About Church of the Visitacion · San Francisco, California
Church of the Visitacion is a Catholic parish in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood of southeastern San Francisco, California, serving the faithful as part of the Archdiocese of San Francisco since 1907. The parish is trilingual, celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and it also operates the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in nearby Brisbane. The parish's name honors the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Luke 1:39), commemorating Mary's visit to her cousin Elizabeth, and it supports an attached K-8 school, Our Lady of the Visitacion School, founded in Vincentian (Daughters of Charity) tradition.
- Established
- 1907
- Patron
- The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mary's visit to Elizabeth, Luke 1:39)
- Rector
- Rev. Thuan V. Hoang, JCL
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
Church of the Visitacion is a trilingual, multi-generational Catholic home in San Francisco's Visitacion Valley, where English, Spanish, and Vietnamese communities worship side by side under one roof. Daily Mass (Monday through Saturday) and four Sunday Masses make sacramental life accessible, while ministries such as CCD, Confirmation prep, the Legion of Mary, the Mothers' Club, the Vietnamese Our Lady of La Vang community, and a Homebound Ministry care for every age and circumstance. The parish is also home to Our Lady of the Visitacion School (K–8, Daughters of Charity) and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in Brisbane — making it a hub for faith, formation, and fellowship across the southern edge of the city.
Mass times at Church of the Visitacion
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM (English only) in the Church; other days/times by appointment with the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Monday–Sunday 8:00 PM — Daily Rosary & Divine Mercy (Chapel)
Parish History
Founded in 1907 by Archbishop Patrick William Riordan and named for the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Church of the Visitacion grew with the Visitacion Valley neighborhood through four successive church buildings. From the rough board-and-batten structure of 1907 to the current (fourth) church dedicated by Archbishop John J. Mitty on April 20, 1952, and the parish school dedicated by Archbishop Joseph McGucken on April 1, 1965, the parish has continuously served a now-trilingual community of English, Spanish, and Vietnamese Catholics in southeastern San Francisco.
- 1906 — Catholic ladies of Visitacion Valley hold a fair to start a church fund
- 1907 — Parish established by Archbishop Riordan; first Mass on Passion Sunday
- 1907 — Second (shingled frame) church opens on Visitacion Avenue and Loehr Street
- Christmas Day 1919 — Third church opens with High Mass on Raymond Avenue/Delta Street (still standing)
- 1945 — San Francisco Auto Camp / Burnett Grove purchased on Sunnydale Avenue
- April 20, 1952 — Current (fourth) church dedicated by Archbishop Mitty
- April 1, 1965 — Parish school dedicated by Archbishop McGucken
- Parish operates Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in Brisbane, CA
Visitacion Valley & the Origin of the Name
The valley's name comes from Rancho Cañada de Guadalupe la Visitación y Rodeo Viejo, and from the Franciscan friars who lost their way in fog on July 2, 1777 and said Mass on Indian Rock on Cora Street — on the feast of the Visitation. Settlement began in 1859, and the Catholic parish was organized about fifty years later when the neighborhood's Catholic women first raised funds for a church.
- Valley first identified July 2, 1777 by Franciscan friars
- Settlement began in 1859
- Name references the Visitation (Luke 1:39)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Rev. Thuan V. Hoang, JCL, who has served as pastor since 2011 and previously as administrator (2010–2011). He is assisted by Associate Vicar Rev. Stephen U. Nwankwo and Permanent Deacon James E. DeWan (who also serves as OCIA coordinator). Parish operations are managed by Secretary/Office Manager Betty Campos and Bookkeeper Carmelle Reiser, with religious education coordinated by Vina Calalo, Sister My Hanh Cao, DC (Vietnamese RE), and Nancy Lacsamana (OLG Mission RE).
- Rev. Thuan V. Hoang, JCL — Pastor (English & Vietnamese), ext. 4, [email protected]
- Rev. Stephen U. Nwankwo — Associate Vicar (English & Spanish)
- Deacon James E. DeWan — Permanent Deacon; OCIA Coordinator ([email protected])
- Betty Campos — Secretary/Office Manager, ext. 3, [email protected]
- Carmelle Reiser — Bookkeeper
- Vina Calalo — Religious Education Coordinator (Church of the Visitacion), (415) 342-7289
- Sister My Hanh Cao, DC — Vietnamese Religious Education Coordinator, [email protected]
- Nancy Lacsamana — Religious Education Coordinator (Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission), (415) 385-0387
Mass & Devotion Times
The parish offers Mass daily Monday through Saturday and four times on Sunday in three languages. Confession is heard every Saturday afternoon, and a Daily Rosary & Divine Mercy devotion fills the chapel each evening. Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in Brisbane celebrates the Eucharist on Sunday morning and gathers for Rosary on Tuesday evening.
- Monday–Friday: 7:00 AM Daily Mass
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM Mass with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Devotion
- Saturday: 7:30 AM Morning Mass; 4:00 PM Sunday Vigil Mass
- Sunday: 9:00 AM English; 10:30 AM Spanish; 12:00 PM English; 5:00 PM Vietnamese
- OLG Mission Sunday: 10:30 AM Eucharist; OLG Tuesday: 5:30 PM Rosary
- Confession: Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM (English only), or by appointment
- Daily Rosary & Divine Mercy: 8:00 PM every day (Chapel)
Ministries & Organizations
Church of the Visitacion hosts a broad array of lay ministries serving every age and language community. Liturgical roles include Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary (Eucharistic) Ministers, and Ushers; formation ministries include CCD for grades 1–6, a two-year Confirmation program for 7th–8th graders, and OCIA for adults. Outreach ministries include the Homebound Ministry (communion visits) and the Legion of Mary Praesidium; community groups include the historic Mothers' Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Fil-Am Association, and the Vietnamese Our Lady of La Vang Community.
- Liturgy: Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers
- Formation: CCD (grades 1–6), Confirmation (7th–8th grade), OCIA
- Outreach: Ministry to the Homebound; Legion of Mary (Saturdays 8:00–9:15 AM, St. Leo's Hall)
- Community: Mothers' Club (founded 1945), Knights of Columbus, Fil-Am Association
- Vietnamese: Our Lady of La Vang Community — Choir, Mothers Club, CCD, Altar Servers, Liturgical Group
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's faith formation is offered in English, Vietnamese, and (at the mission) in weekday sessions coordinated with parents. Confirmation is a two-year program beginning in 7th grade, and OCIA welcomes adults preparing for initiation into the Church.
- CCD Program (grades 1–6) — prepares Baptism (age 6+), First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- Confirmation — two-year program beginning in 7th grade (English: Sat 9:30–11:00 AM; Vietnamese: Sun 1:45–4:45 PM)
- OCIA (adults) — coordinated by Deacon James E. DeWan
Our Lady of La Vang Community (Vietnamese)
The Vietnamese Catholic community at the parish — named for Our Lady of La Vang — gathers around the 5:00 PM Sunday Vietnamese Mass and sustains its own choir, mothers' club, religious-education classes, altar servers, and liturgical group.
- Feast day in October
- Our Lady of La Vang Choir — coordinator Ms. Tracey Tran
- Vietnamese Mothers Club — head Ms. Jenny Kim Vy; feast day St. Monica (Aug 27)
- Vietnamese CCD & Vietnamese Classes — led by Sister My Hanh Cao, DC
- Altar Server Group — ~18 children, led by Fr. Thuan Hoang
- Liturgical Group (readings) — Mr. Liem Nguyen
Outreach
The parish's outreach is rooted in bringing Holy Communion and God's Word to those who cannot attend Mass. The Ministry to the Homebound visits the sick, homebound, and caregivers — at home or in hospital — and Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist (trained by the Archdiocese of San Francisco) extend this care beyond the church walls.
- Ministry to the Homebound — call (415) 494-5517
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist to the Homebound
- Legion of Mary — home visitations, prayer at wakes/funerals, apostolic works
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments: Baptism (including for children over age 6 through the catechetical process), Eucharist (First Holy Communion), Confirmation, Penance (Reconciliation), Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Catholic Funeral Rites. Sacramental preparation forms are available under the Resources / Sacramental Forms page of the parish website.
- Baptism
- Eucharist (First Communion)
- Confirmation
- Penance / Reconciliation
- Matrimony
- Anointing of the Sick
- Catholic Funeral Rites
Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission (Brisbane)
Adjacent to the parish in Brisbane, California, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission extends the parish's reach across San Bruno Mountain. The mission celebrates the Eucharist at 10:30 AM on Sundays and gathers for a Rosary at 5:30 PM on Tuesdays. Its mailing address and contact information are routed through the parish office at 655 Sunnydale Avenue.
- Address: 285 Alvarado Street, Brisbane, CA 94005
- Sunday 10:30 AM — Eucharist
- Tuesday 5:30 PM — Rosary
- Emergency landline: (415) 467-9727
- Mailing address: 655 Sunnydale Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134
Our Lady of the Visitacion School (K–8)
The parish school at 785 Sunnydale Avenue is a K–8 Catholic elementary school in the Vincentian tradition of the Daughters of Charity. Rooted in the spirituality of St. Vincent de Paul and the founding Daughters of Charity saints, the school seeks to form a diverse student body within a faith community modeled on Jesus Christ, with a vision that students become 'people of service who see the face of God in everyone.'
- Address: 785 Sunnydale Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134
- Principal: Ryan Galaszewski ([email protected])
- Operations Director: Holly Lewis
- Receptionist: Melissa Long
- Main phone: (415) 239-7840
- Sponsored by the Daughters of Charity; Vincentian Catholic tradition
Visiting & Contact
Parish Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed Saturday and Sunday). The office can be reached at (415) 494-5517 (fax 415-494-5513). Livestream Mass is available for those unable to attend in person, and parishioners can register online or update their information through the Parish Registration Form on the website. FORMED digital Catholic media is offered free to parishioners (search 'Visitacion Church').
- Address: 655 Sunnydale Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94134
- Phone: (415) 494-5517 | Fax: (415) 494-5513
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (closed weekends)
- Livestream Mass schedule available online
- Parish Registration available online
- Free FORMED Catholic media access for parishioners
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas McNaboe1907–1917
First pastor; appointed by Archbishop Riordan; celebrated the parish's first Mass on Passion Sunday 1907.
- Rev. Michael Clifford1917–1919
Designed the third church via a pencil sketch realized by contractor P.F. McCarthy.
- Rev. James J. Gannon1919–1922
Completed and opened the third church with a High Mass on Christmas Day 1919.
- Rev. Patrick J. O'Connor1922–1923
- Rev. William Hughes1923–1926
- Irish Capuchin Fathers (OFM Cap.)1926
Briefly administered the parish.
- Rev. James Sorasio1926–1927
- Rev. Michael J. Doyle1927–1935
- Rev. Carl A. Dransfeld1935–1959
- Rev. Laurence J. Krause1949–1969
Administrator 1949–1959, then pastor 1959–1969; oversaw construction and 1952 dedication of the current church.
- Rev. Thomas E. Lacey1969–1979
- Rev. Joseph J. Marini1979–1995
- Rev. Thomas L. Seagrave1995–2002
- Rev. Zachary Shore2002–2006
- Rev. Eric E. Arauz2006–2007
Administrator.
- Rev. Rafael de Avila y Romero2007–2010
Administrator.
- Rev. Thuan V. Hoang, JCL2010–present
Administrator 2010–2011; pastor from 2011 to the present.