More than 160 children received their First Communion this past weekend at Mission Dolores Basilica, part of a broader celebration marking the 250th anniversary of Miśion San Francisco de Asís, the oldest standing building in the city and the birthplace of the local Catholic Church.
The Mass included children from several parishes and schools within the Mission Deanery, a group of nine churches across San Francisco. Participating parishes included St. Kevin, St. James and Mission Dolores, along with students from St. Peter’s Catholic School, St. Anthony Immaculate Conception School and Mission Dolores Academy.
Joining Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone at the Mass were Mission Dolores Basilica Pastor Father Francis Garbo, retired priest in residence at St. James Parish, Father Ulysses D’Aquila, St. Peter Parish Pastor, Father Moisés Agudo and Saint Teresa of Avila Parish Pastor, Father Gregory Houck, O. Carm.
First Communion marks a significant sacramental milestone in a child’s Catholic faith journey. It is the first time these young Catholics receive Jesus—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—in the Eucharist.
Father Garbo said the celebration reflected both the Easter season and the enduring mission of the Church.
“It’s a beautiful celebration,” he said. “This is part of proclaiming Jesus’ life, and the children receiving the sacraments are receiving the graces of God.”
Garbo also pointed to the archbishop’s homily, which emphasized the Eucharist as an encounter with Christ rather than a symbolic act. He said the archbishop encouraged the children to recognize the gift they were receiving and to carry that relationship with Christ into their daily lives.
The First Communion Mass also carried historical significance, as it was held at the original mission church site where early missionaries first established the Catholic faith in the region.
“This is more than just the anniversary of the parish,” Garbo said. “This is where the archdiocese began.”
The First Communion is one of several activities tied to the anniversary year. Festivities began Feb. 14 with a community wedding and will continue with a deanery-wide confirmation scheduled for May 16, bringing together parishes in a shared celebration of faith and history.
