About St. Benedict Parish for the Deaf · San Francisco, California
St. Benedict Parish for the Deaf is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of San Francisco that serves the Deaf and hard of hearing community across Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo Counties. Housed since 1994 in St. Francis Xavier Church at 1801 Octavia Street, the parish celebrates Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM in American Sign Language with simultaneous voice interpretation in English, and conducts all of its services and sacraments in ASL. It is recognized as the only Catholic Deaf Parish west of the Mississippi and shares its building with the historic Japanese Catholic Society mission that grew out of the 1913 parish begun by Fr. Albert Breton. Today the parish is pastored by Fr. Paul Zirimenya, who also serves as Chaplain/Administrator for Deaf ministry in the Archdiocese.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. Benedict the Moor
- Rector
- Fr. Paul Zirimenya
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Benedict's is the only Catholic Deaf Parish west of the Mississippi, and every service and sacrament is offered in American Sign Language with voice interpretation in English — making it a true spiritual home for Deaf and hard-of-hearing Catholics who often cannot fully participate in hearing parishes. It serves the tri-county region of Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo, and welcomes newcomers, long-term residents, and weekend visitors alike with a warm hospitality that includes a social after Sunday Mass. Belong here and you join a uniquely intergenerational, multicultural Deaf Catholic community that also shares its worship space with the historic Japanese Catholic Society at St. Francis Xavier.
Mass times at St. Benedict Parish for the Deaf
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- First Saturday of the month at 3:00 PM (by appointment with the Pastor)
- Reconciliation service during Advent and Lent
History of St. Benedict Parish for the Deaf
The parish grew out of the Archdiocese of San Francisco's Deaf ministry, which traces back to 1895 and St. Joseph's Home in Oakland. When Oakland became a separate diocese in 1962, St. Benedict Center was founded at Bush and Lyon on the site of a former African American parish named for St. Benedict the Moor. In 1984 Archbishop John Quinn elevated the Center to parish status at the urging of Fr. Jack McMullen, making it the only Catholic Deaf Parish west of the Mississippi. In July 1994, under Fr. Daniel Adams, the parish relocated to the better-maintained St. Francis Xavier Church on Octavia Street, where it shares worship with the Japanese Catholic Society.
- 1895 — St. Joseph's Home for the Deaf established in Oakland.
- 1962 — Diocese of Oakland created; St. Benedict Center founded in San Francisco.
- 1984 — Archbishop John Quinn establishes St. Benedict's as a parish.
- July 1994 — Parish moves to St. Francis Xavier Church at 1801 Octavia Street.
History of St. Francis Xavier Church (our worship site)
St. Francis Xavier was begun in 1913 by Fr. Albert Breton, who also founded the Japanese Sisters of the Visitation and later became Bishop of Fukuoka, Japan. The parish was under Jesuit care for its first twelve years, then taken over by the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in 1925. The current church at Octavia and Pine was built in 1939. During World War II, Pastor Fr. William Stoecke, S.V.D., followed his parishioners to the Topaz, Utah internment camp to minister to them, returning in 1945 to help them resettle.
- 1913 — Parish begun by Fr. Albert Breton for the Japanese Catholic community.
- 1925 — Society of the Divine Word (SVD) assumes pastoral care.
- 1939 — Present church built at Octavia and Pine.
- 1942–1945 — Fr. William Stoecke ministers to parishioners interned at Topaz, Utah.
- Today — Japanese Catholic Society continues with monthly Japanese Mass, catechetical work by the Japanese Sisters of the Visitation, retreats, and bilingual services on Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost.
Sacraments and Rites
All sacraments at St. Benedict's are conducted in American Sign Language with a voice interpreter. The parish invites parishioners to contact the pastor well in advance for Baptism (at least two months), Marriage (at least six months), and Anointing of the Sick or funeral arrangements (immediately when needed). Communion can be brought to the home or hospital on request. Holy Order ordinations take place at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, where St. Benedict's holds customary reservations of three to five front pews with ASL interpretation provided.
- Baptism — one or two baptism classes required.
- Confirmation — as announced.
- Eucharist — all services in ASL with voice interpreter.
- Reconciliation — First Saturday of the month at 3:00 PM (by appointment); Advent and Lent communal service.
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Pastor immediately.
- Marriage — contact Pastor at least 6 months in advance.
- Holy Orders — ordinations at the Cathedral with parish-held front pew reservations and ASL interpretation.
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (contact the Pastor for formation).
- Mass of Christian Burial — contact the Pastor immediately.
Parish Leadership and Staff
Fr. Paul Zirimenya has served as Pastor of St. Benedict's since October 2007 and also serves as Chaplain/Administrator for Deaf ministry in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. He is supported by a parish secretary, a Religious Education coordinator, an RCIA coordinator, a staff interpreter, music, floral, projection, and altar-service volunteers, a Finance and Advisory Council, and parish-support personnel including a bookkeeper, website coordinator, custodian, and janitorial staff.
- Fr. Paul Zirimenya — Pastor
- Carole Montaldo — Secretary
- Nancy McCormick — Religious Education
- Mike Callejas — RCIA
- Randolph Jordan — Interpreter
- Judillin Enriquez — Music
- Larry Enriquez — Projectionist
- Frenni Enriquez — Floral Design
- Sean Enriquez — Altar Service
- Parish Finance and Advisory Council: Fr. Paul Zirimenya, George Sing, Nancy McCormick, Elliazar Enriquez, Maria Tanya de Guzman, Mizue Callejas
- Parish Support: Mary Ann Schmitz (Bookkeeper), Erin Burns (Parish Website), Luigi Reside (Custodian & Maintenance), Nicholas & Carmen Tham (Janitorial)
- Japanese Catholic Society / St. Francis Xavier: Mako Rova, Shizue Mortensen
Parish Life and Faith Formation
Beyond Sunday Mass, the parish offers a full Religious Education Program for both hearing and deaf children, an RCIA process for adults seeking to join the Catholic Church, and Adult Faith Formation on the second Sunday of each month. The first Sunday of the month is reserved for a Town Hall meeting where parishioners help shape the parish's ministry. A social follows each Sunday Mass to build community. The parish also hosts and shares the longstanding Cursillo movement alongside its Deaf ministry.
- Religious Education Program — for hearing and deaf children.
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (formation materials and registration available on the parish site).
- Adult Faith Formation — second Sunday of the month.
- Parish Town Hall — first Sunday of the month.
- Sunday social after Mass.
- Cursillo movement — longtime partner community since the 1960s.
Administrative Succession
The parish's published succession of pastors begins with Fr. Jack McMullen (October 1975 – October 1984), who led the work that elevated St. Benedict's Center to full parish status in 1984. Fr. Daniel Adams led the move to St. Francis Xavier Church in 1994 and served until 2001. Fr. Paul Zirimenya has been pastor since October 2007.
- Fr. Jack McMullen — October 1975 – October 1984
- Fr. Daniel Maguire — June 1985 – January 1986
- Fr. Kenneth Canedo — February 1986 – December 1991
- Fr. Daniel Adams — July 1992 – July 2001
- Fr. Craig Forner — August 2001 – July 2002
- Fr. Thomas Coughlin, O.P. — August 2002 – September 2007
- Fr. Paul Zirimenya — October 2007 – Present
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by Voice/TTY or by direct Video Phone — a meaningful accessibility feature for the Deaf community it serves. The parish invites all visitors, whether long-term area residents, newcomers, or weekend travelers, to join for Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM.
- Address — 1801 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 (at St. Francis Xavier Church)
- Voice/TTY — (415) 567-9855
- Video Phone — (415) 255-5837 and (415) 255-5768
- Website — https://sfdeafcatholics.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Jack McMullenOctober 1975 – October 1984
Led the inspired work that resulted in the Center being elevated to parish status by Archbishop John Quinn in 1984.
- Fr. Daniel MaguireJune 1985 – January 1986
- Fr. Kenneth CanedoFebruary 1986 – December 1991
- Fr. Daniel AdamsJuly 1992 – July 2001
Led the 1994 move of the parish to St. Francis Xavier Church; chose to retain both names 'St. Benedict's Parish for the Deaf at St. Francis Xavier Church.'
- Fr. Craig FornerAugust 2001 – July 2002
- Fr. Thomas Coughlin, O.P.August 2002 – September 2007
- Fr. Paul ZirimenyaOctober 2007 – Present
Current Pastor; also serves as Chaplain/Administrator for Deaf ministry in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.