About Notre Dame des Victoires · San Francisco, California
Église Notre Dame des Victoires — known simply as 'The French Church' — is a historic Catholic parish in downtown San Francisco, California, serving the Union Square / Financial District area at 566 Bush Street. Founded in 1856 to minister to French Catholic immigrants of the Gold Rush era, it was designated a French National Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1887 and entrusted to the Marist Fathers, who shepherded it for 138 years until pastoral care returned to the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 2023. Today the parish is bilingual (English and French), is home to École Notre Dame des Victoires (TK–8 French-language Catholic school on Pine Street), and is San Francisco City Landmark #173.
- Established
- 1856
- Patron
- Our Lady of Victories (Notre-Dame des Victoires)
- Rector
- Rev. Gregory Heidenblut, O.S.A.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
Notre Dame des Victoires is one of San Francisco's oldest continuously active parishes — a place where a downtown commuter, a French-speaking expatriate, a local family with school-age children, or a visitor can all find a home. It offers a rare bilingual Sunday schedule (with the 10:30 am Mass celebrated in French), a vibrant post-Mass hospitality in the parish hall, the warmth of a cross-cultural and cross-generational community, and immediate access to École Notre Dame des Victoires — a TK–8 Catholic school with daily French instruction, co-located on Pine Street. For more than 165 years it has remained a quiet, identifiable landmark of San Francisco's historic French Quarter, just steps from Union Square and the Financial District.
Mass times at Notre Dame des Victoires
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays from 4:15 pm to 4:45 pm (before the Vigil Mass)
- Weekdays from 6:30 am to 6:50 am (before the 7:00 am Mass)
- By appointment — call the rectory at 415-397-0113
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Eucharistic Adoration, followed by Benediction
Parish History
Église Notre Dame des Victoires was founded in 1856 to minister to the French Catholic immigrants of the Gold Rush. A former Baptist church on Bush Street was purchased by the layman Gustav Touchard and rededicated by Archbishop Alemany. From 1885 to 2023 the parish was entrusted to the Marist Fathers; in 1887 Pope Leo XIII signed a decree giving it the designation of a French National Church. The 1906 earthquake destroyed the original structure; the present Romanesque church, designed by Louis Brochoud, was built 1912–1913 and rededicated on September 12, 1915. The City of San Francisco designated the church and rectory as City Landmark #173 in 1984, and a $3 million seismic retrofit after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was completed in 1996.
- 1848: Père Langlois celebrates the first French-language Mass in San Francisco
- 1856: Parish founded; former Baptist church on Bush Street rededicated
- 1885: Marist Fathers entrusted with the parish by Archbishop Riordan
- 1887: Pope Leo XIII designates Notre Dame des Victoires a French National Church
- 1906: Original church destroyed in the Earthquake and Great Fire
- 1913: Current church designed by Louis Brochoud completed
- 1915: Church rededicated on September 12
- 1924: École Notre Dame des Victoires school opens on Pine Street
- 1956: Centennial commemorated with plaque from the Republic of France
- 1984: Designated San Francisco City Landmark #173
- 1996: $3 million seismic retrofit completed after 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
- 2023: Marist Fathers return pastoral care to the Archdiocese of San Francisco
- March 30, 2025: Fr. Gregory Heidenblut, O.S.A., installed as the first Augustinian pastor
Sacramental Preparation
The parish welcomes parishioners and non-parishioners to celebrate the sacraments at Notre Dame des Victoires. Baptism for infants and young children requires two preparation sessions; marriage requires at least six months of preparation and is celebrated on Saturdays at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process accompanies unbaptized adults, Christians seeking full communion, and baptized Catholics preparing for First Communion and Confirmation.
- Baptism (infant & child)
- First Holy Communion & Confirmation
- Marriage (with six months preparation; convalidation available)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- OCIA (RCIA) — Christian Initiation of Adults
École Notre Dame des Victoires (School)
École Notre Dame des Victoires is a Catholic, co-educational elementary and middle school for Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade, located at 659 Pine Street, one block from the church. Founded in 1924, the school was established by the Marist Fathers and is today run jointly with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. Daily French instruction is a core element of the curriculum, in keeping with the parish's French National Church heritage. The school offers an after-school program (NDVEP) until 6:00 pm and a range of clubs, sports, and enrichment activities.
- TK through Grade 8, co-educational
- Daily French language instruction as a separate subject
- Enrichment in art, technology, music, and PE
- After-school care (NDVEP) until 6:00 pm
- Rooted in the Marist charism and Marian example
- Principal: Dr. Adrian Peterson
Music & Liturgical Ministries
The parish's Music Ministry is led by Christopher Hewitt, with Miriam Kane directing the Children's Choir. Lay liturgical ministries — Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, and Altar Servers — are essential to the celebration of Mass, and the parish provides formation for new members of each ministry. A special Children's Choir supports the parish's youngest worshippers.
- Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors (readers at Mass)
- Altar Servers
- Music Ministry (Christopher Hewitt)
- Children's Choir (Miriam Kane)
Parish Life & Community
Hospitality after Sunday Masses is a hallmark of NDV community life, with volunteers serving food and beverages in the parish hall after the 9:00 am, 10:30 am (French) and 12:15 pm Masses. Le Club des Femmes (women's fellowship) and the NDV Men's Club offer service, fellowship, and cultural and spiritual enrichment for adult parishioners, alumni, and school parents.
- Sunday post-Mass Hospitality in the parish hall
- Le Club des Femmes (women's fellowship)
- NDV Men's Club
- Stewardship of Prayer, Participation, and Giving
- Online Giving and Planned Giving
Clergy & Staff
The pastoral team is currently led by Rev. Gregory Heidenblut, O.S.A., an Augustinian priest installed as pastor on March 30, 2025, who also serves as the Archdiocese of San Francisco's director of ongoing formation for priests. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Rev. Ronnie B-Sy Custorio, O.S.A., and Deacon Rev. Mr. Daniel Kaatz. The parish staff includes Dr. Carrie Schroeder (Director of Faith Formation), Mertenesh Asrat (Secretary), Karen Turner (Controller), Krizette Garcia (Facility Manager), and others.
- Rev. Gregory Heidenblut, O.S.A. — Pastor
- Rev. Ronnie B-Sy Custorio, O.S.A. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Mr. Daniel Kaatz — Deacon
- Dr. Carrie Schroeder — Director of Faith Formation
- Christopher Hewitt — Music Ministry
- Miriam Kane — Children's Choir
- Mertenesh Asrat — Administrative Assistant
- Karen Turner — Controller
- Claudia Portillo — Operations/Finance Manager
- Adrian Peterson — Principal of École Notre Dame des Victoires
Architecture & Stained Glass
The 1913 Romanesque church is one of downtown San Francisco's architectural treasures. The buff-brick-and-terra-cotta façade is modeled on the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon, while the barrel-vaulted Roman-style interior, with its red marble columns and plaster ornament, is modeled on the church of Saint-Ambroise in Paris. The church's 63 stained glass windows were installed over four decades, beginning in 1935 under the long-tenured pastor Fr. Louis Le Bihan, S.M. Many were produced by San Francisco studios (Edward Lapotka, then John Lukas), with later windows imported from Belgium.
- Architect: Louis Brochoud (church, 1912–1913); architect unknown (Renaissance/Baroque rectory)
- Façade modeled on Notre-Dame de Fourvière, Lyon
- Interior modeled on Saint-Ambroise, Paris
- 63 stained glass windows, installed 1935–1970
- San Francisco City Landmark #173 (1984)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dominique Blaive1856–1862
First pastor; oversaw the 1856 rededication of the former Baptist church purchased by Gustav Touchard
- Rev. Jean Molinier1862–1869
Came from Mariposa County; died 1863 per one source (likely tenure ended 1869)
- Rev. Henry J. de Clerq1869–1875
A native of Belgium
- Rev. Pierre Robert1875–1885
Last diocesan priest before the Marists arrived
- Rev. Jean Marie Beaugelin1885
Brief tenure at the transition to Marist care
- Rev. Onésirne Renaudier, S.M.1885–1892
First Marist pastor, following the 1885 entrustment and 1887 papal decree
- Rev. Henri Audiffred, S.M.1892–1895
Marist pastor
- Rev. Emile Gente, S.M.1895–1897
Marist pastor
- Rev. Alexandre Loude, S.M.1897–1899
Marist pastor
- Rev. Alexandre Hamet, S.M.1899–1905
Marist pastor
- Rev. Joseph Guibert, S.M.1905–1908
Marist pastor
- Rev. Joseph Sollier, S.M.1908–1911
Marist pastor
- Rev. Henri Thiery, S.M.1911–1917
Built the present church and rectory (1912–1915 rededication) and acquired land on Pine Street for the school
- Rev. Benjamin Allain, S.M.1917–1921
Marist pastor
- Rev. Henri Gérard, S.M.1921–1927
Founded the French school on Pine Street (later became École Notre Dame des Victoires)
- Rev. Louis Le Bihan, S.M.1927–1957
Longest-serving pastor; led the 30-year stained glass window campaign and oversaw the 1956 centennial (commemorated with plaque from Republic of France)
- Rev. Julian Marquis, S.M.1957–1964
Marist pastor
- Rev. James Marchant, S.M.1965–1968
Marist pastor
- Rev. Emile Neyron, S.M.1968–1975
Marist pastor
- Rev. Leonard Ferringo, S.M.1975–1983
Marist pastor
- Rev. Etienne Siffert, S.M.1983–1991
Marist pastor; returned for a second term later
- Rev. James Pratt, S.M.1991–1993
Marist pastor
- Rev. Etienne Siffert, S.M.1993–2004
Second term as Marist pastor; later authored the stained glass tapestry book
- Rev. René Iturbe, S.M.2004–2017
Marist pastor
- Rev. Juan J. González, S.M.2017–2023
Final Marist pastor; oversaw the 2023 return of pastoral care to the Archdiocese of San Francisco
- Fr. Andrew SpyrowJanuary 2024 – September 2024
Archdiocesan parish administrator during the Marist-to-Archdiocese transition
- Rev. Gregory Heidenblut, O.S.A.September 2024 – present
Augustinian priest; served as administrator from September 2024 and was formally installed as pastor by Archbishop Cordileone on March 30, 2025. Also serves as Director of Ongoing Formation for priests of the Archdiocese and as a professor at St. Patrick's Seminary & University, Menlo Park.
