On a quiet block just off Arlington Avenue in El Cerrito, St. Jerome Catholic Church has been gathering Catholics from the surrounding hillside neighborhoods since 1941. The parish serves Kensington and portions of El Cerrito, Berkeley, and Albany, and identifies itself as an established, stable congregation that grew during the post-World War II boom and continues to welcome newcomers who arrive in town. New arrivals are encouraged to join the parish's worship, social, and service activities, and anyone interested in exploring the Catholic faith is invited to enter the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a year-round process of education and discernment that also serves Catholics who have been away from the practice of their faith and wish to return.
A Priest Who Came from Vietnam
The parish's current shepherd, Father Michael Nghia Pham, arrived in the United States from Vietnam in 2003 with his family's support. He began his seminary formation with the Diocese of Oakland, studying philosophy at Mount Angel Seminary from 2006 to 2009 and theology at St. Patrick's Seminary from 2009 to 2014. Bishop Michael Barber ordained him a priest in May 2014. Father Michael's first assignment was the Catholic Community of Pleasanton (2014 to 2017), followed by service at St. Joseph in Fremont (Mission San Jose) from 2017 to 2019 and two years at St. Anthony / Mary Help of Christians in Oakland before he was named Parochial Administrator of St. Jerome. He describes his calling in simple terms: walking alongside the parish in faith, hope, and love as one Body of Christ.
Mass Schedule and the Livestream
Weekend Masses at St. Jerome are offered Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. as the vigil liturgy and on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. The Sunday liturgies are streamed live on YouTube for those who cannot be present in person. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. The Sacrament of Penance (confession) is heard every Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m., or at any time by appointment with a priest. Parishioners who cannot attend in person can follow along with the daily and Sunday Mass readings through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' lectionary calendar.
A Music Ministry at Every Weekend Mass
The parish is proud of its music ministry, which supports all three weekend Masses. Music is a long-standing part of the parish's identity, helping shape the celebration of the liturgy for both the Saturday vigil and the two Sunday morning congregations. Detailed information about the music ministry, including opportunities for parishioners to serve as cantors or instrumentalists, is available through the parish office.
The St. Vincent de Paul Conference and Food Pantry
One of the most visible works of mercy at St. Jerome is its Saint Vincent de Paul Conference, made up entirely of volunteers. The conference operates a food pantry at 308 Carmel Avenue, El Cerrito, which is open every Wednesday from 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. On pantry days, a small selection of gently used clothing and household items is also available, with a limit of three items per neighbor per visit. The conference serves as a hub for neighbors in need, pointing people to a wide network of outside resources for food, rent, utilities, and homelessness assistance, and offering direct help when other avenues have been exhausted. Requests can be made by phone at 510-809-5377 or by email, and utility-bill assistance requires a copy of the current bill along with an explanation. Volunteers who want to help run the pantry and the parish's other outreach efforts are welcome to sign up through the parish.
Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation
St. Jerome prepares children and adults for the three sacraments of Christian initiation. Infant baptism is celebrated quarterly during the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass. Parents begin by calling the parish office to schedule an appointment with a priest or deacon, followed by an interview and a pre-baptismal class before the celebration itself. The parish emphasizes that baptism is not a private event but a welcoming into the Christian community, and asks parents to commit to raising their child within an active faith community.
First Communion preparation is part of the broader St. Jerome Family Faith Formation Program. Classes meet Sunday mornings in Rohan Hall following the 9:00 a.m. Mass and follow a lectionary-based approach that draws on the three-year cycle of Sunday scripture readings, allowing children and the adults who accompany them to encounter the same stories proclaimed at Mass. Mary Ernst, the Director of Family Faith, coordinates this work from the parish office.
Youth Confirmation is offered in alternate years for students entering their freshman year of high school and older. The program runs roughly eight months from September through May, with classes meeting every other Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Candidates study Hebrew and Christian scriptures, examine what it means to be a confirmed Catholic Christian, attend a weekend-away retreat and an overnight retreat at the parish, and complete a minimum of 25 hours of service. Reception of the sacrament is usually scheduled in April or May. Carol DuPont at the parish office handles registration.
RCIA: Becoming Catholic or Coming Home
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is described on the parish's own pages as the place for anyone who is curious about the Catholic Church, unbaptized but searching for spirituality, baptized Catholic or in another tradition but never formally catechized, married to a Catholic and wondering what the next step is, or simply longing for something more. It is also offered to returning Catholics who want to re-engage with the practice of the faith. Inquirers are invited to "come and see" through a year-round process of learning, discernment, and conversion of heart. Father Michael personally receives inquiries at fr.michaelpham@gmail.com, and a registration form is available from the parish.
Marriage Preparation
Couples preparing for marriage at St. Jerome are asked to begin at least six months before the proposed wedding date. The parish frames marriage as a sacrament in which the couple's self-giving love becomes a visible sign of God's love for all people, and it invites couples into a structured Marriage Prep Program through the parish office.
Sacraments of Healing
The parish celebrates the two sacraments of healing with care and regularity. The Sacrament of Penance is offered Saturday afternoons and by appointment, with the parish describing confession as an encounter with God's unconditional mercy and a renewed life restored to baptismal innocence. Communal Rites of Reconciliation are scheduled during Advent and Lent. The Anointing of the Sick is offered on request at home or in the hospital and is scheduled periodically for the homebound elderly or sick, drawing on the ancient apostolic mandate in the Letter of Saint James to pray over and anoint the sick in the name of the Lord.
Family Faith Formation and the Director of Children's Catechesis
Beyond the immediate preparation for sacraments, St. Jerome supports families and children in their ongoing growth in faith and spirituality through a program of weekly children's classes and whole-family gatherings at key points in the liturgical year, particularly Advent and Lent. The pastor also presides at a monthly Mass that recognizes children and families and their unique place in the parish community. A special track within this program supports children and youth preparing for Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Eucharist, including individual family meetings with the Director of Children and Family Catechesis, weekly classes for the children and youth, and monthly meetings for the families. Resource texts include Finding God and God's Gift from Loyola Press, Blessed: First Reconciliation and Blessed: First Communion from Dynamic Catholic, and family sacrament-preparation materials from The Pastoral Center's Growing Up Catholic. Elizabeth Oishi, the Director of Children's Catechesis, welcomes inquiries from parents who would like to enroll their children.
Coffee and Donuts on Sunday
After Sunday liturgies, the parish hosts a regular Coffee and Donuts gathering on the parish grounds. It is a deliberately simple weekly habit: a setting to spark conversations, share news, and create lasting memories, and a chance for newcomers to put faces to the names they have met at Mass. The gathering is open to everyone, regardless of how long they have been part of St. Jerome.
Practical Information for Visitors and Members
The parish offices sit on the ground level of the Rectory at 308 Carmel Avenue, El Cerrito, CA 94530. The main parish phone line is 510-525-0876, with a fax line at 510-526-2721. The general parish email is churchsaintjerome@gmail.com, and online giving is available through the parish's OSV Hub giving page, which accepts one-time and recurring donations. The parish bulletin, published through Parishes Online, carries the most up-to-date weekly schedule, announcements, and a link to daily Mass readings. For inquiries about becoming Catholic, the priest's personal email is listed above; for inquiries about marriage, baptism, first communion, youth confirmation, or family faith formation, the parish office phone line is the single point of contact for every program.