Here’s a rendering of the design of the new Rectory by the architectural firm, Isaman Design of Cayucos. Submitted photo
A century-old parish in Cayucos is preparing for the future and building a new facility to house the parish priests and build housing for retired priests.
Congregants of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Cayucos last week met to hold a blessing and groundbreaking ceremony playing host to the bishop from the Monterey Diocese.
Bishop Bejarano Ramon of the Monterey Diocese came to town for the Oct. 24 ceremony and to bestow blessings on the site, the project, its workers and the parish. He was joined by St. Joseph’s resident Priest, Fr. Martel Ramos, who just came to St. Joseph’s in September.
Photo by Neil Farrell
The visit by Bishop Ramon was an honored occasion for the parish of some 150 families and about 400 people. A Knights of Columbus Color Guard led the procession ahead of Bishop Ramon.
The occasion marked the official groundbreaking for a $2.45 million project that will build a new church Rectory and living quarters for the parish priest, as well as a major remodeling of the current rectory that no longer meets the needs of the parish. That 2-story building that sits at the rear of the property on Park Avenue will be remodeled.
Work on the project was begun in 2023 when the priest at the time, Fr. Pedro Espinoza, formed a building committee to review the parish’s existing facilities, which include three outbuildings and the main church.
Out of that review came the recommendation that they build a new 1-story rectory and remodel the old one for office space and living quarters for retired and visiting priests.
It was divided into two phases. Phase 1, the new rectory has already had grading work done and the building pad formed, compacted, and laid out, ready to dig footings by the contractor Rarig Const. Isaman Design is the design architect for the project.
Phase 2 will remodel the existing 2-story rectory with church offices on the ground floor and apartments/living quarters on the second. That would be available for retired and visiting priests.
The fundraising has been going well, according to Monika Gottlieb, one of the committee members that’s been working on the project.
Gottlieb said they have over 90% of the needed funds pledged and expect to have 100% pledged soon.
“Our average pledge is $65,000,” she said.
Many parishioners have left donations in their wills, so money will trickle in with the settling of those estates.
Though Cayucos community is pretty small, the Congregation at St. Joseph’s has a wide reach.
“We have a strong Central Valley presence,” Gottlieb explained. “Many of them consider us their home parish.”
Gottlieb said the funding goal includes all costs from engineering, design, permitting and construction, to landscaping and even furnishings.
St. Joseph’s has a long history in Cayucos. Established in 1900 the parish met for decades in the original church that was replaced in 1965 at the current location. That church burned down and was rebuilt in 1970 on the same spot. So, the Church that stands today is the second one at the location.
In the early 1970s, a parishioner donated the 2-story house that is the current rectory. It’s 100-years old and according to Gottlieb it’s in bad shape. It’s also not handicap accessible. That building has also been expanded in the past to its current configuration.
Gottlieb said the living quarters offer little privacy to the resident priest.
During the blessing ceremony, Bishop Ramon and Fr. Ramos led attendees in prayers and song and then walked out onto the foundation pad blessing all corners of the site with Holy Water and asking God to protect the workers and members of the congregation.
Scripture readings involved things related to building of the church and importance in laying strong foundational work.
If readers would like to donate to help St. Joseph’s Parish, see: www.saintjosephcayucos.org. Gottlieb said they have a link on the website to make donations.
