About St. Agnes · San Francisco, California
St. Agnes is a Roman Catholic parish in the heart of San Francisco's historic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, founded in 1893 by Archbishop Riordan. The parish describes itself as an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming Catholic community where all are safe, welcomed, and loved. Since 1993 the parish has been entrusted to the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), and in 2025 it returned to the care of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. St. Agnes offers daily and Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, a renowned music ministry, Children's Faith Formation, a partnership food pantry with St. Ignatius Parish, and a strong tradition of social-justice ministry rooted in the Ignatian 'faith that does justice.'
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- St. Agnes of Rome
- Rector
- Rev. Samuel Musiimenta (Parish Administrator, since July 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Agnes is the kind of parish where a visitor is genuinely welcomed at the door — hospitality is offered after the 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM Masses — and where Sunday liturgy includes a world-class choir rehearsing Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM and singing at the 10:30 AM Mass. The parish runs daily noon Mass Monday–Friday, a Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses in English plus a Spanish Mass with livestream, Saturday and Sunday confession, and Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays. A long-standing food pantry (since 2018 with St. Ignatius Parish and the SF-Marin Food Bank) and Children's Faith Formation for K–8 (with sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation) anchor a community that prides itself on inclusivity, Ignatian spirituality, and social-justice ministry in one of San Francisco's most historic neighborhoods.
Mass times at St. Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM (Confesiones en español el último domingo de cada mes, antes de la misa de 1:30 p.m.)
Adoration times
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (1st Fridays, Side Chapel)
- Sunday: 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (Taizé Music Adoration)
Parish Identity and Mission
St. Agnes describes itself as an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming Catholic community in the heart of San Francisco, 'where all are safe, welcomed, and loved.' Inspired by Jesus Christ and the parish's patron saint, the community gathers in prayer, worship, and service, caring for one another and reaching out to the wider community. The parish mission is to grow as disciples of Christ, serve others with love, build community through hospitality and understanding, and work for justice — seeking to be 'a light in the darkness,' guided by the Holy Spirit.
- Tagline: Inclusive, Welcoming, and Jesuit (recently returning to direct Archdiocesan care)
- Located in the historic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco
History of St. Agnes
St. Agnes Church was founded in 1893 when Archbishop Riordan commissioned a new parish from part of Sacred Heart Parish, set among the workers of a growing city in what is now the Haight-Ashbury District. The first pastor, Rev. Matthew Lagan (1893–1895), was Irish, like the next four pastors. The parish grew quickly after the 1906 earthquake; in 1907 the present rectory was built, and in 1953 the current church was completed by the firm of Wilton Smith and John G. Minton and dedicated by Archbishop Mitty. After decades of decline, the Jesuits took responsibility in 1993; the Ignatian 'faith that does justice' became central to parish life. As of July 1, 2025, the parish returned to direct care of the Archdiocese of San Francisco under Parish Administrator Rev. Samuel Musiimenta.
- Founded 1893 by Archbishop Riordan
- Original territory stretched from Broderick Street to the ocean, Fulton Street to the city limits
- Five parishes were later carved from St. Agnes territory, beginning with St. Anne's in 1904
- Present church completed and dedicated September 8, 1953
- Jesuits assumed pastoral care in 1993
- Returned to Archdiocesan care July 1, 2025
Architecture and Sacred Art
The jewel of a church visitors see today was completed in 1953 and dedicated by Archbishop Mitty. Inside, the parish treasures a chalice-shaped bronze-and-copper baptismal font sculpted in Rome by Benso Vignolini in 1948; a fixed altar of Italian salmon-and-white marble; hand-carved maple Stations of the Cross by Gabriel Lavare of Berkeley; stained-glass windows in the choir loft of St. Francis and St. Patrick (co-patrons of the archdiocese); and a rose window by Harry Clarke of Dublin, Ireland. The chapel (originally the baptistery) features stained glass depicting the Holy Family, Christ with his flock, and the Guardian Angel. Two distinctive sculptures by Lithuanian artist Gintas Lukosaitis — 'Jesus of the Haight' and 'Mary of the Haight' — anchor the back of the church, with the Mary statue commissioned in 1999 and installed in 2000.
- Architects: Wilton Smith and John G. Minton (1953)
- Dedication: September 8, 1953, by Archbishop Mitty
- Baptismal font by Benso Vignolini of Rome (1948)
- Stations of the Cross by Gabriel Lavare of Berkeley
- Rose window by Harry Clarke of Dublin
- Sculptures by Gintas Lukosaitis: 'Jesus of the Haight' and 'Mary of the Haight'
Liturgical Ministries and Music
Adults, young adults, and teenagers are invited to serve in the liturgies at St. Agnes as Greeters, Ushers, Altar Servers, Lectors, or Eucharistic Ministers; training is provided throughout the year, and the Liturgy and Environment Committee helps plan and prepare the worship space. The parish has a world-class choir that rehearses on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM and sings at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass, as well as at Easter, Christmas, and other special occasions. Instrumentalists are also welcome to join the Music Ministry. The sacristan team assists at the Sunday Masses, and additional sacristans are currently being recruited to help at the 8:30 and 10:30 AM Masses.
- Liturgical roles: Greeter, Usher, Altar Server, Lector, Eucharistic Minister
- Parish Choir rehearses Tuesday evenings 6:30 PM; sings at 10:30 AM Sunday Mass
- Director of Music and Liturgy: Frank Uranich
- Liturgy and Environment Committee
Faith Formation and Sacraments for Children and Youth
The Children's Faith Formation (CFF) program is designed to help children in grades K–8 grow in faith, identity, and understanding of the Catholic Church. Sessions are held on designated Sunday mornings from 9:15 – 10:15 AM, running from late September/early October through early May. Children in 2nd grade (and up to 4th grade if needed) prepare for First Reconciliation and First Communion through a family catechesis model that requires at least one parent or guardian to attend alongside the child. Confirmation preparation is a 2-year process for middle-school and high-school youth, blending religious education, faith sharing, community service, and spiritual development. The program is coordinated by Sr. Teresa Malave, VDMF.
- CFF for K–1st grade, with Children's Liturgy of the Word at 10:30 AM Mass
- 1st Reconciliation / 1st Communion Family Catechesis (2nd grade and up)
- CFF after First Communion (grades 3–5)
- Intermediate CFF (grades 6–8)
- Confirmation Preparation (2-year process)
- Coordinator: Sr. Teresa Malave, VDMF
Outreach and Social Justice
St. Agnes has a long-standing tradition of supporting people in need. Since spring 2018 the parish has partnered with St. Ignatius Parish and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank to run the St. Agnes & St. Ignatius Community Food Pantry, which distributes weekly snack bags and monthly grocery bags — currently operating on Thursdays from 1:00 – 3:00 PM and open to anyone without access to cooking facilities. Volunteers from both parishes keep the ministry running. The parish also has a tradition of sending Eucharistic Ministers to bring Communion to the homebound in the neighborhood, reflecting the Ignatian commitment to a 'faith that does justice.'
- St. Agnes & St. Ignatius Community Food Pantry: Thursdays 1:00 – 3:00 PM
- Food Pantry Coordinator: Kathleen Devine
- Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound
- Ignatian tradition of faith that does justice
Visit Us
St. Agnes Catholic Church is located at 1025 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117, on the edge of the historic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood near Golden Gate Park. Visitors are warmly invited to attend Mass, stay for hospitality after the 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM Sunday Masses, and get involved in any of the parish's many ministries.
- Address: 1025 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117
- Phone: (415) 487-8560
- Website: https://saintagnessf.org
- Hospitality after 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM Sunday Masses
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Samuel Musiimenta2025–present
Parish Administrator; parish returned to direct care of the Archdiocese of San Francisco on July 1, 2025.
- Rev. Alejandro Báez, S.J.2020–2025
Parochial Vicar (2020–2023), then Parish Administrator (2023–June 2025).
- Rev. George Williams, S.J.2020–2023
- Rev. Raymond Allender, S.J.2009–2020
San Francisco native who grew up in the Haight; led the parish's declaration as the first Jesuit sanctuary church in America.
- Rev. Cameron Ayers, S.J.2003–2009
- Rev. John W. Chandler, S.J.2001–2003
- Rev. Russell J. Roide, S.J.1993–2001
First Jesuit pastor after the Society of Jesus assumed responsibility for the parish in 1993.
- Rev. Lawrence J. Finegan1990–1993
- Rev. James H. MacDonald1974–1990
- Rev. James J. Ward1972–1974
- Rev. Joseph P. O'Reilly1970–1972
- Rev. Msgr. John T. Foudy1964–1970
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas F. Millett1942–1964
Pastored the parish through the completion and 1953 dedication of the present church.
- Rev. John A. Butler1916–1941
- Rev. Michael D. Slattery1904–1916
- Rev. William P. Kirby1895–1904
- Rev. Matthew Lagan1893–1895
First pastor; native of Ireland, like the next four pastors.