About St. Albert the Great · Alameda, California
St. Albert the Great Church is one of two worship sites of Saint Philip Neri – Saint Albert the Great Parish in Alameda, California, a community of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland. The parish is staffed by the Congregation of Missionaries of Faith and offers daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, Sunday Masses, weekly Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, and the sacrament of Reconciliation. It is located at 1022 Holly Street on Bay Farm Island and shares its parish life, school, and ministries with the older St. Philip Neri Church at 3100 Van Buren Street. The parish's stated mission is 'to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.'
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- St. Albert the Great (Albertus Magnus, Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Pathiyil, MF
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland
Why belong here
St. Albert the Great offers a welcoming Catholic community on Bay Farm Island with daily Mass, Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses, weekly Wednesday evening Eucharistic Adoration with themed hours for families, life, vocations, youth, and married couples, and the convenience of Saturday confessions before the Vigil Mass. As part of the merged Saint Philip Neri – Saint Albert the Great Parish, parishioners benefit from a full staff, a thriving elementary school, faith formation for children and youth, RCIA, music ministry, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and other parish ministries.
Mass times at St. Albert the Great
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 PM (hour of Adoration and Prayer at St. Albert the Great Church)
About the Parish
Saint Philip Neri – Saint Albert the Great Parish is a welcoming Roman Catholic community in the city of Alameda, California, within the Diocese of Oakland. The parish mission is 'to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.' Two church buildings — the historic St. Philip Neri Church on Van Buren Street and St. Albert the Great Church on Holly Street on Bay Farm Island — together form one parish family sharing clergy, staff, ministries, and the parish elementary school.
- Two worship sites: St. Philip Neri (3100 Van Buren St.) and St. Albert the Great (1022 Holly St.)
- Parish merged in 2011
- Served by the Congregation of Missionaries of Faith
- Diocese of Oakland
History
St. Philip Neri parish traces its roots to 1925, when Catholics in Alameda were organized under the leadership of their bishop. Several decades later, as Alameda grew onto Bay Farm Island, St. Albert the Great was established as a separate parish in 1976 to serve that new community. In 2011 the two parishes were formally united into the present-day Saint Philip Neri – Saint Albert the Great Parish, allowing both worship sites to share pastoral staff and resources.
- St. Philip Neri founded: 1925
- St. Albert the Great founded: 1976
- Parishes merged: 2011
- 50th Anniversary of St. Albert the Great: November 15, 2026
St. Albert the Great Church (Bay Farm Island)
Located at 1022 Holly Street on Bay Farm Island, St. Albert the Great is the eastern worship site of the parish. It offers daily 7:30 AM Mass Monday through Saturday, a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, and Sunday Masses at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. The Rosary is prayed after each 7:30 AM daily Mass.
- Address: 1022 Holly St., Alameda, CA 94502
- Office phone: (510) 373-5225
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
St. Philip Neri Church (Mainland Alameda)
St. Philip Neri Church sits at 3100 Van Buren Street on the Alameda mainland and is the principal site and parish office location. Its Mass schedule includes daily 8:30 AM Mass, a Saturday Vigil at 5:15 PM, and Sunday Masses at 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM.
- Address: 3100 Van Buren St. (also referenced as 3101), Alameda, CA 94501
- Office phone: (510) 373-5200
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by priests of the Congregation of Missionaries of Faith, supported by a full lay staff coordinating faith formation, music, sacraments, finances, and the parish school.
- Rev. Joseph Pathiyil, MF — Pastor (510-373-5201)
- Rev. Chacko Muthoottil, MF — Associate Pastor (510-373-5202)
- Lellia (Lee) Romero — Secretary (510-373-5215)
- Anh Truong — Parish Bookkeeper (510-373-5214)
- Catherine Morales — Children's Faith Formation Coordinator & Youth Ministry (510-363-5216)
- Lydia Cho — Music Director (510-373-5219)
- Gina Foster — Baptism & Marriage Coordinator
- Sherry Eastwood-Falls — RCIA Coordinator (510-373-5217)
- Margaret Mariani — Office Support & Facilities Coordinator (510-373-5229)
- Julie Thomas — St. Philip Neri Elementary School Principal (510-521-0787)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish supports lifelong faith formation. Children's Faith Formation and Youth Ministry are coordinated by Catherine Morales, while adults preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church are walked through the RCIA by Sherry Eastwood-Falls.
- Children's Faith Formation
- Youth Ministry
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Family-focused catechesis
Music Ministry
Music at the parish is led by Music Director Lydia Cho. Cantors, choir members, and instrumentalists serve the liturgical life of both worship sites.
- Parish choir
- Music Director: Lydia Cho (510-373-5219)
St. Philip Neri Elementary School
The parish sponsors St. Philip Neri Elementary School, a Catholic school serving families of the parish and surrounding community. Inquiries can be directed to Principal Julie Thomas.
- St. Philip Neri Elementary School
- Principal: Julie Thomas
- Phone: (510) 521-0787
Outreach & Parish Life
Beyond the sanctuary, the parish maintains a robust network of ministries that care for the poor, the homebound, and the broader community. The parish website highlights liturgical, social-justice, and fellowship opportunities — and invites new ministry ideas.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (510-671-2270)
- Food pantry volunteering
- Homebound / Eucharistic to the Sick visitation
- Men's and Women's parish groups
- Annual parish bazaar
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve at the altar and ambo in many capacities.
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Choir / Music ministry
Sacraments
Information and preparation for the Church's sacraments is coordinated through the parish office.
- Baptism — Coordinator: Gina Foster
- Marriage — Coordinator: Gina Foster
- Reconciliation — Saturday before Vigil and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — First Friday Mass at St. Albert the Great (9:30 AM) and on request
- RCIA — Coordinator: Sherry Eastwood-Falls (510-373-5217)
Contact & Visit
The parish can be reached by phone, email, or in person at either worship site. The main parish office is located at St. Philip Neri on Van Buren Street; the St. Albert the Great office on Holly Street is open mornings on weekdays.
- Parish main phone: (510) 373-5200
- St. Albert the Great office: (510) 373-5225
- Email: [email protected]
- St. Albert the Great — 1022 Holly St., Alameda, CA 94502
- St. Philip Neri — 3100 Van Buren St., Alameda, CA 94501
- Website: https://www.spnsa.org/
50th Anniversary Jubilee
The parish will celebrate the 50th anniversary of St. Albert the Great on Sunday, November 15, 2026. A Jubilee Mass is scheduled for 10:30 AM, followed by a reception lunch at 12:00 PM. Everyone is invited.
- Date: November 15, 2026
- Jubilee Mass: 10:30 AM
- Reception Lunch: 12:00 PM
- Open to all