Get to know our Staff
Fr. Elias Puentes, SJ
Pastor
(408) 729-0101 ext. 117
epuentes@mht-church.org
Fr. Elias Puentes, SJ
Before joining the Jesuits in 2006, Fr. Elías directed a shelter at Proyecto Pastoral in Los Angeles. He studied at East L.A. College, then Saint Louis University and Boston College. He has served in ministries from migrant outreach to prison chaplaincy. Ordained in 2015, he simultaneously served two parishes in Tacoma, WA, eventually becoming the pastor. He is honored to serve at MHT, leading its diverse, multicultural Catholic community..
Fr. Martin Silva, SJ
Parochial Vicar
(408) 729-0101 ext. 123
msilva@mht-church.org
Fr. Martin Silva, SJ
Father Marty joined the Society of Jesus in 2005. He has experience in university campus ministry, hospital and prison ministry, taught theology in a Cristo Rey high school, and served in parishes in Los Angeles and San Diego. He is the chaplain to the school, the Young Adult and Filipino communities, and supports the Latino community. He enjoys golf, tennis, badminton, reading, and spending time with close friends.
Fr. Manh Tran, SJ
Parochial Vicar
(408) 729-0101 ext. 307
mtran@mht-church.org
Fr. Manh Tran, SJ
Fr. Manh migrated to the U.S. from Vietnam when he was fourteen. He joined the Jesuits in 1993 and was ordained in 2004. His pastoral experience has been with Campus Ministry at Loyola Marymount University, Santa Clara University, the Newman Center at UC San Diego, and St. Paul’s Catholic Student Center in Idaho. In all four places, his main ministry was to form missionary disciples and train servant leaders through the Christian Life Community and retreats. He is involved with our Young Adult Ministry and faith formation programs. Fr. Manh enjoys jogging, hiking, biking, playing guitar, hanging out with friends, and watching movies.
Fr. Vincent Duong, SJ
Parochial Vicar
(408) 729-0101 ext. 116
vduong@mht-church.org
Fr. Vincent Duong, SJ
Fr. Vincent was born and raised in Vietnam. He and his family migrated to the United States on the Feast of the Archangels. Before entering the Society of Jesus in 2003 as a Jesuit of the U.S. West Province, he lived in San Diego, California, where he was an active leader in the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement at his home parish. Following his ordination in 2014, he served joyfully at MHT as a parochial vicar. He is now delighted to be back.
Deacon Dung Tran
(408) 729-0101 ext. 100
dungnthu@sbcglobal.net
Deacon Dung Tran
Before he retired, Deacon Dung was a design engineer manager for the semiconductor industry. He was ordained in 2006. He is married and has three children, two girls and one boy. His wife is an environmental engineer at Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) in San Francisco. Beside parish ministry and RCIA, he has been involved in prison ministry since 2005.
Our Parish Office Staff
Thuy Bui
Administrative Assistant
(408) 729-0101 ext. 110
tbui@mht-church.org
Thuy Bui
Prior to joining the staff, Thuy was the admin assistant to the Catechetical Director at Our Lady of Refuge Church in San Jose.
Margarita Hua
Director, Ignatian Spirituality Center
(408) 729-0101 ext. 325
mhua@mht-church.org
Margarita Hua
Margarita is an experienced director of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She graduated from the Institute for Leadership in Ministry in 2001, earned a Master’s degree in Spirituality from Santa Clara University, been trained to direct the Spiritual Exercises from the Jesuit Retreat Center Los Altos, is a Lay Ecclesial Minister in the San Jose Diocese, and has experience in Stanford Hospital Spiritual Care.
Mario Lucas
Business Manager
(408) 729-0101 ext. 109
mlucas@mht-church.org
Mario Lucas
Mario’s experience prior to joining MHT was in accounting, finance, and property management. He assists the Pastor in the administration of the parish office, personnel, facility, and financial management. He is responsible for preparing the regular financial reports, implementing revenue and expense optimization, and budgeting. Outside of work, Mario enjoys spending time with family, watching movies and sports, jogging, and volunteering as Finance Council Chairman in his home parish.
Porty Nevarez
Director of Religious Education (English/Spanish)
(408) 729-0101 ext. 126
pnevarez@mht-church.org
Porty Nevarez
Since the 90’s, Porty has been applying his expertise as a computer techie while serving as a Director of Religious Education and Pastoral Associate. He joined the MHT staff in 2012. His ministry includes serving as the DRE for the English and Spanish speaking communities, IT support, and the DIY specialist for anything within the property. He rides motorcycles; a hobby that he has enjoyed since he was a teen.
Sr. Bernadette Nguyen
Director of Religious Education (Vietnamese)
(408) 729-0101 ext. 115
sisterbnguyen@mht-church.org
Sr. Bernadette Nguyen
Sister Bernadette entered the QuiNhon Missionary Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1999 after her junior year in high school. Between her years of temporary and final vows, she was a faith formation coordinator and pastoral associate in various parishes in the Oakland and San Jose dioceses. She was sent to MHT parish in the summer of 2022 as a Director of Religious Education. She loves children and delights in bringing them closer to Jesus.
Sal Rojas
Parish Music Director
(408) 729-0101 ext. 119
srojas@mht-church.org
Sal Rojas
Sal joined our Music Ministry in 1990 and became a staff member in 1994. He has served in both Parish Music and Liturgy Ministries. He retired in 1996 after working at the Metrology Department of FMC-Defense Technology Laboratories. Sal deeply values God and family, enjoys music, and loves sports.
Sabina Ruiz
Admin Assistant & Communications Coordinator
(408) 729-0101 ext. 100
sruiz@mht-church.org
Sabina Ruiz
Sabina Ruiz serves as the Communications Coordinator and Receptionist at Most Holy Trinity. She values relationships and the sense of belonging that define the MHT community. Sabina is pursuing a Master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry at Santa Clara University and leads a weekly faith-sharing group. She brings experience in leadership and community-centered ministry, with commitment to strengthening parish life and expanding access to Catholic education.
MHT School Leadership
Darlene Sanchez
Principal, Most Holy Trinity School
(408) 729-3431
darlene.sanchez@dsj.org
Darlene Sanchez
Ms. Sanchez has over 16 years of experience in education. She has been an educator in the Diocese of San Jose since 2013, and prior to that worked in a local public school district and a non-profit organization. She is passionate about student learning and growth, and helping students develop their personal relationship with Christ.
Jeanine Begley
Vice-Principal, Most Holy Trinity School
(408) 729-3431
jeanine.begley@dsj.org
Jeanine Begley
Ms. Begley has dedicated her career to Catholic education. She has taught for 20 years in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Philadelphia, Paterson (New Jersey) and San Jose before moving to the Vice-Principal position at Most Holy Trinity School. She graduated in July of 2023 with her MA in Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame.