Our Lady of the Rosary

Our History — A Century of Italian Catholic Faith

Our Lady of the Rosary is the unique story of an Italian parish built as a labor of love by Italian-Americans of San Diego. It began in December 1921 when Bishop John J. Cantwell of Los Angeles sent Father Sylvester Rabagliati, an Italian-born priest and student of St. John Bosco, to build a church for the growing Italian community. After converting a small house on Columbia Street into a 50-seat chapel for a congregation of 2,000, Rabagliati raised $23,000 door-to-door from families who were 'God's poor' but determined, broke ground on August 17, 1923, and offered the first Mass at Midnight on Christmas Eve 1923. The completed church was formally dedicated on November 15, 1925. The parish survived the cross-town freeway crisis of the mid-20th century by being designated an Italian National Parish under Monsignor Joseph N. Trivisonno, and in 2011 Father Joseph M. Tabigue, C.R.S.P., became the seventh — and first non-Italian — pastor. The parish celebrated its 100th anniversary with a community triduum August 17–19, 2023.

• Father Sylvester Rabagliati, founder (1921–1935)
• Ground broken: August 17, 1923; first Mass: Christmas Eve 1923
• Formal dedication: November 15, 1925, by Bishop Cantwell
• Italian National Parish designation under Msgr. Trivisonno
• First non-Italian pastor: Fr. Joseph M. Tabigue, C.R.S.P. (January 11, 2011)
• Centennial Triduum: August 17–19, 2023
• $2.5 million restoration completed for centennial

The Church of the Fishermen — Architecture & Art

The interior of Our Lady of the Rosary is one of the finest examples of Italian ecclesiastical art in the American West. Father Rabagliati commissioned Fausto Tasca, a famous Venetian painter then living in Southern California, to execute two monumental murals — The Crucifixion over the sanctuary and The Last Judgment on the rear wall — along with ceiling medallions and grisaille cherubs and angels. Italian sculptor Carlo Romanelli carved the statues of the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Virgin flanking the main altar, which Tasca painted in a realistic style. More than a dozen stained-glass windows, donated by parish families, later replaced Tasca's original painted windows. A modern main altar was added with a tabernacle centered on an altar of repose embellished with a multicolored bas-relief of the Last Supper, with Alpha and Omega emblems on either side. The recent $2.5 million restoration remastered the Tasca paintings, replaced the carpet with Calcutta marble, and added Rojo Alicante marble in the center and side aisles; the confessional rooms received new stained glass featuring the Prodigal Son and the Merciful Father.

• Two monumental murals by Fausto Tasca (Crucifixion and Last Judgment)
• Statues of Sacred Heart and Blessed Virgin by Carlo Romanelli
• Stained-glass windows donated by parish families
• Modern main altar with reredos and Last Supper bas-relief
• 2020s restoration: Calcutta marble, Rojo Alicante marble, remastered paintings

Devotions

Our Lady of the Rosary is a Marian parish with a rich devotional calendar rooted in Italian Catholic tradition. The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary itself, celebrated on the first Sunday in October, brings more than a thousand people into the streets of Little Italy for a public procession from Amici Park to the Embarcadero and back, with Mass, the Rosary, hymns, benediction, and a parish reception. The parish also keeps weekly and monthly devotions to the Sacred Heart, the Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Maria Goretti, and St. Padre Pio.

• Holy Rosary — daily at 7:00 AM
• Sacred Heart Devotion — 1st Friday at 7:30 AM
• Blessed Mother Devotion — 1st Saturday at 7:30 AM
• Mother of Perpetual Help Devotion — Tuesdays at 7:30 PM
• St. Maria Goretti Mass & Devotion — 1st Friday at 6:30 PM
• St. Padre Pio Devotion — 1st Monday of the month at 6:30 PM
• Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary — first Sunday in October (procession)

Becoming Catholic & Faith Formation

Adults seeking to become Catholic, or baptized Christians completing their Sacraments of Initiation, are welcomed into the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. OCIA meets weekly on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in the Parish Lower Hall. Children attending public school participate in CCD/Children's Faith Formation, with K–7th grade classes on Sundays from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, First Holy Communion preparation in 1st and 2nd grades, and Confirmation in 7th and 8th grades.

• OCIA (RCIA) — Tuesdays 7:00 PM, Lower Parish Hall
• Contact: [email protected]
• Children's Faith Formation (CCD) — Sundays 9:00–11:00 AM
• First Holy Communion — 1st & 2nd grades
• Confirmation — 7th & 8th grades (per bulletin)
• High School Confirmation — age 15+, 2-year program
• Adult Confirmation — through OCIA

Music & Liturgical Ministries

Music is central to the Italian-heritage liturgy at Our Lady of the Rosary, anchored by a parish choir directed by Cantor-Choir Director Ernie Grimm and supported by the parish Music Ministry (contact Linda Colletti). The 5:30 PM Sunday Mass features Gregorian chant for the Novus Ordo Latin Mass. The Our Lady's Audio/Visual Ministry livestreams the daily 7:00 AM Mass and the Sunday 10:00 AM Mass with the Rosary.

• Choir Director: Ernie Grimm
• Music Ministry contact: Linda Colletti (858) 349-0862
• Sunday 5:30 PM Latin Mass with Gregorian Chant
• Our Lady's Audio/Visual Ministry — livestream operator
• Daily 7:00 AM livestream with Rosary

Parish Staff & Clergy

Our Lady of the Rosary is staffed by the Barnabite Fathers (Clerics Regular of St. Paul — C.R.S.P.), an order founded by St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria. The current pastor is Father Joseph M. Tabigue, C.R.S.P., the first non-Italian pastor in the parish's 100-year history, supported by associate priests and a permanent deacon. Lay staff manage parish administration, faith formation, weddings and funerals, the gift shop, and facilities.

• Pastor: Rev. Joseph M. Tabigue, C.R.S.P.
• Associate: Fr. Philip Landry (per recent listings)
• Associate: Fr. Louis M. Solcia, C.R.S.P. (per 2017 bulletin)
• Associate: Fr. Albino M. Vecina, C.R.S.P. (per 2017 bulletin)
• Deacon: Stephen O'Riordan
• Administrative Assistant: Chris Morales
• Wedding/Funeral Coordinator: Mari (Mary) Cragun
• Gift Shop Manager: Mary Elizabeth Novell
• Facilities & Maintenance: Roger Dacumos

Sacraments at OLR

The parish celebrates all seven sacraments and welcomes inquiries from registered parishioners and new arrivals. Baptisms are scheduled on the first Sunday of the month following a required preparation class. Matrimony requires nine months' notice and must be arranged before any reception bookings. The homebound and sick can receive the Eucharist by appointment.

• Baptism — 1st Sunday of the month; class 3rd Thursday, 6:30–8:00 PM; contact Deacon Stephen
• First Holy Communion — children's two-year program
• Confirmation — see Faith Formation
• Matrimony — 9 months' notice required; contact Deacon Stephen or Mary Cragun
• Anointing of the Sick & Eucharist for the Homebound — by appointment
• OCIA (RCIA) for unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and returning Catholics

Mission Statement

'We, the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, are a pilgrim church. Under the mantle of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we grow as a people of God following Jesus, celebrating the Eucharist, living apostolic service, continuing faith formation and Marian devotions. We strive to bring the joy of the gospel and imitate Jesus through compassion, mercy and love, especially for the poor and marginalized. We seek to be faithful stewards providing a heart and home for all.'