About Dominican University of California · San Rafael, California
Dominican University of California is a private Catholic university in San Rafael, California, founded in 1890 by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael (the Congregation of the Most Holy Name). It is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in California and the first Catholic college in the state to grant the B.A. degree to women (1917). The university sustains its Catholic, Dominican heritage through MOSAIC Spiritual and Religious Life (formerly Campus Ministry), a Mindful Open Spiritual And Interreligious Community that welcomes students of all faiths, traditions, and beliefs. Rooted in the four Dominican ideals of Study, Reflection, Community, and Service, the ministry coordinates liturgies, retreats, service trips, the Penguin Pantry food program, and the Fr. Bob Haberman Veritas Interfaith Center in Edgehill Mansion, often partnering with Saint Isabella's Catholic Parish, Chabad of Marin, Trinity Community Church, and the Islamic Center of North Marin.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- St. Dominic de Guzman
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
Dominican's Spiritual and Religious Life community welcomes students of every religion, tradition, and belief — including those who are non-religious, curious, or questioning — and grounds them in the Dominican pillars of Study, Reflection, Community, and Service. Students can celebrate Catholic Mass, attend interfaith Bible studies, observe Rosh Hashanah and Eid al-Fitr, and join retreats, Alternative Spring Break immersion trips, the Penguin Pantry food-security program, and student-led justice and homelessness initiatives. Through the Fr. Bob Haberman Veritas Interfaith Center in Edgehill Mansion, MOSAIC SRL offers a setting that is 'as welcoming and open as it is beautiful and contemplative' — a fitting spiritual home for any student seeking to grow in faith and purpose while at the university.
Mass times at Dominican University of California
Weekly Mass schedule
Overview of Spiritual and Religious Life at Dominican
MOSAIC Spiritual and Religious Life (formerly Campus Ministry) is the Mindful Open Spiritual And Interreligious Community of Dominican University of California. It works with the university community to help individuals develop and strengthen their spiritual lives, grounded in the Dominican Ideals of Study, Reflection, Community, and Service. MOSAIC SRL welcomes and affirms all religions, faiths, traditions, and beliefs, and explicitly includes those who are non-religious, curious, questioning, or on their own individual path. Programs include weekly liturgies, retreats, interfaith celebrations, Alternative Spring Break immersion trips, volunteer opportunities, and student faith organizations.
- Anchored in Catholic and Dominican tradition, but ecumenical and interfaith in practice
- Coordinated from Edgehill Mansion on the San Rafael campus
- Programs guided by the acronym MOSAIC virtues
- Coordinates with Saint Isabella's Catholic Parish, Trinity Community Church, Chabad of Marin, and Islamic Center of North Marin
A Catholic University Founded by Dominican Sisters
Dominican University of California was founded in 1890 by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, more formally known as the Congregation of the Most Holy Name. Its history traces back to 1850, when Bishop Joseph Alemany, on his way to California, stopped in Paris and asked Dominican sisters to join him to teach the children of the forty-niners. Sister Mary Goemaere volunteered, and within a few years nine women — three American, one Mexican, and five Spanish — formed the congregation in Monterey. The sisters moved to Benicia in 1854 and to San Rafael in 1889, filing Articles of Incorporation in 1890. Dominican opened a junior college in 1915 and a four-year college in 1917 — the first Catholic college in California to grant the B.A. degree to women.
- Founded 1890 in San Rafael, California
- First Catholic college in California to grant the B.A. to women (1917)
- Became co-educational in 1971
- Renamed Dominican University of California in 2000
Veritas Interfaith Center
Located on the first floor of Edgehill Mansion, the Fr. Bob Haberman Veritas Interfaith Center welcomes all to join weekly and seasonal programs. The Center is dedicated to Dominican's late Fr. Bob, whose unfaltering service and commitment to students and alumni left a lasting legacy. It continues to serve students of all faiths and all traditions in a setting the university describes as 'as welcoming and open as it is beautiful and contemplative.'
- Housed in Edgehill Mansion
- Named for the late Fr. Bob Haberman
- Hosts weekly and seasonal interfaith programming
Mass and Liturgical Life
Catholic Mass is celebrated on campus during the academic year, with a Sunday evening liturgy and weekday noon Masses. Special Masses — including the Welcome Back Mass, Season's Greetings Mass, and Ash Wednesday Communion Service — are held in collaboration with Saint Isabella's Catholic Parish in San Rafael. Student leaders coordinate the music and choir for all campus liturgies.
- Sunday 7:30 PM Mass during academic sessions
- Monday–Friday 12:15 PM daily Mass during academic sessions
- Holy Day Masses at 12:15 PM during academic sessions
- Collaborative Masses with Saint Isabella's Catholic Parish
Interfaith Celebrations and Bible Study
MOSAIC SRL partners with neighboring faith communities to mark major religious seasons on campus. Recent collaborations include Rosh Hashanah and Passover celebrations with Chabad of Marin, an Eid al-Fitr celebration with the Islamic Center of North Marin, and weekly Bible studies with Trinity Community Church.
- Rosh Hashanah & Passover with Chabad of Marin
- Eid al-Fitr with Islamic Center of North Marin
- Weekly Bible Studies with Trinity Community Church
Service Opportunities and Social Justice
Service is one of the four Dominican pillars at the heart of MOSAIC SRL. Students, faculty, and staff volunteer at the weekly Penguin Pantry outside Albertus Magnus, distributing produce, starches, protein, juices, and snacks received from the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. The Penguin Pantry, launched in September 2018, is entirely student-run and has become a site for internships and capstone projects, including advocacy work with the food bank's government affairs manager. Student leaders also run solidarity sleep-outs in partnership with a local group that ministers to homeless youth.
- Penguin Pantry — weekly food distribution with SF-Marin Food Bank
- Alternative Spring Break immersion trips (e.g., San Diego-Tijuana border)
- Solidarity sleep-outs for homelessness awareness
- Student-led advocacy with food-bank partners
Student Faith Organizations
In addition to programming, MOSAIC SRL supports registered student organizations where students can deepen their faith, build community, and serve. New groups continue to form as the interfaith character of the campus grows.
- Dominican Jewish Alliance
- Muslim Student Association
- Penguin Ideals Club
Staff and Leadership
Spiritual and Religious Life at Dominican has been shaped by Dominican Sisters of San Rafael and lay staff. Sister Mary Soher, OP, served as Director of Campus Ministry and worked alongside student leaders to embody the Dominican ideals. Sr. Carla Kovack, OP, serves as Associate Director. The Fr. Bob Haberman Veritas Interfaith Center commemorates the late Fr. Bob and his commitment to Dominican students. Volunteer coordination is handled through the Office of Student Engagement at [email protected] or (415) 482-1972.
- Sr. Mary Soher, OP — Director of Campus Ministry (as of 2020)
- Sr. Carla Kovack, OP — Associate Director (415-257-0142)
- Rev. Bob Haberman (late) — namesake of the Veritas Interfaith Center
- Stephanie Felton — transportation liaison for off-campus faith communities
Partner Catholic Parish: Saint Isabella's
Campus Ministry collaborates closely with Saint Isabella's Catholic Parish in San Rafael, which serves as the Catholic parish home for many Dominican students. Saint Isabella's offers daily Mass at 8:30 am, Saturday Vigil at 5:00 pm, Sunday Masses at 7:30, 9:00 (Family Mass), 11:30 am, 5:00 pm, and a 2:00 pm Spanish Mass, with Reconciliation on Tuesdays 5:00–7:00 pm (English or Spanish) and Saturdays 3:45–4:45 pm.
- Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:30 am, 5:00 pm, plus 2:00 pm Spanish
- Daily Mass (Mon–Sat) at 8:30 am
- Reconciliation Tuesdays 5:00–7:00 pm and Saturdays 3:45–4:45 pm
- Located at One Trinity Way, San Rafael, CA 94903
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Sister Mary Soher, OPas of March 2020
Director of Campus Ministry; led Alternative Spring Break immersion trips, Penguin Pantry, solidarity sleep-outs, and student leadership formation around the Dominican ideals of Study, Reflection, Community, and Service.
- Sr. Carla Kovack, OP
Associate Director of Campus Ministry; coordinates programming in body, mind, and spirit through the four Dominican ideals of prayer, study, service, and community.