About Our Lady of Mercy · Daly City, California
Our Lady of Mercy Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Westlake neighborhood of Daly City, California, serving the Archdiocese of San Francisco from its campus at 1 Elmwood Drive. Founded in 1954 under Archbishop John J. Mitty with Father Richard W. Power as its founding pastor, the parish grew from a basement chapel on North Mayfair Avenue into a full campus including a school, church, convent, and rectory within just two years. Today OLM — sometimes called 'WEST LAKE' from the parish's identity logo — is home to more than 900 families, an affiliated K-8 parish school (the OLM Bulldogs), and an active community of ministries including the Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Religious Education, Altar Servers, and Youth Ministry. The parish is also known for its distinctive faceted-glass and stained-glass windows that adorn the church, a multi-decade beautification project begun by Fr. John Ryan in 1987 and completed under Fr. Manuel Curso in 1997-98.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mercy (the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Mercy, patroness of the Mercedarian Order)
- Rector
- Fr. Domingo (Doming) Orimaco (since July 2010)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
OLM is a multi-generational parish that has served the Westlake section of Daly City since 1954, with a parish school (K–8), a strong Religious Education program, and a deep bench of lay-led ministries — Knights of Columbus Council 15242, Legion of Mary, Altar Servers, Youth Ministry, RCIA, and a sick-and-homebound visitation team. Worship is grounded in daily Mass, Saturday confession, all-day Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a Mother of Perpetual Help Novena on Mondays. The parish actively welcomes Filipino Simbang Gabi and other cultural devotions, reflecting the diverse families that make up today's OLM community of more than 900 households.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mercy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (First Friday only, concluding with 6 PM Mass)
Parish History
Founded in early 1954 under Archbishop John J. Mitty with Father Richard W. Power as pastor, Our Lady of Mercy grew from a basement chapel at 692 North Mayfair Avenue into a full parish campus within two years — school opening in fall 1955, first Mass in the new church on May 27, 1956. The parish has been served by five pastors: Msgr. Richard Power (1954–1981), Fr. John Ryan (1982–1995), Fr. Manuel Curso (1995–2000), Fr. William E. Brown (2000–2010), and Fr. Domingo Orimaco (2010–present). The parish's motto 'Second to None' was set by the founding pastor and remains a touchstone of parish identity, often paired with the W E S T LAKE logo developed in the late 1990s.
- 1954: Parish founded; first Mass May 16, 1954 in a basement chapel at 692 N. Mayfair Ave.
- 1954: Second chapel opens on second floor of Medical-Dental Building in Westlake Shopping District.
- Jan 3, 1955: Construction begins on the parish school.
- Sept 1955: School opens with four grades, taught by Dominican Sisters (Congregation of the Holy Name).
- May 27, 1956: First Mass in the new church, less than two years after founding.
- 1954–1981: Msgr. Richard Power's 27-year founding pastorate.
- 1982–1995: Fr. John Ryan — Vatican II renovation, Rufatti organ, faceted-glass project begun 1987.
- 1995–2000: Fr. Manuel Curso — RVM Sisters arrive, faceted-glass windows completed 1997–98.
- 2000–2010: Fr. William E. Brown — RCIA, youth ministry, all-day Friday Adoration, online giving.
- 2010–present: Fr. Domingo Orimaco — current pastor.
The Faceted-Glass and Stained-Glass Windows
One of the distinguishing visual features of Our Lady of Mercy Church is its gallery of faceted-glass art — windows on the ground floor, the upper level, and on the inner and outer doors. The project was begun by Fr. John Ryan in 1987 and completed in 1997–1998 under Fr. Manuel Curso as pastor with Fr. John Glogowski as Parochial Vicar. Above, on the upper church walls, leaded stained-glass windows with artificial backlighting honor the Blessed Mother: five windows beginning with The Annunciation on the left and five beginning with The Assumption on the right. A dedicated Marian Oratory provides a separate space for prayer and reflection before these Marian windows.
- Faceted-Glass Gallery (Floor Level)
- Faceted-Glass Gallery (Upper Level)
- Stained-Glass Gallery (Blessed Mother tribute windows)
- Outer Doors — faceted-glass windows dedicated to the Saints and Holy People of the Church
- Inner Doors and Choir Loft window
- Marian Oratory (leaded glass with backlighting)
Sacraments
OLM celebrates Baptism, Marriage, Reconciliation, and Anointing/Visitation of the Sick, with detailed preparation programs for families. Baptisms are typically held Sunday at 1:00 PM or on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 12 noon, and parents and godparents attend a preparation class on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Couples must contact the parish office at least six months before a planned wedding, complete the parish/archdiocesan Marriage Preparation Program, and work with parish Music Director Ms. Teresita Santisteban for music. Requests for Baptismal or Marriage certificates are handled through the rectory.
- Baptism (with prep class — first Wednesday evening)
- Marriage (6-month preparation program; music by parish staff)
- Confession / Reconciliation (Saturday 2:30–3 PM and by appointment)
- Anointing / Sick & Homebound Visitation
- Baptismal and Marriage Certificate requests via rectory
Religious Education & Christian Formation
The parish's Religious Education program serves children of OLM parishioners through catechetical classes coordinated from the Religious Education Office (650-992-5769, Mon/Wed–Fri 1–4 PM). The parish also offers a Christian Formation program including RCIA for adults, Youth Ministry (with summer retreats and ongoing fellowship), and access to a free parish subscription to FORMED (Catholic on-demand video, audio, and e-book library). Second-grade students (and Religious Ed students) prepare for First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist; eighth-graders prepare for Confirmation.
- Religious Education Office — 650-992-5769
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Youth Ministry
- Free FORMED parish subscription
- Sacramental Preparation for Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation
Parish Ministries & Organizations
OLM is supported by an active roster of lay-led ministries. The Knights of Columbus Council #15242 and the Legion of Mary are both well-established; Altar Servers are recognized annually (most recently May 17–18, 2025). The parish also runs Youth Ministry, Choir/Music Ministry under Ms. Teresita Santisteban, Sick and Homebound Visitation, Grief Support, and a Filipino Ministry that brings cultural devotions like Simbang Gabi into the liturgical year. The parish also maintains liturgical ministries of lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and ushers.
- Altar Servers
- Knights of Columbus Council #15242
- Legion of Mary
- Religious Education
- Youth Ministry
- Christian Formation
- Sick and Homebound Visitation
- Choir / Music Ministry
- Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers
- Grief Support Ministry
- Filipino Ministry / Cultural Celebrations
Our Lady of Mercy School
Our Lady of Mercy Parish School (the OLM Bulldogs) is a K–8 Catholic elementary school sharing the parish campus. It opened in September 1955 with four grades and grew one grade per year to eight, taught originally by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic, Congregation of the Holy Name. The school attained 'Five Star School' status under Fr. John Ryan. Today the school serves students in Kindergarten through 8th grade with a full faculty, a Preschool program under Director Julie Picardal, weekly Wednesday School Masses led by Fr. Doming Orimaco and Fr. Gabriel, sacramental preparation in 2nd and 8th grades, and an active calendar of faith-formation events such as the Blessing of the Animals, Advent Wreath Blessing, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving Baskets, and May Crowning.
- K–8 parish school, founded 1955
- Preschool program (Director: Julie Picardal)
- Weekly Wednesday School Masses
- Sacramental preparation (2nd grade Reconciliation/Eucharist; 8th grade Confirmation)
- Faith-formation activities: Blessing of the Animals, Advent Wreath Blessing, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving Baskets, May Crowning
- Pastoral Principal: Fr. Domingo Orimaco; Principal: Jeffrey Burgos
- Phone: (650) 756-3395
Stewardship & Giving
OLM offers multiple ways to give: dropping off donations at the rectory at 1 Elmwood Drive, mailing them, giving online through the parish's electronic-giving system, or using the Vanco mobile app (parish zip 94015). Electronic giving is promoted as a way to fulfill stewardship commitments even when away from church and to help the parish budget.
- Drop-off at rectory: 1 Elmwood Drive, Daly City, CA 94015
- US Mail to the rectory address
- Online giving via parish website
- Vanco mobile app (enter zip 94015)
Visiting & Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. New parishioners can request a registration form from the parish website or by calling the rectory at (650) 755-2727. The parish serves the Westlake section of Daly City and surrounding neighborhoods west of Skyline Boulevard, and welcomes families from other parts of the Bay Area who choose OLM as their spiritual home.
- Address: 1 Elmwood Drive, Daly City, CA 94015
- Rectory phone: (650) 755-2727
- Religious Education Office: (650) 992-5769
- Convent: (650) 992-5769
- School: (650) 756-3395
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: 650-755-6704
- Parish website: www.olmbulldogs.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/olmdalycity/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Richard W. Power1954–1981
Founding pastor; built the school, church, convent, and rectory in under two years; established the five-phase building program; founding pastor for 27 years.
- Fr. John Ryan1982–1995
Renovated the church interior under Vatican II guidelines; installed the Rufatti organ; oversaw the school attaining Five Star status; began the faceted-glass art project in 1987.
- Fr. Manuel Curso1995–July 2000
Arrived from St. Anne Parish SF during transition; invited the RVM Sisters into parish life; completed the faceted-glass windows in 1997–1998; began parish community-formation and 'W E S T LAKE' identity program.
- Fr. William E. BrownAugust 2000–June 2010
Known for warm homilies; supported RCIA, youth ministry, grief support; welcomed Simbang Gabi; established all-day Friday Adoration and the first Parish Council; launched online giving; led major capital renovations.
- Fr. Domingo (Doming) OrimacoJuly 2010–present
Current pastor; presides over weekly school Masses; continues parish school, religious education, and cultural ministries.