The Mission Museum Ambassadors and Gift Shop Associates

The Mission Church and museum have been welcoming visitors again for two months following their reopening in December 2024 after significant renovations. We celebrated a grand reopening on the weekend of December 14 and 15, 2024.

We estimate that more than 500 people explored the entire museum during the reopening weekend. The gift shop was bustling with customers seeking meaningful souvenirs. A photographer from the Tri-City Voice (TCV) newspaper attended the event and interviewed Father Anthony and Andy Galvan.

The St. Joseph Chapel of Healing was prominently featured on the front page of the following issue of TCV. You can read the article here: https://tricityvoice.com/st-joseph-chapel-reopens-atmission/. True to its reporting, the grounds of the St. Joseph Catholic Church/Mission San José, Diocesan Shrine of St. Joseph, are now positioned as “beacons to draw and welcome those on pilgrimage to engage in prayer and celebrate Mass.”

This successful reopening would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of our Mission Museum Ambassadors (MMAs) and Gift Shop Associates.

Who Are the Mission Museum Ambassadors and Gift Shop Associates?

The MMAs are parishioner volunteers who generously share their God-given gifts and talents to assist on the museum grounds. The Gift Shop Associates, employed by our parish, expertly manage the Gift Shop Center. Together, these
groups play a vital role in creating a warm, welcoming environment for all visitors.

They enthusiastically welcome museum guests, lead informative tours, assist visitors at the new Pilgrim and Gift Shop Centers, maintain the beauty of the Mission Museum grounds, and support various events and workshops. Their passionate and joyful service aims to offer all visitors a transformative encounter with God.

Thanks to their dedication, the Mission experience now extends beyond a historical exploration of one of California’s 21 missions. This expansion aligns with the goals of the Mission Renewal Project launched in 2024.

Join the Mission Museum Ambassadors

We invite anyone who feels called to join the Mission Museum Ambassadors. This year, we envision St. Joseph Parish becoming a destination of hope for pilgrims from near and far. If you feel a stirring in your heart after reading this, it may be God calling you to serve.

Don’t worry if you feel unprepared or think you lack the necessary skills. Remember: God does not call the qualified – He qualifies and equips those whom He calls. As St. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his handiwork,
created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.”

We will provide training! Please contact us at pilgrimage@saintjosephmsj.org or 510-657-1797 to learn more. ~ Donna Yap, Mission Coordinator.