About All Souls · South San Francisco, California
All Souls Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in South San Francisco, California, belonging to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Founded in 1898 and now past its 125th year, it has been an icon in the city from its very inception, growing alongside South San Francisco as the city itself developed. The parish serves its community with a robust sacramental life — multiple daily and weekend Masses in two languages, daily Eucharistic Adoration, and a full sacramental preparation program for First Communion, Confirmation, RCIA, and Baptism. The parish also runs All Souls Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th grade) and is currently shepherded by Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) priests.
- Established
- 1898
- Patron
- All Souls (the Faithful Departed)
- Rector
- Rev. Miguel Antonio Ruiz, SVD
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco (Metropolitan Archdiocese)
Why belong here
All Souls is a parish where the Catholic faith of South San Francisco has been lived and passed on for more than 125 years, with a calendar full of opportunity to grow: multiple weekend and daily Masses in both English and Spanish, daily Eucharistic Adoration Monday through Friday, and a wide range of ministries. The parish also runs a Pre-K–8 Catholic school, and families can enroll their children in religious education, First Communion, Confirmation, and RCIA — with bilingual catechists and family-based formation. Add in choirs, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, the St. Vincent de Paul conference, Small Christian Communities, the Pro-Life Rosary, the Young Men's Institute (YMI), and a Bible study, and there are many ways to belong.
Mass times at All Souls
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- or by appointment / o con cita previa
Adoration times
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:30 am – 12:00 pm (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
- First Friday of the month 8:30 am – 6:00 pm (Adoración de Santísimo Sacramento)
Parish History
All Souls Parish has been a part of South San Francisco since 1898, when the Catholic community in the city became a mission of St. Michael's Parish in San Francisco's Ocean View District. A church was built in 1899 at California and Linden Avenues for $3,500, and Father James P. Moran was appointed the first resident pastor, giving the community its official name: All Souls Catholic Church. The parish grew quickly and, in 1915–16, moved to its current Miller and Walnut Avenue site, where Archbishop Edward J. Hanna dedicated the new church, rectory, and hall on December 16, 1916. Over the decades the parish has built a parochial school (1949), a new post-Vatican II church complex designed by architect Roger Ranuio, and a thriving bilingual (English/Spanish) parish life. The parish celebrated its centennial in 1998 with Archbishop William Levada and a gala at the South San Francisco Convention Center, and remains an icon of the city as it approaches its 125th year.
- Founded 1898 as a mission of St. Michael's (Ocean View), San Francisco
- First resident pastor: Rev. James P. Moran
- First church built 1899 at California & Linden ($3,500, 200-seat)
- Moved to Miller & Walnut site in 1915; new church dedicated December 16, 1916 by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna
- Parochial school opened September 6, 1949; dedicated by Archbishop John J. Mitty
- Late-1960s new church plant designed by architect Roger Ranuio (seating 950)
- Centennial celebrated in 1998 with Archbishop William Levada
- Parish debt paid in full 2003; Stewardship Council formed 2004 to launch 'Fixing God's House' campaign
Pastoral Team & Staff
The parish is currently served by Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) and a team of lay staff and deacons. The pastor and parochial vicar are both SVD, alongside a permanent deacon, a Director of Religious Education, a school principal, parish secretaries, and a bookkeeper.
- Rev. Miguel Antonio Ruiz, SVD — Pastor (650-871-8977)
- Rev. Fransiskus Santoso, SVD — Parochial Vicar (650-871-8945)
- Rev. Romeo G. Cruz — Deacon ([email protected])
- Lourdes Yñiquez-Gallo — Director of Religious Education (650-873-5362; [email protected])
- Joseph Ryan — Principal, All Souls Catholic School (650-583-3562; [email protected])
- Valeria Guardado — Parish Secretary (ext 101; [email protected])
- Connie Martinez — Parish Secretary (ext 102; [email protected])
- Ed Chan — Parish Bookkeeper ([email protected])
All Souls Catholic School
All Souls Catholic School is a vibrant Pre-K through 8th-grade learning community in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, located on the parish campus. The school partners with parents as the primary educators of their children and seeks to educate the whole child academically, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Religion is taught daily in every grade, and middle-school Religion is a major academic subject counted in the GPA. Graduates consistently matriculate into their choice of high schools throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.
- Grades: Pre-K through 8
- Daily Religion classes; middle-school Religion counted in GPA
- Curriculum includes Art, Music, Physical Education, Computer Science, Science, History/Social Studies, Mathematics, and Reading/ELA, following California Department of Education Content Standards
- Extra-curriculars: Yearbook Club (grades 6–8), Student Council, Choir (grades 4–8), Band (grades 4–8), Athletics via Peninsula / Parish School League (grades 4–8), Academic Decathlon
- Principal: Mr. Joseph Ryan — 650-583-3562, [email protected]
- Friday-night Bingo in the Parish Hall as a school fundraiser
- Kindergarten Tours offered; new school year begins with Staff Orientation in mid-August
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish provides a comprehensive faith formation program led by Director of Religious Education Lourdes Yñiquez-Gallo. Sacramental preparation is family-based, with monthly family sessions where parents and children together receive a short catechetical lesson and engage in a family activity. Programs are offered in both English and Spanish.
- First Communion (First Holy Communion) — for baptized children 7+ or in 2nd grade and up; uses Ignatius Press curriculum
- Confirmation — two-year formation for youth 13+ (or 7th grade) and up to age 17; uses 'Chosen' from Ascension Press; sessions Mondays 6:30–8:00 pm and Wednesdays 6:30–8:00 pm
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — preparation of adult candidates for Catholic sacraments
- Baptism Preparation — for parents; English (Deacon Romeo Cruz) and Spanish (Esperanza Urista) tracks
- Older-child tracks available for those needing Baptism or First Communion up to age 17
Ministries & Groups
All Souls offers a wide array of lay ministries, both liturgical and pastoral, with named coordinators and contact numbers. There is a place for every parishioner — from serving at the altar to singing in the choir, praying for life, walking with Small Christian Communities, or joining the St. Vincent de Paul conference in service to neighbors in need.
- Choir / Music Ministry (English and Spanish)
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers (including visits to the sick and homebound)
- Altar Servers (Monaguillos)
- Ushers (Ujieres)
- Flowers and Grounds
- Altar Service Society (altar linens)
- Small Christian Communities (Pequeñas Comunidades)
- Bible Study / Taller de Lectura Bíblica
- Pastoral Familiar (family ministry)
- YMI — Young Men's Institute (coffee, conversation about faith)
- Pro-Life Rosary
- Eucharistic Adoration volunteers
- St. Vincent de Paul Society Conference
- Social Activities
Outreach & Charity
The parish lives out its mission through the corporal works of mercy, most visibly through its St. Vincent de Paul Society conference, which serves neighbors in need in the South San Francisco community. The parish is also home to the Pro-Life Rosary, which gathers the community to pray for the sanctity of all life from conception to natural death. Students at All Souls Catholic School run Thanksgiving food drives and Christmas toy drives through the Student Council.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (Conference President: Kate Moriarty Williams, 650-438-8423)
- Pro-Life Rosary (coordinator: Rosa Gomez, 650-589-0998)
- Student Council Thanksgiving food drive and Christmas toy drive (school)
- Friday-night Parish Hall Bingo (school fundraiser)
- Casa Maryknoll five-year residency (ended 1998, moved to Chicago)
Devotions & Spiritual Life
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, All Souls cultivates a deep devotional life rooted in the Eucharist and Marian and pro-life prayer. Daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered three days a week, with extended hours on First Fridays, and the parish gathers regularly for the Pro-Life Rosary, Bible study (in Spanish as Taller de Lectura Bíblica), and Small Christian Communities.
- Eucharistic Adoration: Mon/Wed/Fri 8:30 am – 12 pm
- First Friday Adoration extended to 6:00 pm
- Pro-Life Rosary — meditative hymns and the Rosary for the sanctity of life
- Bible Study / Taller de Lectura Bíblica
- Small Christian Communities / Pequeñas Comunidades
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is located at 315 Walnut Avenue, South San Francisco, directly opposite the Parish Hall. Office hours are Monday and Friday 8:30 am – 1:00 pm, and Tuesday through Thursday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. The parish secretary, Valeria Guardado, welcomes visitors and answers questions; Connie Martinez also staffs the office. After office hours, an emergency line is available at extension 106. Nobody works at the office during the weekends — callers are encouraged to leave a clear message and the parish will return the call on Monday.
- Address: 315 Walnut Ave, South San Francisco, CA 94080 (opposite the Parish Hall)
- Phone: 650-871-8944 (Parish Secretary ext 101; Office ext 102; Emergency after hours ext 106)
- Email: [email protected] (general), [email protected] (appointments with Fr. Miguel or the vicar)
- Office hours: Mon & Fri 8:30 am–1:00 pm; Tue–Thu 8:30 am–5:00 pm
- Appointments with the pastor or vicar welcomed
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James P. Moranfrom 1898
First resident pastor; named the parish All Souls Catholic Church; enlarged the original church by Christmas.
- Rev. James Delahuntysucceeded Moran (early 1900s)
Second pastor; arrived from Cotati with Father James Walsh as first assistant; died of mastoid infection July 15 at age 53.
- Rev. Maurice O'Keefeearly 1900s (after 1904)
Third pastor; native Californian from Palo Alto; later transferred to Church of the Epiphany in San Francisco.
- Msgr. Egisto Tozziarrived in October (WWI era)
Prior chaplain at San Quentin; led European aid campaign; died October 11 while vacationing in Yosemite.
- Rev. Charles Durkinbefore 1986
Sixth pastor; San Francisco native; transferred from St. Matthias Parish in Redwood City; left October 19, 1986 for St. Elizabeth's after 12 years as pastor.
- Rev. Michael Healyinstalled January 11, 1987
Seventh pastor; arrived from St. Bartholomew's in San Mateo; later left for St. Phillip's Parish in San Francisco.
- Rev. William Justicereturned as 8th pastor (1990s)
Eighth pastor; previously served as assistant pastor and at other parishes; transferred July 1, 2003 to Mission Dolores.
- Rev. Agnel De Herediainstalled September 14, 2003 – July 1, 2015
Ninth pastor; installed by Archbishop William Joseph Levada; celebrated 25th anniversary of ordination May 1, 2005; later transferred to St. John the Evangelist in San Francisco.
- Rev. Briccio R. Tamoro, SVDappointed July 1, 2015
Tenth pastor; first SVD (Divine Word Missionary) pastor noted in succession.
- Rev. Kazimierz Abrahamczyk, SVDinstalled October 28, 2018
Installed by Auxiliary Bishop Robert Christian, OP; SVD.
- Rev. Miguel Antonio Ruiz, SVDcurrent
Current pastor; SVD.