About Holy Angels · Colma, California
Holy Angels is a Roman Catholic parish in Colma, California, belonging to the Archdiocese of San Francisco and serving the Daly City / Colma / Pacifica corridor on the San Francisco Peninsula. The parish was formally established in 1914, evolving out of an earlier mission church (St. Anne's) that local Catholics had attended since around 1868. Today Holy Angels is a bilingual, multicultural community offering Mass in both English and Spanish and is supported by a parochial school (Holy Angels School), a religious education program, the Knights of Columbus, the Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul, and a number of other parish organizations representing its Filipino, Italian, Latino, and Pacific Rim heritages.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- Holy Angels (the Guardian Angels)
- Rector
- Rev. Alex L. Legaspi
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
Holy Angels is a parish that takes seriously its identity as 'one Body of Christ with many members,' offering Mass in both English and Spanish every Sunday along with a full weekday schedule, First Friday Adoration, Our Lady of Perpetual Help devotions on Mondays, and a bilingual Rosary devotion. Families can enroll their children at Holy Angels School (Pre-School through 8th grade) and the School of Religion / CCD program, while adults can journey through RCIA or join any of more than a dozen active organizations — the Knights of Columbus (Council 10948), Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Charismatic Prayer Group, Filipino-American Club, Italian Catholic Federation, and Grupos Latinos — that together serve the parish's German, Irish, Italian, Mexican, Central and South American, Filipino, and Pacific Rim communities. It is, in the words of parishioner Bianca Caserza, 'a rich parish because of its diversity.'
Mass times at Holy Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (or by appointment with the priest)
Adoration times
- First Friday — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament begins with the 1:00 PM Mass and continues until the 5:45 PM Mass
About Holy Angels Parish
Holy Angels Parish describes itself as 'a rich parish because of its diversity.' Originally founded by German, Irish, and Italian immigrants in the late 19th century, the parish today draws worshippers from Mexico, Central and South America, the Philippines, the Fiji Islands, and other parts of the Pacific Rim, Asia, and Africa. Its motto, 'Unity in Diversity / Diversity in Unity,' reflects a vision of the parish as one Body of Christ made up of many members and many ministries. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of San Francisco and sits on San Pedro Road in the small town of Colma, just south of Daly City.
- Motto: Unity in Diversity — 'One Body of Christ, but many members; many ministries, but one spirit in Christ'
- Mission: To make visible the Kingdom of God through worship, education, and the sharing of time, talent, and treasure
- Part of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
History of Holy Angels
Holy Angels grew out of St. Anne Church, built around 1868 on land donated by Colma landowner Peter Dunks. For decades priests rode in on horseback from San Mateo and San Francisco; Father James Cooper became known as 'the horseback priest' for his four-day round trip. The mission was raised to parish status and renamed Holy Angels in 1914, with Father Michael Clifford as its first pastor. The parish expanded dramatically in 1952 (under Father Morrissey) when a campaign led by San Mateo County Supervisor Thomas Callan built the present school and convent and enlarged the church. The present Mission-style church was dedicated on September 23, 1962, with a blessing from Pope John XXIII. The parish has been served by sixteen pastors in its 100+ years.
- 1867 — Peter Dunks donates land to Archbishop Alemany
- c. 1868 — St. Anne Church built under Father Denis Dempsey
- 1892–1893 — Bell tower added; bell (gift of the Biggio family) still preserved
- 1899–1914 — Mission of St. Michael, Ocean View
- 1914 — Raised to parish status and renamed Holy Angels
- 1915 — First rectory built (architect John Foley, $6,700)
- 1952 — Major expansion: school, convent, enlarged church
- c. 1960 — Sacristy fire destroys vestments and linens
- September 23, 1962 — New church dedicated; blessing from Pope John XXIII
- December 2, 1962 — Baldwin three-manual organ blessed
- 2014 — Centennial celebrated; tribute in U.S. Congressional Record
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Angels is currently led by Father Alex L. Legaspi, the parish's sixteenth pastor, who was installed on July 1, 2013. He is assisted by a parochial vicar, two priests in residence, and a dedicated lay and religious staff who run the parish office, school, religious education program, and physical plant.
- Rev. Alex L. Legaspi — Pastor
- Rev. Chinonso Okoroichi — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Antonio G. Petilla — In Residence
- Rev. Alejandro De Jesus — In Residence
- Sr. Olive Fuentes — Principal of Holy Angels School
- Sr. Dina A. Danos, O.P. — Coordinator, School of Religion
- Tony-Joven Corpus — Webmaster & Head Sacristan
- Edwina Aniag / Tess Navarro — Bookkeeper
- Ning Ludovico — Secretary
- Dulce Paradero — Receptionist
- Ted Cordano — Maintenance
- Nena Turicos — Housekeeping
Parish Organizations & Ministries
Holy Angels maintains an unusually broad network of parish organizations that reflect its ethnic and spiritual diversity. The Parish Council and Finance Committee handle governance; the Knights of Columbus (Council 10948), Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Charismatic Prayer Group carry out fraternal, spiritual, and charitable work; and the Filipino-American Club (FIL-AM), Italian Catholic Federation (ICF), and Grupos Latinos maintain cultural ties to the parish's heritage communities. The parish also runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults preparing for full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Parish Council — 4th Thursday, 7:30 PM
- Finance Committee — quarterly, 7:30 PM
- Knights of Columbus, Council 10948 — 2nd Sunday, 6:30 PM
- Legion of Mary — every Saturday, 9:30 AM
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — 1st & 3rd Thursday, 7:00 PM
- Charismatic Prayer Group — every Thursday, 7:00 PM
- Filipino-American Club (FIL-AM) — 3rd Sunday, 12:30 PM
- Italian Catholic Federation (ICF) — 2nd & 4th Monday, 7:30 PM
- Grupos Latinos — 1st Sunday, 10:00 AM
- RCIA — contact Jeannette Luna, (650) 580-2992
Holy Angels School
Holy Angels School is a parish elementary school (Pre-School through 8th grade) on the same San Pedro Road campus. Originally built together with the convent during the 1952 capital expansion under Father Morrissey, the school is currently led by Sr. Olive Fuentes as Principal and Connie Gonzalez as Director of Holy Angels Pre-School. Sr. Leonarda Montealto, O.P. has also served as Principal (K–8). Parents can reach the school office at (650) 755-0220.
- Grades served: Pre-School through 8th
- Principal: Sr. Olive Fuentes
- Pre-School Director: Connie Gonzalez
- School phone: (650) 755-0220
- School built 1952; part of the parish campus on San Pedro Road
Religious Education (School of Religion / CCD)
Children who do not attend Holy Angels School can receive Catholic religious education through the parish's School of Religion program (also known as CCD), which prepares students for First Communion and Confirmation. The program is coordinated by Sr. Dina A. Danos, O.P., and can be reached at (650) 291-3478.
- Coordinator: Sr. Dina A. Danos, O.P.
- Phone: (650) 291-3478
- Covers First Communion and Confirmation preparation
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Baptisms, Quinceañeras, and most weddings are scheduled on Saturdays after required preparation; Anointing of the Sick and funerals are arranged through the rectory office. Couples are asked to contact a priest or deacon at least six months before a wedding.
- Baptism — 2-month advance preparation; interview required
- Marriage — 6-month advance preparation; Saturday weddings
- Quinceañera — interview with the priest; Saturdays
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment; (650) 488-0240
- Funerals and Memorials — coordinated with the funeral home; weekdays
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Clifford1914–
First pastor of Holy Angels; added two small wings to the original St. Anne's building and oversaw construction of the first rectory in 1915.
- Rev. Patrick Heslin1921 (short tenure)
Killed in 1921 after responding to a fake sick-call to Salada Beach; his death was one of the defining events of the parish's early history.
- Rev. Morrisseyearly 1950s
Led the 1952 capital campaign that enlarged the church and built the parish school and convent.
- Rev. Sorasiomid-20th century
Set up a mission in a house near present-day Nick's Restaurant in Rockaway Beach for coast-side Catholics.
- Rev. Thomas Farrell (later Msgr.)1952–1976
Longest-serving pastor of the modern era; oversaw construction of the present 1962 church; made a Monsignor shortly before his death; a memorial endowment fund bears his name.
- Rev. Alex L. Legaspi2013–present
Sixteenth pastor of Holy Angels, installed July 1, 2013; recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record for the parish's 2014 centennial.