About Mater Dolorosa · South San Francisco, California
Mater Dolorosa Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in South San Francisco, California, belonging to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Established on Good Friday in 1961 by Archbishop John J. Mitty and dedicated in 1963, the parish is named for Our Lady of Sorrows, whose Seven Sorrows are depicted in the large stained-glass window behind the altar. Mater Dolorosa is well known for its unusual liturgical breadth — daily Mass in the Ordinary Form, a Traditional Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form, and the Byzantine Divine Liturgy — and for being the home of the Contemplatives of St. Joseph (COSJ), a religious community founded on site by its current pastor, Father Vito Perrone. The parish has a significant Filipino community and is celebrated as a quiet, monastic-style oasis in the shadow of San Bruno Mountain.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Our Lady of Sorrows (Mater Dolorosa)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Vito Perrone, C.O.S.J.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
Mater Dolorosa offers a uniquely Catholic range of liturgical options under one roof — Sunday Masses in English, a Traditional Latin Mass in the Extraordinary Form, daily Byzantine Divine Liturgy in the monastery chapel, and a monthly Mass in Tagalog for the Filipino community — making it a home for Catholics with widely different devotions. Day in and day out the church is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for Eucharistic Adoration, and a strong constellation of ministries (Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, Gabriel Project, Rachel Project, Family Faith Formation, Music Ministry, Altar Society, and free counseling) gives parishioners concrete ways to serve. Worshipping here also means walking alongside the Contemplatives of St. Joseph, the first new religious order in the Archdiocese of San Francisco in more than a century.
Mass times at Mater Dolorosa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm (or by appointment if urgent)
Adoration times
- Monday through Friday: 6:00 am – 7:00 pm (paused by 8:00 am and 12 Noon Masses)
- Saturday: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (in the chapel)
- Sunday (chapel open for private prayer): until 6:30 pm
Welcome and Mission
Mater Dolorosa Catholic Parish in South San Francisco is part of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The parish's published mission statement reads: 'We the people of God of Mater Dolorosa Parish strive to live our baptismal commitment under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and Mary, the Mother of God. Our mission is to reach out to all people as we try to live the Christian life in accordance with the values and ideals of the Gospel.' The parish is known for a monastic rhythm of daily prayer, broad liturgical options, and a vibrant Filipino-American community.
- Mission Statement page (mdssf.org/about)
- Parish staff directory
- Urgent Anointing line: 650-930-7819
Parish History
Mater Dolorosa was established on Good Friday in 1961, carved out of All Souls' and St. Veronica's parishes along Chestnut Avenue. Archbishop John J. Mitty created the parish and Father John Norman Allen served as founding pastor; the church was dedicated in 1963. The 50th anniversary in 2011 was marked with concerts and special celebrations, and the parish marked its 65th anniversary in September 2026 with a nine-day Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows.
- Founded Good Friday 1961
- Dedicated 1963
- Founding pastor: Fr. John Norman Allen
- 50th anniversary celebrated 2011
- 65th anniversary celebrated September 2026
Contemplatives of St. Joseph (COSJ)
The Contemplatives of St. Joseph is a religious community founded on site at Mater Dolorosa by Father Vito Perrone beginning in 2008. Archbishop Niederauer blessed the venture in 2010 when Fr. Perrone moved into the former convent, and in 2013 Archbishop Cordileone erected the COSJ as a public clerical association of the Christian faithful. On September 21, 2024 three priest-monks made solemn vows and ten Third Order lay members made solemn promises, making the COSJ the first religious order founded within the Archdiocese of San Francisco in more than a century. The community is tri-ritual — Ordinary Form, Extraordinary Form (Latin), and Byzantine — and operates from a monastery next to the parish church.
- Founded by Fr. Vito Perrone, 2008
- Tri-ritual: Ordinary Form, Latin Mass, Byzantine Divine Liturgy
- First religious order in Archdiocese of SF in 100+ years
- Has First Order (priest-monks), Third Order (lay), and since 2018 female religious vocations
- Active apostolates at St. Patrick's Seminary & University and with the Missionaries of Charity
Devotions
The parish calendar is shaped around Marian and Eucharistic devotion. The Legion of Mary leads the First Saturday Devotion and Rosary after the 8:00 am Mass in the Sisters' Monastery. A Healing Mass is celebrated every First Friday at 7:00 pm, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. A monthly Holy Hour on First Saturdays (3:30–4:45 pm) features Sacred Silence, Vespers, Lectio Divina, and Benediction. A Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows runs each year around the September feast, with prayer intentions for the unborn, mothers, families, and the culture of life.
- First Friday Healing Mass — 7:00 pm
- First Saturday Devotion & Rosary — after 8 am Mass
- First Saturday Holy Hour — 3:30–4:45 pm
- Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows — around September 15
Parish Ministries
Mater Dolorosa organizes its ministries under four headings: Worship, Education, Service, and Temporal/Parish Organizations. The Worship ministries include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Readers, Music Ministry, Sacristans, Altar Society, Ushers, Flower Ministry, and the COSJ Third Order. Education encompasses Family Faith Formation, OCIA (formerly RCIA), Baptism/Confirmation/Marriage preparation, the Patrician Society, Adult Catechesis/Speakers Series, and Lay Mission. Service includes St. Vincent de Paul, Gabriel Project, Rachel Project, Second Harvest Project, Women's Club, Hospitality, and Counseling Services. Parish Organizations are the Parish Council, Finance Council, Legion of Mary, and Knights of Columbus.
- Worship: EMHCs, Readers, Music Ministry, Sacristans, Altar Society, Ushers, Flower Ministry, COSJ Third Order
- Education: Family Faith Formation, OCIA, Baptism/Confirmation/Marriage prep, Patrician Society, Adult Catechesis, Lay Mission
- Service: St. Vincent de Paul, Gabriel Project, Project Rachel, Second Harvest, Women's Club, Hospitality, Counseling
- Parish Organizations: Parish Council, Finance Council, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus
Music and Liturgical Arts
Music is led by Music Directors Dr. Jennifer Donelson and Aida Gamboa (with additional directors listed on the parish site). The parish's signature choral ensemble, the Hallelujah Chorale, with the children's Cherubim choir, presents an annual holiday concert 'In Dulci Jubilo' that has featured Broadway excerpts, Handel's Messiah, and traditional Filipino Christmas carols (Noche Buena, Simbang Gabi, Kampana ng Simbahan). The earlier music director Angie Pasamba led the Hallelujah Chorale through the 50th anniversary celebrations, often accompanied by her husband, cellist Willie Pasamba.
- Music Directors: Dr. Jennifer Donelson, Aida Gamboa
- Hallelujah Chorale (adult) and Cherubim (children)
- Annual 'In Dulci Jubilo' holiday concert
Faith Formation and Counseling
Faith Formation is led by Director Felisa Cepeda ([email protected]) and includes Family Faith Formation, OCIA for adults, and sacramental preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Marriage. Third Order COSJ member Betti Magoolahan, a licensed marriage and family therapist, offers free short-term counseling to parishioners — an arrangement Father Perrone describes as a model for combining human and spiritual formation.
- Director of Faith Formation: Felisa Cepeda
- OCIA, Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage prep
- Free short-term counseling by Betti Magoolahan, LMFT
Stained Glass and Sacred Art
The artistic heart of the church is the large stained-glass window behind the altar illustrating the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Designed by John Lukas of San Francisco using machine-rolled glass from Peyton City, West Virginia and Kokomo, Indiana, the windows have been a focus of restoration efforts in recent years. Father Perrone has called the windows a catechesis in glass: walking into the church, one is 'brought into an essential awareness that our Mother Mary is present for us in all of our trials and tribulations.'
- Seven Sorrows of Mary depicted behind the altar
- Designed by John Lukas of San Francisco
- Glass sourced from Peyton City, WV and Kokomo, IN
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is pastored by Father Vito Perrone, C.O.S.J., with parochial vicars Father Joseph Homick, C.O.S.J. and Father Andrew Mbinkar Berinyuy, SCH.P. The Permanent Deacon is Rev. Mr. Ramon de la Rosa. Lay staff include Parish Manager Evangeline de Guzman, Bookkeeper/Finance Manager Frances Lidwell, Director of Faith Formation Felisa Cepeda, Counselor Betti Magoolahan (LMFT), Music Directors Dr. Jennifer Donelson and Aida Gamboa, and maintenance staff Marlon Evangelista, Alfred Urcuyo, and Bernard Oritz.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Vito Perrone, C.O.S.J.
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Fr. Joseph Homick, C.O.S.J.; Rev. Fr. Andrew Mbinkar Berinyuy, SCH.P
- Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Ramon de la Rosa
- Parish Manager: Evangeline de Guzman
- Bookkeeper/Finance: Frances Lidwell
- Faith Formation: Felisa Cepeda
- Counselor: Betti Magoolahan, LMFT
- Music Directors: Dr. Jennifer Donelson, Aida Gamboa
Visit, Contact, and Office Hours
The parish is located at 1040 Miller Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080. Phone (650) 583-4131; email [email protected]. The parish office is open Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. An urgent line — 650-930-7819 — is staffed for anyone approaching death who needs Anointing of the Sick. For non-emergency pastoral needs after hours, callers can leave a message at extension 1. Flocknote email signup is available through the parish website.
- Address: 1040 Miller Ave, South San Francisco, CA 94080
- Phone: (650) 583-4131
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue–Fri 8:30 am–12 pm, 1–5 pm
- Urgent Anointing line: 650-930-7819
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. John Norman Allen1961 (founding)
Founding pastor when the parish was established on Good Friday 1961 by Archbishop John J. Mitty; oversaw construction and 1963 dedication.
- Rev. Fr. Rolando 'Roland' dela Rosaapprox. 2000s–c. 2022
Filipino priest who served as pastor; spoke at the parish's 50th anniversary celebrations and was pastor at least into the early 2010s.
- Rev. Fr. Vito Perrone, C.O.S.J.2022–present
Founder of the Contemplatives of St. Joseph; appointed pastor July 1, 2022; reshaped the parish around a monastic rhythm of prayer, adoration, and Byzantine/Latin/Ordinary Form liturgies.