About San Carlos · Monterey, California
San Carlos Cathedral (formally the Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo, also known as the Royal Presidio Chapel) is the oldest continuously operating parish and the oldest stone building in California, located in Monterey, California. It was founded on June 3, 1770, when Franciscan missionary Junípero Serra celebrated the first Mass under what is now called the Vizcaíno-Serra Oak. It is the smallest cathedral in the contiguous United States, a National Historic Landmark, and the cathedral church (mother church) of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey in California. Today it serves a bilingual Catholic community with five Sunday Masses, a Saturday vigil Mass, and a weekday Mass schedule, and is paired with the adjacent San Carlos School (est. 1898).
- Established
- 1770
- Patron
- Saint Charles Borromeo (San Carlos Borromeo)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Victor Ommar Solis (Pastor/Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Monterey in California
Why belong here
San Carlos Cathedral offers something few parishes anywhere can: the chance to worship in the oldest continuously active Catholic church in California, in a building where Junípero Serra first said Mass in 1770 and where the faithful still gather around the same oak tree and sandstone walls. It is the spiritual mother church of the Diocese of Monterey in California, with a robust bilingual (English/Spanish) liturgy, an attached Catholic school (San Carlos School), faith formation for children and adults, OCIA (RCIA), adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, an active Serra Ministry for vocations, Knights of Columbus, Young Adults (MRY Young Adults), and parish life and hospitality ministries. For visitors, it is both a National Historic Landmark pilgrimage site and a living parish rooted in the same community of Monterey it has served for more than 250 years.
Mass times at San Carlos
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. at the Rectory (by the carport next to the restrooms)
- Also available by appointment
- Lenten Reconciliation Service offered annually (e.g., Thursday of Holy Week, 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Exposition & Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Every Friday: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (with Divine Mercy Chaplet)
About San Carlos Cathedral
The Royal Presidio Chapel of San Carlos Borromeo — commonly called San Carlos Cathedral — is the oldest building in Monterey and the only remaining original chapel of the four Spanish presidios that once existed in California. It is the longest continuously active church in California, established on June 3, 1770, when Father Junípero Serra celebrated the first Mass under what became known as the Vizcaíno-Serra Oak. The cathedral is the spiritual mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Monterey in California, located within the historic Monterey Presidio.
- Founded June 3, 1770 (Pentecost Sunday) by Saint Junípero Serra
- Current sandstone building completed 1794 by master mason Manuel Ruiz under Father Fermín de Lasuén
- Oldest continuously operating parish in California
- National Historic Landmark (1960) and California Historical Landmark #105
History
Mission San Carlos Borromeo was founded in Monterey on June 3, 1770, when the Sacred Expedition landed at Monterey Bay. Father Serra relocated the mission to the Carmel River in 1771–72, leaving the presidio chapel as the worship site for Monterey's soldiers, governor and citizens. The 1770–71 adobe chapel was destroyed by a salute-gun fire in 1789, and the present sandstone church — built to plans drawn up in Mexico City — was completed in 1794 under Father Lasuén. The chapel was rededicated to Saint Charles Borromeo in 1840, became Pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Monterey in 1849 under Bishop Joseph Alemany, lost cathedral status when Bishop Thaddeus Amat y Brusi moved the see to Santa Barbara in 1859, and regained cathedral status in 1967 when the Diocese of Monterey-Fresno was split.
- 1770: First Mass and founding under the Vizcaíno-Serra Oak
- 1789: Adobe chapel destroyed by fire from a salute gun
- 1791–1794: Sandstone cathedral built (master mason Manuel Ruiz)
- 1840: Rededicated to Saint Charles Borromeo
- 1849: Becomes Pro-Cathedral under Bishop Joseph Alemany
- 1859: Loses cathedral status (see moves to Santa Barbara)
- 1960: Designated a National Historic Landmark
- 1967: Again becomes cathedral of the Diocese of Monterey
Architecture & Notable Features
The cathedral is built in the Spanish Colonial style of the late 18th century with strong Moorish influence, evident in the ornamental carved sandstone arches and portals. It is the first stone building in California and the smallest cathedral in the contiguous United States. A bell tower rises above the façade to announce Mass; in the niche at the very top stands a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the oldest non-indigenous sculpture in the state. A garden with a path encircles the cathedral and leads to San Carlos School and the Rectory. At the rear is the Junipero Oak, and to the right stands a statue of the Virgin Mary beneath an arch.
- Spanish Colonial / Moorish-influenced architecture
- Sandstone construction with carved portals and arches
- Bell tower and façade niche with Our Lady of Guadalupe statue (oldest non-indigenous sculpture in California)
- Surrounding garden path linking school and rectory
Other Devotions & Services
In addition to Mass and confession, the cathedral hosts Evening Prayer every Monday at 7:00 p.m. in the Cathedral, and a full slate of Lenten devotions including Stations of the Cross at 11:30 a.m. and Via Crucis (Divine Mercy) at 7:00 p.m. each Friday of Lent, both inside the Cathedral and led in part by the Knights of Columbus. The parish observes Holy Week with a Spanish-language Misa on Ash Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) and an annual Lenten Reconciliation Service.
- Evening Prayer — Mondays 7:00 p.m.
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays of Lent 11:30 a.m. & 7:00 p.m.
- Via Crucis (Divine Mercy) — Fridays of Lent 7:00 p.m.
- Lenten Reconciliation Service — annual, hosted at the Cathedral
Sacraments
The cathedral parish prepares and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Preparation is required for Baptism (infant and youth), First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and the Anointing of the Sick. Adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church participate in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA / RCIA). Funeral liturgies are also coordinated through the parish office.
- Infant Baptism & Baptismal Registration
- Youth Faith Formation (including First Communion)
- Confirmation
- Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Matrimony
- Reconciliation
- Funerals
Faith Formation & San Carlos School
Faith Formation at San Carlos Cathedral is directed by Sister Theresita Crasta and coordinated by Ruth Pineda. Programming includes youth faith formation (First Communion and Confirmation preparation) and adult formation through OCIA. Adjacent to the cathedral is San Carlos School, founded in 1898 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet and later run by the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception; since 2001 it has operated as a ministry of San Carlos Cathedral with a lay principal (Peter Watson-Graff) and lay faculty, serving as a parish school for the Monterey community.
- Director of Faith Formation & Liturgical Ministries: Sister Theresita Crasta
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Ruth Pineda
- San Carlos School — founded 1898; parish school since 2001
- Principal: Peter Watson-Graff
Ministries & Groups
Parish life at the cathedral is supported by a wide range of ministries and groups. The Music & Choir program is led by Elaine Miller, and liturgical ministries are coordinated by Sister Sharon McMillian. Lay organizations include the Society of Saint Joseph, the Knights of Columbus (which leads the Stations of the Cross in Lent), the Serra Ministry for vocations, MRY Young Adults, and a Parish Life & Hospitality Ministry. A bilingual / Spanish ministry supports the Spanish Mass and parish life in the Latino community.
- Music & Choir — Elaine Miller, Director
- Liturgical Ministries — Sister Sharon McMillian
- Society of Saint Joseph
- Knights of Columbus
- Serra Ministry (vocations)
- MRY Young Adults (Wednesday evenings)
- Parish Life & Hospitality Ministry
- Bilingual / Spanish Ministry
Staff & Clergy
San Carlos Cathedral is led by its Pastor/Rector Very Rev. Victor Ommar Solis. He is assisted by Rev. Louie Bellen (Parochial Vicar / Diocesan Director of Vocations) and Rev. Patrick Dooling (Retired Priest, In Residence). The diocese is currently overseen by Most Rev. Slawomir Szkredka as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Monterey in California. Parish staff includes Sister Theresita Crasta (Director of Faith Formation & Liturgical Ministries), Ruth Pineda (Faith Formation Coordinator), Karen (Parish Business Administrator), Elaine Miller (Music & Choir Director), Sister Sharon McMillian (Liturgical Ministries Assistant), and the parish maintenance team of Raymundo Cruz, Alfredo Zepeda, and Juan Linares, with Roberta Little in Parish Maintenance.
- Very Rev. Victor Ommar Solis — Pastor/Rector
- Rev. Louie Bellen — Parochial Vicar / Diocesan Director of Vocations
- Rev. Patrick Dooling — Retired Priest, In Residence
- Most Rev. Slawomir Szkredka — Apostolic Administrator, Diocese of Monterey
- Sister Theresita Crasta — Director of Faith Formation & Liturgical Ministries
- Ruth Pineda — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Elaine Miller — Music & Choir Director
- Sister Sharon McMillian — Liturgical Ministries Assistant
- Peter Watson-Graff — Principal, San Carlos School
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The main office number is (831) 373-2628, and the Pastor can be reached at [email protected]. The cathedral sits in the Monterey Presidio within walking distance of downtown Monterey and Custom House Plaza. Visitors are welcomed to Mass and to view the historic building and grounds; the Vizcaíno-Serra Oak fragment, the Our Lady of Guadalupe façade niche, the Junipero Oak at the rear, the garden path, and the statue of the Virgin Mary beneath an arch are notable stops.
- Parish Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Phone: (831) 373-2628
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 500 Church Street, Monterey, CA 93940
- Diocese: Diocese of Monterey in California
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Junípero Serra, OFM1770–1771/72 (founder; mission relocated to Carmel)
Celebrated the first Mass under the Vizcaíno-Serra Oak on Pentecost Sunday, June 3, 1770; founded Mission San Carlos Borromeo.
- Father Fermín de Lasuén, OFM1791–1794 (construction oversight)
Directed completion of the present sandstone chapel as padre presidente of the California missions.
- Father Ramón Mestreslate 19th/early 20th century
Rescued and preserved the Vizcaíno-Serra Oak in 1905 and placed it behind the chapel as a memorial; figure of local legend.
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