Every year for the last ten years, a lay group of members of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory in San Jose, CA, has sponsored a commemoration 
of Father Magin Catalá, a saintly Franciscan missionary who labored 36 years at Mission Santa Clara. Father Catalá is not nearly as widely known as Saint Junipero Serra, who founded that mission as the eighth California mission, but even though Father Catalá died 188 years ago, on November 22, 1830, he is still revered by many who have come by various means to know about him and to love him the same way the people of his time did, as the Holy Man of Santa Clara.
The lay group, along with interested priests, started by holding rosary processions from the nearby Oratory of Our Mother of Perpetual Help followed by prayers, then Vespers, at Mission Santa Clara, where Father Catalá zealously worked to spread the Faith. The mission church serves as the chapel for Santa Clara University. Eventually, the group received permission from the Jesuits who run the university to include a Traditional Mass in their yearly commemoration. For the past three years, a Mass has been celebrated by the chaplain of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory.
Father Catalá died on November 22, 1830. The November 22 date is the feast of St. Cecilia, who is remembered also at this event. The annual commemoration is scheduled as close as possible to Father Catalá's death anniversary.
Canon Raphael Ueda, Chaplain of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Oratory in San Jose, will celebrate a High Mass for the Canonization of Father Magin Catalá, O.F.M. at 6:30 p.m. on November 21, the evening before Thanksgiving, at Mission Santa Clara. Prayers will follow at the altar of the crucifix where Father Catalá was seen praying for long hours and where miracles were witnessed by those who later gave testimony for the cause of his sainthood.
According to contemporary eye-witnesses, Fr. Catalá was a mystic, a miracle worker, an ascetic, an exorcist, a prophet, and a wonderfully saintly man. The process for his canonization was initiated by Archbishop Alemany of San Francisco in 1882, testimonies were collected from those still alive who knew him, and necessary documents were submitted to Rome in 1909, but his cause has stalled since then. Furthering the cause is now in the hands of the Franciscans, who plan to pursue it after certain matters associated with Saint Junipero Serra’s canonization are finalized.
Fourteen years ago, another unrelated group were separately drawn to start meeting every month at the mission to pray for Father Catalá's intercession and his canonization. They pray at the altar of the crucifix.
The prayer group’s current meeting time is 5:30 p.m. on the last Friday of every month.
Everyone is invited to join the Mass or the prayer group either in person or in spirit.
Prayer for Father Magin Catalá's Canonization
Granted an imprimatur by every bishop with jurisdiction over the mission since 1908.
O God, You sent Your holy servant, Father Magin Catalá, to preach Your gospel to Native Americans, and You inspired him to glorify Your holy name among them by the examplπe of his eminent virtues. We humbly ask You to honor Father Catalá on earth with the testimony of miracles performed through his intercession. Grant us by his merits all manner of blessings. Fill our minds with the light of Your truth that, walking always in the way of Your commandments, we may come to eternal union with You. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
- Imprimatur + Patrick J. McGrath Bishop of San Jose
For More Information
- You can follow the Friends of Father Magin Catalá, OFM, the Holy Man of Santa Clara on Facebook.
- A 1909 biography of Father Catalá titled The holy man of Santa Clara or, Life, virtues and miracles of Fr. Magin Catalá, O.F.M. is free for download at The Internet Archive.
- Also of potential interest is a California Catholic Daily article about last year's Mass titled "The Holy Man of Santa Clara."
- See also, the prayer group’s website.
Email any questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Click either of the images to view a printable PDF.
