St. Vincent de Paul Church was full of joy and excitement on the Fourth Sunday of Advent as Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone presided at the 10:00 a.m. Mass to install their new pastor, Father Arturo Albano.

Ten years after the devastating 1906 earthquake, San Francisco hosted the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition celebrating the newly rebuilt city. Constructing a “city within a city” by filling in part of the bay to create the Marina District, the exposition lasted from February to December 1915.

Make no mistake, Christmas at Kohl is not Christmas at Kohl’s. Christmas at Kohl is a beloved annual holiday “boutique” that for more than 30 years has brought the school and local community together at Kohl Mansion, the stately English Tudor-style estate that is Mercy High School Burlingame.

“Write a letter to the Christ Child and ask him for the red wagon.”

Predating the foundation of the City of San Francisco, the National Shrine of St. Francis was established in June of 1849. Archbishop Alemany, the first Archbishop of San Francisco, consecrated the Church in 1851 and used it as his Cathedral for three years.

From early morning Mañanitas and Masses to the shower of rose petals at Mission Dolores to school reenactments of St. Juan Diego’s encounter with Our Lady, Dec. 12 is a special day in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Each year, the Archdiocese of San Francisco holds a Commissioning Mass to herald the beginning of “Simbang Gabi Masses” widely celebrated in its various parishes during the Christmas season.

You enter your parish church and purple adorns the altar. The Advent candle stands ready to be lit. There is a somber yet anticipatory ambience about the nave, punctuated by the cooling weather outside. The priest begins to process in, and the familiar melody of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” fills the air as the voices of the congregation echo off the walls and rise, carried by the incense as prayers to the heavens above.

A pesar de la lluvia, miles de personas participaron en la peregrinación Cruzada Guadalupana el 3 de diciembre desde la Parroquia de Todas las Almas en el Sur de San Francisco hasta la Catedral de San María de la Asunción en San Francisco, terminando con la Misa con el Arzobispo Salvatore J. Cordileone. Los peregrinos también hicieron una breve parada en Colma, en el Cementerio de la Santa Cruz en su camino a la ciudad.

Despite the rain, thousands participated in the Cruzada Guadalupana pilgrimage on Dec. 3 from All Souls Parish in South San Francisco to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco, finishing with Mass with Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone. The pilgrims also made a brief stop in Colma at Holy Cross Cemetery on their way to the city.

Baltasar Jaime Martinez Compañón served as Bishop of Trujillo, Peru from 1779 to 1790 at Trujillo Cathedral. During his time in Peru, Bishop Martínez Compañón engaged in research of native customs and local music, architectural ruins and native plants and animals.

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption was filled with excitement and joy as the parish welcomed its new rector and pastor, Father Kevin Kennedy. Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone installed Father Kennedy on the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27, at the 11:00 a.m. Mass.

By Christina Gray Louis Kolenda was living the high life as a creative director in downtown Manhattan when he had an epiphany over a bowl of room-service lobster bisque. “Is

From the opening hymn to the greetings at the reception, Contemplative of St. Joseph Father Vito Perrone’s pastor installation was one reflecting humble service, continuing to answer God’s call in his life.

Elizabeth Du Par was not alone as she gulped her grief watching her dying mother gasp for breath. Neither was Lisa Hamrick during her recuperation from sickness and surgery and her mother’s losing struggle with illness and injury.

More than 25 priests of the Archdiocese of San Francisco joined Archbishop Cordileone and retired Bishop Daniel Walsh, on Friday, Nov. 4, at Holy Cross Cemetery for the Mass for Deceased Priests.

Immersed in prayer, Filipino immigrant Kyle Franz Laluces, 30, of Daly City, feels a strengthening of his lifelong love for the Church and a surging of confidence in the path he chose following a “sign” from St. Joseph.

The California Catholic Conference released the following statement in response to the passage of Proposition 1

In October and November, the Church reflects on the gift of the rosary and the glory to come for those who remain faithful to Christ and close to Him through the grace of the sacraments.

As the founder of the Contemplatives of St. Joseph, a religious family created to serve the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Father Vito Perrone always imagined creating an urban oasis where people could come and pray.

Pierre Smit, St. Emydius Parish’s longtime “Turkey Guy,” is gearing up with other parishioners and community volunteers to feed the hungry again this holiday season.

Parishioners from across the Archdiocese joined in prayer on October 27 to honor Cardinal Robert McElroy, the first native son of San Francisco to be made a Cardinal. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone hosted the Cardinal for Vespers and a reception.

On the memorial of Pope St. John Paul II, more than 37 married couples from across the Archdiocese gathered at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Redwood City for the Together in Holiness marriage retreat co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the St. John Paul II Foundation.

The St. Thomas More Society gathered at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in North Beach for its annual Red Mass on Oct. 20, celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, and also honored the 2022 St. Thomas More award recipient, Jilma Meneses.

The Blessed Virgin Mary stands alongside her beloved Son as one of the most revered figures in all of human history. And how could she not? God the Father chose her out of all of humanity and eternity to bear His only begotten Son so that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. She birthed and nurtured love Himself, mankind’s only means of salvation, and offered her entire life in worship to Him.

Thwap! The sudden sound jumps out up above the orchestra and interrupts the soaring notes of the altos and sopranos. Thwap! It comes again. Again! And then again. Sixteen times in all, with no rhythm or sense. The sound of mechanical violence jars against the music, which is plaintive, joyous and even triumphant.

The joyous celebration known as the Priests Retirement Luncheon was held on Friday, October 14, at Patron’s Hall in St. Mary’s Cathedral. 

For years, people have walked the so-called California Missions Trail, which ends at Mission San Francisco Solano, the northernmost of the state’s Franciscan missions and the last one built. Now, there’s a new trail picking up where the old trail ends – both literally and symbolically.

The 11 canonized saints of the United States, and the five Blesseds as well as the numerous Venerables who are on the path to official recognition as saints, are a true representation of the best of the Land of the Free.

Catholic medical professionals are standing in the breach against what Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone called ‘very much the throwaway culture,’ tangibly demonstrating Christ’s love by caring for those ill in body and mind.

St. Pius X Catholic Church hosted its 2nd annual Faith and Blue Mass for first responders within the San Mateo County. The Mass was part of the greater National Faith and Blue Weekend honoring first responders and facilitating safer and stronger communities by engaging law enforcement officers and local residents through faith-based organizations.

Father Roland De La Rosa was installed as the pastor of St. Bruno Catholic Church in San Bruno on Sunday, Oct. 9. Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone celebrated the Mass, which was followed by a vibrant celebration.

Junípero Serra High School broke ground to mark the start of the construction for a $17.5 million Stinson Center for Learning and Innovation. The 13,000-square-foot learning space, previously known as the Zoph Library, will be reimagined into a state-of-the-art student center.

Hundreds gathered at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco for the 2022 Rosary Rally, celebrating the Archdiocesan Year of the National Eucharistic Revival.

Though it may seem like a distant memory today, there was once a time when the Catholic Church was as much a part of American culture as baseball.

The Solemnity of St. Francis is filled with many celebrations across the Archdiocese each year including traditional pet blessings for families, individuals and even for K9 officers of the police force.

The Annual Blessing of the Animals, a tradition beloved by Catholics and non-Catholics alike, took place Sunday, Oct. 2, inside the gates of St. Boniface Parish in the city’s Tenderloin district.

By Christina Gray Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone joined St. Finn Barr Parish in honoring its patron saint on the weekend of Sept. 25, his feast day. Over two days, the

In his essay “Why I Am a Catholic,” the British writer and convert G.K. Chesterton explained that one of the things that drew him to the Catholic faith was that “it is the only large attempt to change the world from the inside; working through wills and not laws.”

On Tuesday, Cardinal Joseph Zen’s second day in court in Hong Kong, five witnesses were cross-examined and the magistrate ruled that there was sufficient evidence to justify a trial.

“You need to have a sense of adventure.” That was what one sister told Sister of Saint Joseph of Carondelet Theresa Kvale when she asked her in high school about religious life. This year, Sr. Theresa celebrates 60 years in religious life.

Less than a month after receiving the Cardinal’s biretta from Pope Francis in Rome, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving for the 80th anniversary of St. Gregory Parish in San Mateo where he served as pastor from 1997 to 2010.

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone joined candidates for the diaconate and their families at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church on August 31 for the minor rite of the Installation to the Ministry of Lector.

The Adrian Dominican Congregation celebrates the dedication and commitment of 53 Sisters who in 2022 mark their Jubilees, their milestone years of service and dedication to the Church and the Congregation.

Over the past year, the Legion of Mary has celebrated their centennial anniversary. Begun in 1921 by Servant of God Frank Duff in Dublin, Ireland, the Legion of Mary is a lay apostolate whose mission is to serve the spiritual and social welfare of the Church through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of All Graces. 

At Archbishop Cordileone’s request, and with appreciation to the Priest Personnel Board, please see, below, the Clergy Announcement for fiscal year 2022-2023.

Over 230 people gathered on Thursday, May 12 to celebrate those who selflessly give of their time, treasure and talent to form souls in faith formation programs in parishes across the Archdiocese.

On March 25 Pope Francis led a celebration of the sacrament of penance and the act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in St. Peter’s Basilica. The following is the full text of the pope’s prepared homily.

BY ED HOPFNER Marriage and family are at the heart of the Church. “The whole Bible can be summed up in five words: God wants to marry us,” according to

The Vatican announced Tuesday that Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary March 25, and that a papal envoy will conduct the same consecration in Fatima

If you are getting regular emails or texts from your pastor or parish, odds are they were sent using software from Flocknote — a Catholic company whose communications tools have been adopted by parishes and dioceses across the country.