OUR TRADITION

We follow the hospitality tradition found in the 1,500 year old Rule of St. Benedict:

“When someone knocks at your door, treat them as if Christ Himself were standing there.”

St. Francis Catholic Kitchen
& Jesus Mary Joseph Home

Established in 1982, St. Francis Catholic Kitchen & Jesus Mary Joseph Home is a tax-deductible 501c3 charitable non-profit organization in California.

Brief History

In the early 1980’s, when offering basic services to care for homeless people was a radical idea in Santa Cruz, Peter Carota had a vision to do just that. Not yet ordained a Roman Catholic priest, he started caring for the needy by serving sandwiches around town from the back of a long, white van. On the sides of his van, Peter lettered the words “St. Francis Catholic Kitchen” and added a painted image of St. Francis of Assisi feeding the birds.

In Wayne Shaffer, a Santa Cruz realtor like himself, Peter Carota found a like-minded collaborator. The two realtors looked around for a permanent home in which to run a soup kitchen with a dining hall. In 1984, their dream came true. Near River Street, they found an old automotive repair shop for sale on Mora St, right next to the railroad tracks and down the hill from Holy Cross Catholic Church.

To finance the purchase and the remodeling, Peter the realtor sold his own home and investment properties, then donated the proceeds to a brand-new non-profit charitable organization named St. Francis Catholic Kitchen. In addition to Wayne Shaffer, early non-profit volunteers included Beatrice Easter, Harriet Jacoff, Lee Laboa, Charlie Heil, Tom Martin, Mary Helen Tafoya, Cy Udall, Theresa Udall, and many others.

In 1989, Peter Carota purchased and donated a house to serve as an emergency shelter. Located on the west side of Santa Cruz, Jesus Mary Joseph Home is now a transitional shelter for homeless women and children.

Founder

Father Peter Carota (1948-2016)

“I founded St. Francis Catholic Kitchen to show the community of Santa Cruz what it meant for me to act as a Catholic Christian by helping the poor. My goal was not just to feed, clothe and shelter the poor, but also to heal their brokenness through bringing them to Jesus and His Church. It was prayer that sustained our work and reminded us to do it with love.” — Fr. Peter Carota, quoted in 2009

Father Peter was born in Santa Cruz on November 15, 1948. His remarkable and devout parents, Mario and Estelle, raised a family of 19 children, including 11 foster children. At one time, the family owned a bus which was used on family trips.

The late Mario Carota taught his sons how to build and remodel houses. As the family grew, they worked together to construct additional bedrooms and living space to accommodate everyone.

Fr. Peter attended Watsonville High School. After graduating from Carlton University in Ontario, Canada, he worked as a realtor in Santa Cruz. In the 1980’s, he sold everything, founded the St. Francis Catholic Kitchen nonprofit, and purchased two properties for the soup kitchen and the Jesus Mary Joseph Home.

Following priestly ordination in 1997, he was pastor and assistant pastor at numerous churches in California and Arizona, and even built a church, the Chapel of the Holy Angels in Ripon, CA, where he is now buried.

At various times, Fr. Peter did missionary work in Mexico and Brazil and maintained an Internet blog at TraditionalCatholicPriest.com In 2016, Fr. Peter Carota went home to Jesus in Escalon, CA where he had served for 10 years as pastor of St. Patrick’s Church. He was 67 years old.

2026 Board of Directors and Staff

On behalf of St. Francis Catholic Kitchen, a California non-profit public benefit corporation, the board will follow the social justice teachings of the Roman Catholic Church; share duties & responsibilities of governing and maintaining the soup kitchen and the transitional shelter programs, operated in two separate facilities; make policy, staffing, and financial decisions; help with fundraising; keep accurate records and hold monthly meetings on 2nd Tuesdays, or as needed.

Wayne Shaffer

President of Board

The inspiration of founder Fr. Peter Carota and my growing relation with Jesus has kept me committed to helping our brothers and sisters with physical and spiritual support.

Be the Difference Individual Award Winner 2019

Michael Shumate

Treasurer of Board

Having been a lifelong admirer of St. Francis, who followed the teachings of Christ, I joined the board of St. Francis Catholic Kitchen in order to participate in following those teachings.

Lou Versman

Public Relations of Board

As a long time local business owner, I am proud to be part of the mission to feed, clothe and care for the hungry and to work along side such dedicated and devoted people who continue to serve our community by helping people in need in such a selfless manner.

Kim Shute

Board Member

As a kitchen volunteer, I’ve enjoyed meeting and working with amazing individuals who lovingly give their time to the St. Francis Catholic Kitchen. By serving others, I hope to honor our Blessed Mother and her son, Jesus Christ.

Michael Archer

Board Member

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am honored to be able to serve the Kingdom of God by participating in this ministry.

Ron Brady

Soup Kitchen Program Director

ronbrady@stfrancissoupkitchen.org

Ron’s role is critical in managing the facility, interacting with the public and
organizing volunteers and donations. He brings substantial supervisory experience to the role
having spent 15 years as a Santa Cruz City Schools Facilities Supervisor.

Liz DePuydt

JMJ Director

Liz comes from a career background in nonprofit management and early intervention services related to foster care prevention. She also runs another local ministry, Safe Families for Children. Liz believes strongly in the power of the church and community coming together to lift up families facing life crises.