About Our Lady of Refuge · La Honda, California
Our Lady of Refuge is a small, rustic Catholic mission church nestled in the redwood forest of La Honda, California, about an hour south of San Francisco. Officially established in 1883, it is a mission of Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Half Moon Bay and falls within the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The present church was dedicated in 1954 and is set among the redwoods near Portola Redwoods State Park, San Mateo County Memorial Park, and the YMCA camps of La Honda and Loma Mar. Weekly Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:30 AM, followed by a welcoming coffee hour, and the parish's name honors Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners, the patroness of California.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners (patroness of California)
- Rector
- Rev. Jose (Margarito Jose) Corral
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
Our Lady of Refuge offers a truly unique Catholic worship experience: a tiny, rustic mission church tucked into the redwood forest of La Honda, where Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM is followed by a communal coffee hour that welcomes visitors, campers, and neighbors alike. As a mission of Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, it brings full Catholic life — sacraments, Holy Week liturgies, and a community Holy Hour with Exposition, Benediction, and Confession — to one of the most peaceful settings on the San Francisco Peninsula. If you live in the La Honda area, are camping at Portola Redwoods or Pescadero Creek, or simply want to pray in a quiet redwood-shaded sanctuary, Our Lady of Refuge is a warm and welcoming place to call home.
Mass times at Our Lady of Refuge
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (contact the parent parish office at Our Lady of the Pillar, 650-726-4674)
- Confessions offered following Mass on Palm Sunday
- Confessions offered following the Good Friday Celebration of the Lord's Passion
- Confessions offered during the Community Holy Hour (Exposition, Benediction, and Confession)
Adoration times
- Community Holy Hour (with Exposition, Benediction, and Confession) — scheduled evenings (e.g., 7:00 PM during Holy Week/Lent; check the parish bulletin for current dates)
Welcome to Our Lady of Refuge
Our Lady of Refuge is a small, rustic Catholic mission church set in the redwood forest of La Honda, California, an hour or so south of San Francisco. It is a mission of Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Half Moon Bay and belongs to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The parish invites everyone to join in Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM, and to stay for coffee and conversation afterward. Visitors from nearby campgrounds at Portola Redwoods State Park, San Mateo County Memorial Park, and the YMCA camps in La Honda and Loma Mar are especially welcome.
- Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM
- Coffee fellowship after Sunday Mass
- Redwood-forest setting, peaceful church grounds
- Missions of Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, Half Moon Bay
History of the Mission
The mission was officially established in 1883 in the small community of La Honda, serving the scattered Catholic families of the San Pedro Mountains and the road between Half Moon Bay and the coastside valleys. The present church building was dedicated in 1954, replacing and expanding the earlier 19th-century structure. The mission has remained affiliated with Our Lady of the Pillar in Half Moon Bay throughout its history. Its name honors Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners — the patroness of California, so designated in 1843 by Bishop Francisco García Diego y Moreno and restored in 1982 as an obligatory memorial in all California dioceses on July 5.
- 1883 — mission established in La Honda
- 1954 — present church dedicated
- Affiliated with Our Lady of the Pillar Parish, Half Moon Bay (founded 1868)
- Named for Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners, patroness of California
Mass and Liturgical Schedule
Our Lady of Refuge celebrates one Sunday Mass each week, at 10:30 AM, followed by a coffee hour. Sacramental records and the scheduling of baptisms, weddings, funerals, and retreats are handled by the parish office at Our Lady of the Pillar in Half Moon Bay. During Lent and Holy Week, the mission gathers for special services including a Community Holy Hour with Exposition, Benediction, and Confession; Palm Sunday Mass with blessing of palms and procession; Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper; Good Friday Stations of the Cross and Celebration of the Lord's Passion; and Easter Sunday Mass with a potluck brunch.
- Sunday Mass — 10:30 AM
- Community Holy Hour — Exposition, Benediction, Confession (check bulletin for date/time)
- Palm Sunday — 10:30 AM, blessing of palms and procession
- Holy Thursday — 8:00 PM Mass of the Lord's Supper
- Good Friday — 6:00 PM Stations of the Cross; 7:00 PM Celebration of the Lord's Passion
- Easter Sunday — 10:30 AM Mass, followed by potluck brunch
Sacraments
Baptism, marriage, and funeral arrangements for Our Lady of Refuge are scheduled through the Our Lady of the Pillar parish office in Half Moon Bay, which keeps the mission's sacramental records. Confessions are heard by appointment, following designated Masses (such as Palm Sunday and Good Friday), and during the Community Holy Hour. The mission also hosts Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament during scheduled Holy Hours.
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Funeral — contact parish office
- Confession — by appointment and after designated Masses / during Community Holy Hour
- Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction — during Community Holy Hour
Community and Fellowship
Despite its small size, Our Lady of Refuge has a warm community life rooted in Sunday worship and the famous after-Mass coffee hour. The mission's setting among the redwoods — with wildlife on the grounds and campgrounds nearby — makes it a popular stopping place for visitors and seasonal residents as well as year-round parishioners. Potluck meals, such as the Easter Sunday brunch, and seasonal celebrations strengthen the bonds of this mission community.
- Coffee hour after Sunday Mass — all visitors welcome
- Easter Sunday potluck brunch
- Welcomes campers from Portola Redwoods State Park and nearby YMCA camps
- Peaceful, wildlife-friendly church grounds
Parish Staff and Clergy
Because Our Lady of Refuge is a mission, it is served by the clergy of the parent parish, Our Lady of the Pillar in Half Moon Bay. The pastor of Our Lady of the Pillar, Father Jose (Margarito Jose) Corral, is the canonical pastor under whom the La Honda mission operates. He is assisted by a parochial vicar, Father Mark Taheny, and Father Charles Onubogo, who is in residence. Sacramental records and administrative work for the La Honda mission are handled through the Our Lady of the Pillar parish office.
- Rev. Jose Corral — Pastor (Our Lady of the Pillar, Half Moon Bay)
- Rev. Mark Taheny — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Charles Onubogo — In Residence
- Parish office: Our Lady of the Pillar, 400 Church Street, Half Moon Bay — (650) 726-4674
Contact and Online Resources
The mission's contact information is administered through Our Lady of the Pillar Parish in Half Moon Bay. Email is the best way to reach the parish office for routine matters; sacramental scheduling (baptism, marriage, funeral, retreat) is handled by phone. The mission's own website carries a notice that 'for most recent updates on church activities please check out the OLR Facebook page.'
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (650) 747-9555 (mission line)
- Parish office: (650) 726-4674 (Our Lady of the Pillar, Half Moon Bay)
- Website: http://ourladyofrefuge-lahonda.org/
- Facebook: Our Lady of Refuge (OLR) — linked from the parish website
- Archdiocesan directory: sfarch.org/facility/our-lady-of-the-pillar-parish/