About Our Lady of Mount Carmel · Mill Valley, California
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a Catholic parish in Mill Valley, California, in Marin County, belonging to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The parish traces its origins to 1893, when the first church by that name was dedicated by Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan, and became an independent parish in 1910 under its first pastor, Fr. Joseph Sesnon. Today's striking twelve-sided church on Oakdale Avenue was dedicated on May 12, 1968, after eighteen years of planning and construction under Fr. John J. O'Brien, and remains a Marin County landmark with its 140-foot copper-clad spire. The parish is served by Fr. Patrick Michaels as pastor, with Fr. William Brown in priestly residence, and offers daily and Sunday Mass, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, and a range of faith formation and family ministries for the Mill Valley community.
- Established
- 1910
- Patron
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Rector
- Fr. Patrick (T.) Michaels
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
Our Lady of Mount Carmel offers a small, walkable Catholic community in the heart of Mill Valley, anchored by a striking 1968 church that seats 850 around a single sanctuary. Daily Mass (Mon–Sat 7:45 a.m.) and two Sunday Masses (7:15 and 10:30 a.m.) — with the Sunday 10:30 and weekday 7:45 streamed live on Facebook — make it easy to worship midweek or Sunday. A full faith formation program for K–6th grade and their parents, online adult faith formation resources, a Family Faith Formation calendar, and First Friday Eucharistic Adoration invite parishioners of every age and stage to grow in the faith together, in one of the most historic parishes in Marin County.
Mass times at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (in the church, per the parish website)
- Additional times available by appointment
Adoration times
- First Fridays, following the 8:15 a.m. Mass (per the Archdiocese of San Francisco Parish Eucharistic Adoration schedule)
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper until 9:30 p.m. (Holy Week, per parish announcements)
Parish History
Our Lady of Mount Carmel traces its Catholic presence in Mill Valley to the 1890s, when Fr. John Valentini, an assistant pastor of Star of the Sea in Sausalito, began driving a horse and buggy over the hill to celebrate Mass in 'Eastland' and in Bolinas. The first church was dedicated in 1893 by Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan, and the parish became independent in 1910 under its first pastor, Fr. Joseph Sesnon. A second, Spanish Mission-style church followed in 1917, and the present twelve-sided church was dedicated on May 12, 1968, after eighteen years of planning under Fr. John J. O'Brien.
- 1893 — first Our Lady of Mount Carmel dedicated by Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan
- 1910 — parish becomes independent; Fr. Joseph Sesnon is first pastor
- 1917 — Spanish Mission-style church dedicated by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna
- 1955 — Fr. John J. O'Brien becomes pastor; parish needs a larger church
- May 12, 1968 — present church dedicated after 18 years of planning
Architecture of the 1968 Church
Designed by H. T. Houweling Architecture of Burlingame and built from California-sourced materials, the present church is a composite of semi-contemporary and traditional Mill Valley architecture. Its twelve-sided polygon seats 850 in Trappist-built pews, none more than 17 rows from the altar, while twelve columns carry curved laminated beams 60 feet up to a 24-foot mandala. The lava-rock narthex frames redwood doors and a faceted window of Our Lady of Mount Carmel presenting the Scapular to Saint Simon Stock; ten five-foot stained-glass windows mark the liturgical year, and the 140-foot copper-clad spire with its 18-foot gold-leaf cross is a Marin landmark.
- Twelve-sided (dodecagonal) sanctuary, 850 seats
- Pews built by the Trappist monks of Oregon
- Copper spire reaches 140 feet with 18-foot gold-leaf cross
- 24-foot-diameter mandala 60 feet above the nave
- Ten faceted stained-glass windows representing the liturgical year
Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Patrick (T.) Michaels as pastor, with Fr. William Brown in priestly residence. Lay staff keep the parish running day to day: Gina Carniero is Office Manager, Daniel Gutierrez directs Faith Formation, Emmanuel Orjuela is Music Director, and Linda Benson serves as Accountant. (Note: Fr. Brown is listed in the Archdiocese of San Francisco directory as active at Our Lady of Mount Carmel since 1988, making him one of the longest-serving priests associated with the parish.)
- Pastor — Fr. Patrick Michaels ([email protected])
- Priest in Residence — Fr. William Brown
- Office Manager — Gina Carniero ([email protected])
- Faith Formation Director — Daniel Gutierrez ([email protected], 415-634-5354)
- Music Director — Emmanuel Orjuela ([email protected])
- Accountant — Linda Benson ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Our Lady of Mount Carmel is centered on the family. Sunday Family Faith Formation sessions serve K–6th grade children and their parents on a published annual calendar (2025–26 available on the parish site), directed by Daniel Gutierrez. Older children prepare for First Holy Communion and Confirmation in two-year programs, while adults have access to Online Adult Faith Formation — including live lectures, in-depth courses, Gospel reflections, webinars, study tools, and certificate courses — through a free Institute of Catholic Culture account, plus an Ignatian retreat experience. RCIA is offered for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church.
- Sunday Family Faith Formation for K–6th grade with parent sessions
- First Communion (two-year preparation)
- Confirmation (two-year preparation)
- RCIA for adults
- Online Adult Faith Formation (Institute of Catholic Culture, free)
Liturgy, Music & Sacraments
Music at Our Lady of Mount Carmel is led by Music Director Emmanuel Orjuela. The parish celebrates the sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation, with First Communion and Confirmation requiring a two-year preparation. Lay faithful serve as Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (who also bring Holy Communion to the sick at home), Ushers, Sacristans, and Altar Servers. The Bereavement Ministry assists grieving parishioners and helps plan Funeral Masses with follow-up support.
- Music Director: Emmanuel Orjuela
- Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Ushers, Sacristans, Altar Servers
- Bereavement Ministry assists with Funeral Masses and follow-up care
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3–4 p.m. and by appointment
Parish Life, Outreach & Community
Beyond the sanctuary, the parish is sustained by ministries that build community and serve others. Hospitality Ministers host fellowship with coffee and refreshments after Sunday Masses; the Parish Hall & Events team coordinates parish gatherings; and the Pastoral and Finance Councils advise the pastor on the spiritual and temporal life of the parish. A small group of volunteers also keeps the parish's online presence alive through the Database and Website team, social media, and the live-streamed Masses. A Young Adult group is forming at the parish under the umbrella of the Archdiocese of San Francisco's Marin young adult network.
- Hospitality after Sunday Masses
- Pastoral Council and Finance Council
- Parish Hall & Events
- Database / Website and Social Media volunteers
- Young Adult group (Archdiocese of San Francisco, Marin cluster)
Visit, Contact & Stay Connected
Parishioners and visitors are welcome at 3 Oakdale Avenue in downtown Mill Valley. The parish office can be reached at (415) 388-4190 or [email protected], and the latest news, the live-streamed Masses, and event updates are posted on the parish website and Facebook page (facebook.com/mountcarmelmv/). The 1968 church's copper spire — topped by an 18-foot gold-leaf cross — is visible for miles and serves as a familiar landmark for those making their way through Mill Valley.
- Address: 3 Oakdale Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
- Phone: (415) 388-4190
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: mountcarmelmv.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/mountcarmelmv
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Valentini1890s
Assistant pastor of Star of the Sea, Sausalito; pioneer celebrant of Masses in 'Eastland' (Mill Valley) and Bolinas; bought the future church site at Carmelita and West Blithedale; assisted at the 1893 dedication.
- Fr. Cummins1890s
Co-pioneer Sausalito pastor who assisted Archbishop Riordan at the 1893 dedication of the first Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
- Fr. Joseph Sesnon1910–
First pastor when the parish became independent in 1910; chose the Buena Vista site for the second church; hand-made a copper candle holder in 1915 still kept in the rectory.
- Fr. Philip Byrne1916–
Succeeded Fr. Sesnon and began the 1917 Spanish Mission-style church, dedicated by Archbishop Hanna with Msgr. John G. Cantwell (later Archbishop of Los Angeles) as celebrant.
- Fr. John J. O'Brien1955–
Found the church overcrowded (five Sunday Masses needed); shepherded the planning and construction of the present 1968 church over 18 years; wrote the dedication inscription.
- Fr. William E. Brownactive 1988–
Listed in the Archdiocese directory from 1988; now serving as Priest in Residence at Our Lady of Mount Carmel.