Parish History
St. Joseph Mission Church was one of the first structures built in the “new”
Rio Vista, when the town was relocated to its present site after the flood of
1861-1862. The original church structure, with a single spire, was built in 1862
on land donated by Joseph Bruning, one of Rio Vista’s founding fathers. The
mission church was originally under the auspices of the Archdiocese of San
Francisco and Rev. Joseph Sadoc Alemany, who was the first
Archbishop of the Diocese of San Francisco, dedicated the church.
Benefactor Joseph Bruning and his wife donated lands and funds for St.
Gertrude’s Academy (1876-1930) under the tutelage of the Sisters of Mercy
and the Rev.Mother M. Camillus and for the St. Joseph’s Military
Academy (1903-1932), also under the direction of the Sisters of Mercy.
In 1885, St. Joseph Mission Church became St. Joseph Parish under the
auspices of the Diocese of Sacramento.
In 1904, the original mission church was replaced with a new “modern”
Gothic-style structure with two steeples; the church in which we worship today.
The cornerstone of the current building was laid in June of 1904 and
Archbishop Riordan, who was the successor to Archbishop Alemany,
dedicated the finished church in December of 1904. The pastor of St. Joseph Church
at that time was Rev. James Gannon.
In May of 1985, a renovation of the church was completed, which included
replacing the taller of the steeples, re-leading the stained glass windows,
expanding the sanctuary and replacing the old altar. Bishop Francis Quinn and
St. Joseph pastor, Fr. Thomas Maguire, concelebrated a mass of
rededication and commemoration of the centennial of St. Joseph’s Delta Parish in the Sacramento Diocese.
In recent years, a fresh wave of enthusiasm, open communication and parishioner support allowed St. Joseph Parish to sucessfully address critical, long-standing issues in the church, rectory and parish hall. Today, that same spirit continues to grow within our community.
Since 1861, St. Joseph Parish, Rio Vista, has had 35 parochial administrators or pastors
as presented below.
| No. | Years | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1861-1868 |
Rev. Peter Deyaert, Traveling Priest |
| 2 | 1868-1872 | Rev. Lucovicus Alphonsus Auger, Rio Vista/Suisun City |
| 3 | 1872-1885 | Rev. Michael McNaboe, Rio Vista/Suisun City |
| 4 | 1885-1893 | Rev. Thomas McNaboe |
| 5 | 1893-1897 | Rev. William D. McKinnon |
| 6 | 1897-1898 | Rev. Bernard McKinnon |
| 7 | 1898-1906 | Rev. James J. Gannon |
| 8 | 1906-1913 | Rev. Bernard Praught |
| 9 | 1913-1913 | Rev. Barnarbas Cantillon |
| 10 | 1913-1915 | Rev. William J. Butler |
| 11 | 1915-1921 | Rev. Denis Bailey |
| 12 | 1921-1925 | Rev. James Donohue |
| 13 | 1925-1928 | Rev. Robert J. O'Connor |
| 14 | 1928-1929 | Rev. Arthur O'Connell |
| 15 | 1921-1931 | Rev. Arthur. A Walsh |
| 16 | 1934-1940 | Rev. Harry A. Smith |
| 17 | 1940-1941 | Rev. James L. McLaughlin |
| 18 | 1941-1946 | Rev. John J. O'Brien |
| 19 | 1946-1947 | Rev. Patrick J. Morris |
| 20 | 1947-1950 | Rev. Edwin J. Becker |
| 21 | 1950-1954 | Rev. Joseph F. Kenney |
| 22 | 1954-1960 | Rev. Glen A. Kelly |
| 23 | 1960-1964 | Rev. Robert F. Coffey |
| 24 | 1965-1980 | Rev. Thomas Phelan |
| 25 | 1981-1983 | Rev. William Spring |
| 26 | 1987-1994 | Rev. William Walsh |
| 27 | 1994-1996 | Rev. Eugene G. Lucas |
| 28 | 1996-1999 | Rev. Patrick J. McGrath |
| 29 | 1999-2000 | Rev. John Hannon |
| 30 | 2000-2006 | Rev. Julian Medina |
| 31 | 2006-2010 | Rev. Manual Soria |
| 32 | 2010-2013 | Rev. Sherwin Colaste |
| 33 | 2014-2016 | Rev. Richard Boyle |
| 34 | 2016-2017 | Rev. Godwin Xavier |
| 35 | July 1, 2017 - | Rev. Mervin P. Concepcion |