Diocese of Oakland
Religious InstitutionsCalifornia, United States201-500 Employees
The Diocese of Oakland is a Catholic church jurisdiction serving the East Bay, including Alameda and Contra Costa counties. It covers 1,467 square miles and coordinates activities through 84 parishes, 16 pastoral centers, and other diocesan offices, while supporting religious education and formation. The diocese operates a network of 46 elementary schools, nine high schools, two Catholic colleges, and several religious formation programs, serving nearly 50,000 students. It acts as the largest provider of social services in the East Bay, delivering shelter, meals, counseling, education and other critical services free of charge to more than 500,000 people of all faiths each year. The diocese is based in Oakland, California, and traces its origins to 1962, when the Catholic population of the region was about 329,000; today the Catholic population in Alameda and Contra Costa counties is estimated at about 590,000. In May 2026, reports indicated plans to close 13 church sites across the East Bay as part of a broader restructuring addressing declines in attendance, a shortage of priests, and financial challenges.