About Our Lady of Lourdes · Oakland, California
Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish situated on the eastern shore of Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, between the Adams Point and Cleveland Heights neighborhoods. Established on December 9, 1921, by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the parish was named to commemorate the Marian apparitions to Saint Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, in 1858. Today the parish belongs to the Diocese of Oakland, gathers a diverse community for Sunday and weekday Mass, and is known for its strong music program, active lay ministries, and striking 1960s Romanesque-style church building overlooking the lake.
- Established
- 1921
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Father Leo Edgerly Jr. (Pastoral Leader)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes is a small, diverse, lake-side parish that has worshiped at 2808 Lakeshore Avenue for over a century. The parish offers a full weekly schedule of weekday and Sunday Masses, a robust music and liturgy program led by a dedicated Music Director, and a variety of small-group ministries — Bible Study, the Emmaus group, the Pope Francis Lectio group, Hospitality, Blessing Bags, and Ministry to the Sick and Homebound — that make it easy to get involved. The beautifully renovated Romanesque-style sanctuary, the strong lay participation in the liturgy, and a history of remarkably steady pastoral leadership make it a warm and welcoming Catholic community in the heart of Oakland.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Adoration times
- Wednesday 3:00 – 4:00 pm Silent Meditation (followed by 4:00 pm Mass)
Our Story: A Parish on the Lake
Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish rooted in 1772 — the year Padre Juan Crespi celebrated the first Catholic Mass in the area on a bluff above Lake Merritt — and formally established as a parish on December 9, 1921. The community has worshiped on the eastern shore of Lake Merritt for over a century, building a remarkable history of steady leadership and a striking Romanesque-style church that today anchors a diverse Oakland neighborhood.
- Parish established December 9, 1921 by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna of San Francisco
- Original boundaries: Perkins Street, Piedmont city line, Trestle Glen, Athol and Lakeshore Avenue
- Land purchased for $35,000 from part of the old Rancho San Antonio de las Peraltas
The Church Building and the 1995–1996 Renovation
The current Romanesque-style church — 12,500 square feet of concrete and brown Italian marble with an imposing 110-foot bell tower — was designed by architect Vincent Buckley and built in 1962–1963 by Pacific MA Lindquist Contractors at a cost of $700,000. In the early 1990s, Father Seamus and the Liturgy Committee, with the help of Goldman Architects (San Francisco), reconfigured the interior into a modern, accessible sanctuary centered on full lay participation. Construction ran from December 1995 to May 1996 and cost about $1,000,000 including a new organ and new pews.
- Architect: Vincent Buckley (1962–1963)
- Renovation architect: John Goldman, Goldman Architects, San Francisco (1993–1996)
- 110-foot bell tower, 12,500 square foot footprint
Worship Schedule
The parish offers daily Mass or Communion Service from Monday through Saturday, with a Sunday Mass livestreamed online. In addition to Mass, the weekly rhythm includes Silent Meditation, an Emmaus faith-sharing group, a Wednesday Bible Study via Zoom, a Saturday 'Pope Francis' Lectio group, and Saturday confessions. Online programming has been a major part of parish life, with Zoom groups and YouTube livestreams keeping parishioners connected.
- Sunday 10:00 am Mass (Livestream)
- Monday 8:00 am Mass
- Wednesday 8:00 am Mass; 3:00–4:00 pm Silent Meditation; 4:00 pm Mass; 7:00–8:30 pm Bible Study (Zoom)
- Thursday 8:00 am Communion Service; 5:00–6:30 pm Emmaus (Zoom)
- Friday 8:00 am Mass
- Saturday 9:00 am Pope Francis Lectio (Zoom); 3:00–4:00 pm Confessions / Silent Meditation; 4:00 pm Mass
- Holy Days 8:00 am & 6:00 pm
Music & Liturgy
Great music and liturgy are at the heart of worship at Our Lady of Lourdes. Visitors often comment on the strong singing of the choir. The Parish Choir sings at the 10:00 am Sunday Mass and rehearses on Saturdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. There are no auditions — all are welcome. Lael Carlson serves as Music & Liturgy Director.
- Parish Choir — Sundays 10:00 am Mass; Saturday rehearsal 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
- Music & Liturgy Director: Lael Carlson
- No auditions; all experience levels welcome
Parish Ministries & Small Groups
Our Lady of Lourdes offers a variety of ministries and small groups that invite parishioners to share their time and gifts. The Hospitality Ministry hosts a parish coffee-and-conversation time after Sunday Mass on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. The Ministry to the Sick and Homebound brings the Eucharist and companionship to those who cannot be present at Sunday liturgy. The Blessing Bags Ministry assembles care items for those in need. Faith formation for children happens during the 10:00 am Mass, and small faith-sharing groups (Bible Study, Emmaus, Pope Francis Lectio) meet online throughout the week.
- Music Ministry / Parish Choir
- Hospitality Ministry (1st and 3rd Sundays after 10:00 am Mass)
- Ministry to the Sick and Homebound
- Blessing Bags Ministry
- Bible Study (Sunday 7:00 pm and Wednesday 7:00–8:30 pm, Zoom)
- Emmaus Group (Monday 5:00 pm and Thursday 5:00–6:30 pm, Zoom)
- Pope Francis Lectio Group (Saturday 9:00 am, Zoom)
- Faith Formation for children (during 10:00 am Mass)
- Liturgy Committee
Hospitality Ministry
Hospitality is a cornerstone of parish life at Our Lady of Lourdes. After the 10:00 am Mass on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, parishioners gather in the parish vestibule to share food, conversation, and community. Volunteers are especially needed from 9:30 to 9:50 am to set up and plate food before and during Mass.
- 1st and 3rd Sundays after the 10:00 am Mass, in the Parish Vestibule
- Volunteer setup: 9:30–9:50 am
- Contact the parish office at 510-451-1790 to help
Ministry to the Sick and Homebound
The Ministry to the Sick and Homebound cares for Catholics and others who, for various reasons, cannot gather for worship. Ministers bring the Eucharist, news of parish events, and a listening ear to homebound parishioners and others in care facilities. The parish welcomes requests for visits from anyone temporarily or permanently home-bound.
- Eucharistic visits to homebound parishioners and care facilities
- Prayer and companionship for non-Catholics who request visits
- Contact: Parish Office, 510-451-1790
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the Sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Anointing of the Sick. Funeral services are arranged through the parish office. Couples preparing for marriage, families preparing a child's baptism, and anyone interested in Faith Formation or Confirmation preparation are encouraged to contact the parish office at 510-451-1790.
- Baptism
- Marriage / Weddings
- First Holy Communion (children's program)
- Confirmation (children's program)
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the Homebound
- Funeral Services
Faith Formation
Faith Formation classes for children take place during the 10:00 am Sunday Mass. The parish welcomes new volunteers to support both the Faith Formation program and parish events for children, and parents can register their children online through the parish website.
- Faith Formation for children during the 10:00 am Sunday Mass
- Online registration via the parish website
- Volunteers needed — contact the church office or [email protected]
Getting Involved & Parish Life
Our Lady of Lourdes regularly invites parishioners to support the parish through volunteering. Whether joining a ministry, helping with Faith Formation classes for children, supporting Sunday hospitality, or singing in the choir, there are many ways to belong. The parish's mission statement says it is formed 'to form and nurture from the rich diversity in this parish which is a community of faith, prayer, and action, based on the Gospel and Catholic Tradition,' and parishioners are invited to 'join us in serving and celebrating our Lord.'
- Volunteer sign-ups via the parish Announcements page
- Contact the parish office at 510-451-1790 to get involved
Contact, Location & Practical Information
Our Lady of Lourdes is located at 2808 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, California 94610, on the eastern shore of Lake Merritt between the Adams Point and Cleveland Heights neighborhoods. The parish office number is 510-451-1790. Office hours are by appointment only; please call or email to arrange a visit. A map and driving directions are available on the parish website.
- Address: 2808 Lakeshore Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610
- Phone: 510-451-1790
- Office Hours: by Appointment Only
- Website: https://lourdesoakland.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bartholomew J. Kevany1921–1958
First pastor; from County Roscommon, Ireland; previously served in Half Moon Bay; guided the parish for 37 years until retirement on November 1, 1958.
- Rev. John J. Clogher1958–1988
Second pastor; also from County Roscommon, Ireland; served 30 years until retirement; oversaw construction of the current Romanesque-style church building in 1962–1963.
- Rev. Seamus D. Genovese1988–2015
Third pastor; from Ireland; ordained 1975; named pastor June 19, 1988; led the 1995–1996 sanctuary renovation; died March 11, 2015.