About Holy Name of Jesus · San Francisco, California
Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Outer Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco, California, part of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Founded in 1925, it is one of the anchor Catholic communities of the western Sunset District, serving families through its parish school, faith formation programs, liturgical ministries, and outreach. The parish is currently led by its seventh pastor, Father Cameron Faller, who was installed in September 2024, and is known for the longtime tagline that at Holy Name 'No One is a Stranger.'
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- Holy Name of Jesus
- Rector
- Father Cameron M. Faller
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
Holy Name of Jesus has been a stable, multigenerational Catholic presence in the Outer Sunset for a century, with daily and Sunday Masses, a parish school rooted in the Sisters of Mercy tradition since 1941, and a full sacramental life including Reconciliation, Baptism, Confirmation, and Marriage preparation. Parishioners serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers and greeters, sacristans, altar servers, choir members, and catechists for the CCD/Religious Education program, and the parish community is repeatedly described as one where 'No One is a Stranger.' Families looking for an English-speaking, traditionally Catholic parish community in western San Francisco will find an active school, faith formation for children and youth, RCIA, Confirmation preparation, and a year-round volunteer choir led by a dedicated director.
Mass times at Holy Name of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday 15 minutes before 9:30 AM Mass
- Sunday 15 minutes before 11:30 AM Mass
- By appointment (call Parish Office)
Adoration times
- Also by appointment — please call the Parish Office at (415) 664-8590
Parish History
Holy Name of Jesus was founded in 1925 when Archbishop Edward J. Hanna appointed Father Richard Ryan, originally from Bartlemy, County Cork, Ireland, to organize the Catholic families of San Francisco's still-developing Outer Sunset. The first Mass was offered October 26, 1925 in a rented community hall at Kirkham Street and 45th Avenue, and a small church was up the following year on 38th Avenue. The parish grew rapidly through the 1930s, leading to the construction of a larger church and school at 40th Avenue and Lawton, dedicated by Archbishop Mitty in 1941 and joined by a school staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. Father Ryan served until his death on November 5, 1956, and was succeeded by Monsignor William J. Flanagan, who oversaw the building of the present concrete-and-steel church dedicated on April 5, 1964. On October 26, 2025, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone celebrated a Centennial Mass exactly 100 years after Father Ryan's first Mass.
- Founded 1925 by Father Richard Ryan
- First Mass: October 26, 1925, Kirkham St & 45th Ave
- Present church dedicated April 5, 1964
- Centennial Mass celebrated October 26, 2025
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by its seventh pastor, Father Cameron M. Faller, a Marin County native and Marin Catholic High School alumnus who was installed by Archbishop Cordileone on September 22, 2024. Father Faller also continues to serve as Director of Seminarian Formation for the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Parish life is supported by religious and lay staff including Sr. Linda Carandang, FdCC (Faith Formation), and choir director/pianist Dina Reyes. The parish school is led by principal Michael Miller.
- Father Cameron M. Faller — Pastor (since 2024)
- Sr. Linda Carandang, FdCC — Faith Formation contact, (415) 759-4290
- Dina Reyes — Choir Director and pianist
- Michael Miller — Holy Name of Jesus School principal
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Baptismal preparation is offered on the first Saturday of each month at 2:00 PM in the Pastoral Center or by appointment. The Sacrament of Confirmation is offered every two years as part of the 7th- and 8th-grade curriculum. First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are prepared through the Religious Education/CCD program. Marriage preparation is a five-evening program run twice a year (fall and spring) in the Flanagan Center, 7:30–9:00 PM, with attendance at all sessions required for the certificate.
- Baptism — first Saturday of the month, 2:00 PM, Pastoral Center
- Reconciliation — Saturday, Sunday before Mass, by appointment
- Confirmation — every 2 years for 7th/8th graders
- Marriage preparation — five evenings, Flanagan Center, fall and spring
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
The Children's Faith Formation Program follows the policies, guidelines, and curriculum of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and assists parents as the primary educators of their children. Classes meet on Saturday mornings from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon in the Pastoral Center for Kindergarten through 9th grade. Catechists are parish volunteers of all backgrounds who proclaim the Word, build community, lead students to prayer, and model Christian service.
- Religious Education (CCD): K–9, Saturday 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon, Pastoral Center
- Youth Group (7th grade & up): 1st and 3rd Sundays after the 9:30 AM Mass
- RCIA for Children/Youth: Wednesday 7:00–8:30 PM, Pastoral Center
- Confirmation Classes: Saturday 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon, Pastoral Center
- Contact: Sr. Linda Carandang, FdCC — (415) 759-4290
Liturgical Ministries
Holy Name of Jesus offers a full range of liturgical ministries that allow parishioners of all ages to participate actively in Mass. Lay faithful serve as lectors proclaiming the Word of God, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion (some also bring Communion to the homebound), ushers and greeters welcoming parishioners and assisting with collections and the Presentation of the Gifts, sacristans preparing the sacred vessels and altar, and altar servers (a special ministry for young people).
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Ushers / Greeters
- Sacristans (Sexton)
Music Ministry & Choir
The Music Ministry enriches every liturgy at Holy Name of Jesus through sacred and inspiring music. The Parish Choir is a year-round volunteer ensemble that leads music at the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass, bringing together parishioners of all ages and backgrounds under the direction of Choir Director and pianist Dina Reyes. The choir performs a blend of contemporary, classical, and baroque repertoire and rehearses Sundays at 12:30 PM, immediately following the 11:30 AM Mass.
- Parish Choir leads 11:30 AM Sunday Mass
- Director: Dina Reyes
- Rehearsals: Sundays, 12:30 PM (after 11:30 AM Mass)
- Repertoire: contemporary, classical, and baroque
Church Environment & Art Ministry
The Church Environment and Art Ministry creates and maintains a beautiful, prayerful environment both inside and outside the church, reflecting the joy and meaning of each liturgical season. The team decorates the Sanctuary, Church Vestibule, and the outdoor shrine and garden areas, with major efforts for Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter and ongoing weekly upkeep. The ministry welcomes volunteers with an eye for beauty, the ability to arrange banners and flowers, comfort working indoors and outdoors, and the ability to lift up to 10 lbs.
- Decorates Sanctuary, Vestibule, outdoor shrine, and gardens
- Seasonal efforts for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time
- Twice-weekly check-ins for ongoing maintenance
Parish School
Holy Name of Jesus School was opened in September 1941 by Father Ryan and eight Sisters of Mercy with 304 students in kindergarten through seventh grade. The Sisters originally commuted daily by jitney from their Mother House in Burlingame before a parish convent was built and dedicated in 1949. Today the school continues as a cornerstone of parish life under principal Michael Miller, and its students, teachers, and families actively participate in parish liturgies and celebrations, including Father Faller's installation Mass.
- School opened September 1941
- Originally staffed by Sisters of Mercy
- Current principal: Michael Miller
Visiting & Getting Involved
Newcomers and visitors are welcomed warmly — Holy Name describes itself as a community where 'No One is a Stranger.' The Parish Office, located in the former Holy Name Convent at 1555 39th Avenue, is open Monday–Thursday 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM and Friday 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, and can be reached at (415) 664-8590 or [email protected]. Prospective volunteers are asked to register as parishioners first; some ministry roles require Virtus training and background screening through the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
- Parish Office: 1555 39th Avenue (former Holy Name Convent)
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM; Fri 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Phone: (415) 664-8590
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Richard Ryan1925–1956
Founding pastor; Irish-born (Bartlemy, County Cork); first pastor chosen by Archbishop Hanna. Died November 5, 1956, while serving as pastor.
- Monsignor William J. Flanagan1956–c.1964+
Second pastor; installed December 2, 1956 by Archbishop Mitty; brought 22 years of Catholic Charities experience; oversaw construction and 1964 dedication of the present church.
- Father Cameron Faller2024–present
Seventh pastor, installed by Archbishop Cordileone on September 22, 2024; also serves as Director of Seminarian Formation for the Archdiocese of San Francisco; native of Novato, Marin Catholic HS alum.