Deacon Raúl Mendoza was born in Huejotitan, Jalisco, close to Guadalajara Mexico and came to San Jose California around the age of 20 it is. He is one of nine children most of them living in this area. Raul and his wife Virginia have three children, Juan Pablo, Claire, Joshua Daniel and five grandchildren. He worked at Sacred Heart Parish as a volunteer and then a staff for over 22 years mostly doing the liturgical music ministry. After two and a half years at Santa Clara University Raul earned a masters in sacred liturgy. .