Carriage House / St Joseph Workshop

 

The Carriage House, now also called St. Joseph’s Workshop, is a vibrant meeting hub for our parish, inspired by St. Joseph and the Holy Family. In a beautiful transformation, the Carriage House has been repurposed as St. Joseph’s Workshop, where acts of mercy, charity, and faith are being carried out. The Workshop embodies the spirit of Saint Joseph, patron saint of the universal Church, and fosters a sense of community and service among all who gather there.

Our homeless ministry is getting a permanent home on the ground floor of St. Joseph’s Workshop. It will be a hub for storing and distributing non-perishable food, packing, and delivering essential items with love and care to our neighbors on the streets of Fremont. As Mother Teresa said, “The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.” We’re answering Jesus’ call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and quench the thirsty.

The ground floor also provides a large, beautiful space that can be used by all parish ministries, a restroom, and a hospitality kitchen.  

On the second floor, the Family of Faith and Teens will utilize the space for a range of activities and meetings.  It will also be a versatile area for hosting ministry meetings, creating a welcoming environment for fostering connections and supporting the community’s spiritual well-being.

The second floor provides large and small meeting rooms, restrooms and a small hospitality kitchen.

A unique feature is the large, hand-crafted wrought iron and wood entry doors to the first-floor hall. The doors were designed by Father Anthony Huon Le to symbolize the beginning and end of the Christian life. Our Lord says, “I am the Alpha and Omega.” See if you can find the alpha pattern on the east door (hint, the picture is marked with the outline), and the dove representing the Holy Spirit on the west door.

After many years of deferred maintenance, the Carriage House showed its age and was being used only for storage. Beginning in the summer of 2024, many years of deferred maintenance was completed by the parish.

Our deepest thanks to the skilled contractors and craftsmen, many of them parishioners who donated their time, talents, and treasure to the this work, and whose artistry and professionalism have given the Carriage House new life as St. Joseph’s Workshop.

Help Us Furnish St. Joseph’s Workshop!

Here is a “shopping list” of items that can be donated or sponsored as gifts to St. Joseph’s Workshop.  You can sponsor items, contribute toward larger needs, or donate in any amount.  Every gift will help us!  Join us in bringing joy, community, and faith to life in St. Joseph’s Workshop.  Please consider sponsoring or donating. Contributions can be made toward partially covering the cost of larger items. Every gift will help us make this space truly welcoming and functional for everyone. Please call the parish office at 510-656-2364 or visit https://www.osvhub.com/saintjosephmsj/giving/funds/carriage-house-project to contribute.

 
 
1st Floor Hospitality Kitchen:
Slim table
Large capacity coffee maker
 
1st Floor Main Hall:
14 frames of St. Joseph’s Sorrows and Joys ($1,000 each)
Sound system for events and karaoke ($3,000)
 
Second Floor:
Big rectangular table
Bookshelf
Comfortable set of couches
Medium-sized refrigerator
Coffee maker
 
 
SPONSORED ITEMS:
FIRST FLOOR:
Large, well-crafted refrigerator- SPONSORED
Microwave- SPONSORED
Food warmer- SPONSORED
Hot water appliance for hot tea-SPONSORED
Two 98-inch flat screen TVs ($3,000 each)- SPONSORED
 
SECOND FLOOR:
Microwave-SPONSORED
4 new interior doors ($2,000 each)-SPONSORED