Our Diocese of Oakland
The Diocese of Oakland is rich in cultural diversity. Recent immigrants make up more than 25 percent of our parishioners. To accommodate the needs of our growing community and to serve as a force for social integration in the East Bay, we hold Mass in 14 languages, including Nigerian, Polish, Tagalog, Guatemalan, Portuguese, German, Chinese, and more. The Martyrs of Vietnam, St. Patrick, Our Lady of Guadalupe - invite us all to recognize the human dignity of each person. In addition, the Catholic Church is the largest private provider of social services across Alameda and Contra Costa counties, offering shelter, meals, counseling, education, and other critical services free of charge to over 400,000 people of all faiths each year.
We had no central place to gather after the loss of St. Francis de Sales to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Many of the distinct cultural liturgies that strengthen our faith and our society were often consigned to obscure times and places, making it difficult to observe inherited traditions together. As we unite in our Cathedral to worship God in a shared home, we celebrate together such occasions as Chautauqua and the St. Peter Claver Society. We honor special feasts such as St. Nicholas, San Lorenzo Ruiz, and particularly our Diocese’ patroness, Our Lady Queen of the World.
The Diocese of Oakland is comprised of 84 parishes, serving more than 500,000 Catholics in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. It is also home to 16 pastoral centers, four specialized service centers, two homes for the aged, five specialized homes, nine high schools and 45 elementary schools.
