principal Patrons of the Institute

The three principal “pillars” of the spiritual life of the Institute of Christ the King are the liturgy, Thomistic theology, and Salesian spirituality. These three pillars are exemplified and embodied by the three principal patrons of the Institute: St. Benedict, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Francis de Sales.

St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism, founder of the Benedictine order and author of the Benedictine Rule, was born in around 480 to a noble family in Nursia. He exercised
a fundamental influence on the development of European culture and helped Europe to emerge from the darkness which followed upon the fall of the Roman Empire. The Benedictine Rule emphasizes the centrality of the Liturgy and of the Divine Office sung in common.

Born around 1225 in Aquino, Italy, St. Thomas Aquinas was a Dominican friar and Doctor of the Church; he is also known as“the Angelic Doctor”. He was enormously influential in philosophy, theology and canon law. A classical proponent of natural theology as well as one of the Church’s greatest philosophers and theologians, he embraced several ideas promoted by Aristotle and synthesized Aristotelian philosophy with the principles of Christianity.

St. Francis de Sales was born in 1567 to noble parents and became Bishop of Geneva. His books on spiritual formation and spiritual direction, particularly the Introduction to the Devout Life, which he wrote specifically for lay people, and the Treatise on the Love of God, remain highly influential. His spirituality is characterized by a sweetness and gentleness of approach, and he counseled charity over penance as a means of progress in the spiritual life. He was a spellbinding preacher; his motto was, “He who preaches with love, preaches effectively.”

Extract from the Rule of St. Benedict

Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice. The labor of obedience will bring you back to him from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience. This message of mine is for you, then, if you are ready to give up your own will, once and for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true King, Christ the Lord.

The Rule of St. Benedict in English, Prologue, The Liturgical Press, 1981

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I submit Mass Intentions?
How can I get the bulletin?
Are there coffee hours after Mass? 
How should I sing during high Mass?
Administration of Sacraments


Mass Intentions

View our Mass Intentions Calendar HERE.

The suggested donation for a Mass intention is $10 in the diocese of San José.

All families are limited to two intentions per month.  Please do not request dates for more than three months out.

If you submit a request for a date that is already assigned, you will be assigned another date.

Please include your legible email address on your submittal to receive confirmation of the Mass dates you were assigned.

Mass requests and Mass cards are available at the front entrance to the church.  You may place your completed Mass requests in the collection basket with your donation, or you may mail your request along with the donation to:

Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory
Clergy Residence
Mass Intentions
4467 Illsley Court
San José, CA 95136
 

Input to the online Mass intentions calendar is usually made on Thursdays, so it is a good idea to check after Thursday to see if your desired date is available before submitting a new request.

After the Mass intentions calendar for the calendar year is full, we stop accepting Mass intentions until close to the start of the next year. Watch the bulletin for announcements.


How can I get the bulletin?

You have several  options for getting the weekly bulletins:

  • At the oratory—Pick up a printed copy of the weekly bulletin at the entrance.
  • Email —Connect with us on Flocknote by visiting http://ihmoratory.flocknote.com or fill out the contact form on our home page.  After you sign up, you'll be added to our email list and begin receiving weekly news and updates!
  • Facebook—Look for weekly bulletin postings at Immaculate Heart of Mary-San Jose, CA  
  • Website—See the Immaculate Heart of Mary-San Jose's Bulletins Webpage.

Are there coffee hours after Sunday Masses?

Yes! Please join us after the 11:15 a.m. Mass outside of the chapel on most Sundays for coffee and donuts.

On the second Sunday of each month, weather permitting, the Oratory meets at a local park for a potluck in place of the coffee social hour.

Everyone whose birthday is in that month gets a blessing, a song, and a sweet treat.  

The blessings are given outside after the 11:15 a.m. Sunday High Mass or at the park.

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How should I sing during sung Masses?

Whenever the organ is played while the choir sings, the playing is to support singing by everyone. Members of the congregation are invited to sing the ordinary parts of the Mass whenever the organ is playing while the choir sings.

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Mass Booklet

On page 3 of each Sunday's bulletin, a section appears in the Liturgical Calendar, as shown in the table below under "Option for the Day."

  • In the Mass Booklet, you can find the Gregorian Chant for each item that is listed. For example, there are four Marian antiphons sung at different seasons of the liturgical year, and the chant for each antiphon is in the Mass Booklet. 

  • As an example, the second column in the table below lists the Salve Regina as the Marian Antipon for that Sunday's Mass.

  • The third column shows the options that may appear under Option for the Day heading

Chants for the Ordinary of Today’s Mass
     
Option for the Day All Options Throughout the Year
Sprinkling Rite Asperges Either Asperges or Vidi Aquam
Ordinary Mass XI Masses I, IV, VIII, IX, XI, XII, XVII
Creed Credo I Credo I, III, or IV
Marian Antiphon Salve Regina Alma Redemptoris Mater
Ave Regina Caelorum
Regina Caeli
Salve Regina

 


Administration of the Sacraments

Infant Baptism: Parents requesting Baptism for a child must be registered members of the Oratory.

  • First Holy Communion and Confirmation: Children must attend the sacrament-preparation catechism classes at the Oratory.

  • Holy Matrimony: Couples planning to marry at the Oratory must contact a priest of the Institute of Christ the King for the proper instructions.

  • Anointing of the Sick: Members facing surgery, serious illness or death may obtain the sacrament.

Never wait, never hesitate ... remember: physical healing can also be an effect of the sacrament. Don’t deprive yourself or a loved one of God’s help.

  • For more information, contact Canon Ueda at: (408) 781-9497 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Development

Tradition for Tomorrow California   

Some Background

In 2013, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory was erected in the Diocese of San José, California with Five Wounds Portuguese National Church as our host.  Our little pilgrim church is the western-most apostolate in the Institue Family.  Due to the Pandemic, we have not been able to hold Masses there since March 2020.  For the past three years with great faith and a common goal, the members of the Oratory have held Mass in a parking lot, shopping center, school chapel and an office complex, where we currently are today.  Our goal of finding a permanent location may seem daunting, but God sees our efforts and will make them fruitful in His good time.   “For with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37.  Let us join together to trust in God’s Providence and move forward, united in hope.  "In the End My Immaculate Heart will Triumph," Our Lady of Fatima.  View the links below to learn more about our trials as chronicled by Canon Ueda, our faithful pastor.  

 

2020 Parking Lot

 Oh Lord, provide us a suitable location where we can worship you!

 

Our Goal

To find a permanent home in the greater Bay Area to nuture the spiritual lives of faithful Catholics who are drawn to the Traditional Latin Mass and to assist the Institute in achieving its mission.

 

Our Current Situation

The cost of living in the Silicon Valley area is extremely high, and continues to grow more expensive, as you can see in the breakdown below.  The increase in expenses also reflects a more accurate account of our on-going expenses now that we have been at our current location for more than a year.  Receiving no financial help from the Diocese, we rely solely on the generosity of our Oratory members and other benefactors.   .  

 

Monthly Expenses  2022   2023 
 Monthly Rent for Oratory Building: $8,000    $8,000
 Monthly Rent for Clergy Residence: $4,300    $4,300
 Operational Expenses: $4,200    $4,500
 Fixed Monthly Expenses: $1,500    $4,400
 Contingency     $1,500
 Total Monthly Expenses: $18,000    $22,700

 *Operating Expenses include housing allowance (food, utilities, etc.), liturgical items and apostolate expenses (hosts, candles, etc.) Fixed Monthly Expenses include lay staff, priest salary and benefits, lay-support from the Institute of Christ the King.

 

Since October 2021 we have been able to raise over $1,000,000 towards our initial goal of 2 million dollars.  Achieving this first goal will enable us to begin looking for a permanent home.  Our fundraising efforts have included a Bocce Ball event, Matching Gift Campaign, End-of-Year Appeal and our regular Sunday collections.  We look forward to other community-building fundraisers in the months ahead.

 

How to Help

The Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory is grateful for your prayers and monetary support.  A Mass will be offered on the 22nd of every month for the intentions of our donors.  Please also join in our ongoing novenas to the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph to build or acquire a new home for the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory.  May God bless you for your generosity! 

 

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Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided.  Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.  To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.  O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Prayer to St. Joseph by St. Francis de Sales

Glorious St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, grant us they paternal protection, we beseech thee by the heart of Jesus Christ.  O thou, whose power extends to all our necessities and can render possible for us the most impossible things, open thy fatherly eyes to the needs of thy children.  In the trouble and distress which afflicts us, we confidently have recourse to thee.  Deign to take under thy charitable charge this important and difficult matter, cause of our worries.  Make its happy outcome be for God's glory and for the good of His devoted servants. Amen. 

 

 St. Joseph with Frame