About St. Anthony of Padua · Novato, California
St. Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic parish in Novato, California, belonging to the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Established in 1968 and serving a 750-family community at its founding, the parish has grown into a bilingual (English/Spanish) congregation with daily Mass, weekly Spanish Masses, youth ministry, RCIA, and ongoing faith formation for children and adults. The current pastor is Father Felix Lim, the sixth pastor of the parish, supported by Deacon Joe Brumbaugh and a team of lay staff and catechists.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Fr. Felix Lim
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Anthony of Padua is a neighborhood-sized parish with deep roots in Novato since 1968, offering daily and weekly Mass in both English and Spanish, Adoration on Fridays, and Saturday confession. It supports the full journey of Catholic life — RCIA for adults (Tuesdays at 7:00 PM with Deacon Joe), religious education for children in pre-K through 6th grade, and a Confirmation/Youth Ministry for middle and high school students that in 2025 sent fifteen young parishioners on a Jubilee pilgrimage to Italy. A welcoming New Parishioner ministry, a Young Families group, and parish-wide fellowship events make it easy to plug in and belong.
Mass times at St. Anthony of Padua
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Parish History
St. Anthony of Padua Parish was established in June 1968 with Father Daniel J. Sheehan as founding pastor and 750 founding families. The parish's 7.19-acre tree-studded site in Novato was chosen after parishioners voted to build a small permanent church there. Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken dedicated the finished church on October 10, 1971, followed by a Mass of Thanksgiving. Subsequent decades brought the 1982 social/educational hall, the 1988 rectory, and a succession of pastors who have shaped the parish's ministries and charities. Today the community remains rooted in worship, formation, and outreach — most recently sending its youth on a Jubilee Year of Hope pilgrimage to Italy in 2025.
- Parish established: June 1968
- Church dedicated: October 10, 1971 (by Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken)
- Founding pastor: Fr. Daniel J. Sheehan
- Site: 7.19 acres, tree-studded
- Social/educational hall groundbreaking: July 2, 1982
- Rectory built: summer 1988
Architecture & Worship Space
The church contains 5,650 square feet of space, seating 240 in the nave and an additional 102 in the left transept. Its walnut pews were built by the monks of the Trappist Abbey of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Lafayette, Oregon, and the circular left-transept shrine — featuring a stained glass wall of hills, oaks, deer, the hand of God, and a rising sun — was designed by John Hogan of Los Gatos, who also executed windows for the Nativity and the Crucifixion. The social and educational hall (capacity 280, convertible to 8 classrooms) and the rectory complete the parish campus.
- 5,650 sq ft; seats 240 (nave) + 102 (left transept)
- Walnut pews built by Trappist monks of Our Lady of Guadalupe Abbey, Lafayette, OR
- Stained glass by John Hogan (Los Gatos): shrine window, Nativity, Crucifixion
- Shrine iconography inspired by Psalm 42:1
Mass & Worship Schedule
The parish offers daily Mass with both English and Spanish options, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and Saturday confessions. Livestream Mass is available for the weekday 9 am, Saturday 9 am and 5 pm, and Sunday 9 am and 11:15 am services.
Parish Staff & Clergy
St. Anthony is led by Fr. Felix Lim, the parish's sixth pastor (appointed May 2015), assisted by Deacon Joe Brumbaugh, who also directs the RCIA process. Before becoming pastor, Fr. Lim served as Parochial Vicar of St. Cecilia Church in San Francisco (2012–2015), where he founded a Young Families group, and he currently serves on the Archdiocesan Finance Council and the Capital Asset Support Corporation.
- Fr. Felix Lim — Pastor
- Dcn. Joe Brumbaugh — Deacon / RCIA
- Clare Wojda Kunst — Children's Faith Formation (Pre-K – 6th Grade)
- Alejandra Carranza — Confirmation / Youth Ministry
- Elizabeth & John Halapoff — New Parishioner ministry
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's Faith Formation coordinates faith formation for children in Pre-K through 6th Grade, partnering with parents as the 'domestic church' and holding gatherings to build community and share stories of faith. Andrew Beach has historically staffed the office (415) 883-2177.
- Religious Education for Pre-K – 6th Grade
- Parent gatherings and family faith formation
- Contact: Clare Wojda Kunst
Adult Faith Formation & OCIA (RCIA)
R.C.I.A. — the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults — is the process by which non-Catholics enter the Catholic Faith (or baptized adult Catholics are confirmed), preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation) through a year of study, prayer, and fellowship. Classes at St. Anthony's happen on Tuesday nights at 7:00 PM, guided by Deacon Joe and volunteers, with candidates entering the Church at Easter.
- Tuesday evening classes at 7:00 pm
- Led by Deacon Joe Brumbaugh
- Year-long formation culminating at Easter
Youth & Confirmation Ministry
Confirmation / Youth Ministry coordinates Confirmation preparation and ongoing youth ministry for middle school and high school students. The program's vitality was demonstrated in February 2025, when 15 teens, youth minister Alejandra Cervantes, and Fr. Felix Lim made a 10-day Jubilee 'Year of Hope' pilgrimage to Padua, Assisi, Rome, and Venice, carrying 341 parishioner prayer intentions to be placed on altars across Italy.
- Confirmation preparation for middle school and high school
- Contact: Alejandra Carranza
- Fundraisers and pilgrimages (e.g., 2025 Jubilee trip to Italy)
Parish Life & Fellowship
St. Anthony's parish life includes a New Parishioner welcome and orientation ministry, a Young Families group, and an active Parish Events committee that promotes fellowship. The 2025 Jubilee pilgrimage showed the strength of this community spirit — parishioners contributed more than $25,000 (with an additional $2,500 from a Knights of Columbus bingo) to send the youth to Italy.
- New Parishioner ministry (contact: Elizabeth & John Halapoff)
- Young Families
- Parish Events / fellowship
- Knights of Columbus (St. Anthony Council)
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
The Rectory Office at 1000 Cambridge Street makes appointments for baptisms, marriages, Mass intentions, counseling, and donations. Faith formation programs prepare children and youth for First Communion and Confirmation, while the parish's adult RCIA/OCIA process welcomes new Catholics through the Sacraments of Initiation.
- Baptism preparation by appointment
- Marriage preparation by appointment
- First Communion, Confirmation
- RCIA / OCIA
- Counseling / Mass intentions
How to Find Us
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church is located at 1000 Cambridge Street in Novato, California. The Rectory Office is the main point of contact for appointments, donations, and general inquiries; office hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The parish phone line is (415) 883-2177.
- Address: 1000 Cambridge St., Novato, CA 94947
- Phone: (415) 883-2177
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Daniel J. Sheehan1968 – 1988
Founding pastor; selected St. Anthony as the parish's patron; oversaw construction and dedication of the church (dedicated October 10, 1971 by Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken).
- Fr. Kevin Gaffey1982 – 2003
Served as pastor/administrator for over twenty years; provided steady leadership that enriched the spiritual life of the parish.
- Fr. Tom Hamilton2004 – 2008
- Fr. Toan Nguyen2008 – 2011
- Fr. Kevin White2011 – 2015
Served as Administrator from 2011 to 2015 before retirement.
- Fr. Felix Lim2015 – Present
Sixth pastor; appointed May 2015; previously Parochial Vicar at St. Cecilia Church, San Francisco (2012–2015); serves on the Archdiocesan Finance Council and the Capital Asset Support Corporation.