About St. Brendan · San Francisco, California
St. Brendan Catholic Church (formally St. Brendan the Navigator) is a parish of the Archdiocese of San Francisco serving the Forest Hill, St. Francis Wood, Miraloma Park, and Laguna Honda neighborhoods on San Francisco's southwest side. The parish was formed in 1929 as a small mission church and today numbers over 1,200 families around a California Mission-style church designed by architect Edward Eames. Under pastor Father Mike Quinn and pastoral associate Sister Joy Densing, FdCC, the parish runs a K–8 parish school, a wide range of lay ministries, Eucharistic adoration, and a parish-based One Faith, Family & Future capital campaign.
- Established
- 1929
- Patron
- St. Brendan the Navigator
- Rector
- Father Mike Quinn
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Brendan offers a close-knit Catholic community of more than 1,200 families on San Francisco's southwest side, with a 1929 California Mission-style church, an on-site K–8 parish school (founded 1947), and a full sacramental life including weekday and Sunday Masses, Saturday confession, weekly Eucharistic adoration, and baptisms. The parish runs a wide array of lay ministries — faith formation for children and adults (including OCIA/RCIA), youth ministry, St. Vincent de Paul Society, music ministry, hospitality, homebound visitation, social justice and pro-life work, and a hands-on service group called Random Acts of Catholics — making it easy for newcomers to find a way to serve.
Mass times at St. Brendan
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Adoration Chapel open)
Parish Identity & History
St. Brendan Catholic Church (St. Brendan the Navigator) is a 1929 parish of the Archdiocese of San Francisco located in the Forest Hill / Miraloma Park neighborhood at 29 Rockaway Avenue. It was carved out of nearby St. Cecilia Parish, and the original California Mission-style church was designed by architect Edward Eames for about $40,000 — a small, distinctive building with a bell tower that the community affectionately calls the 'Gem of Miraloma.' From a small mission church the parish has grown to over 1,200 registered families.
- Founded 1929 as a subdivision of St. Cecilia Parish
- Original church designed by Edward Eames in California Mission style
- Parish school added in 1947
- Today: more than 1,200 families
Pastor and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Father Mike Quinn, a native San Franciscan and product of Catholic education from Most Holy Redeemer grammar school through Archbishop Riordan High School, the University of San Francisco, and Creighton University (Master of Theology). Ordained in 2009, Fr. Quinn previously pastored St. Mary Star of the Sea in Sausalito for seven years; St. Brendan Parish itself was his first assignment. He is supported by Sister Joy Densing, FdCC, a Canossian Daughter of Charity from the Philippines who serves as Pastoral Associate.
- Father Mike Quinn — Pastor (ordained 2009)
- Sister Joy Densing, FdCC — Pastoral Associate (Canossian Daughter of Charity)
- Priest Emergency Line (Anointings only): 415-246-5535
St. Brendan Parish School (K–8)
Across Laguna Honda Boulevard from the church, St. Brendan Parish School serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school was founded in 1947 and is accredited through the Western Catholic Educational Association (WCEA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Dianne Lakatta serves as Principal with Jan Donovan as Vice Principal; Elizabeth Gamarra is School Secretary. Spanish is taught K–8, music and art are offered school-wide, and athletics are run by Patrick Donovan (Gym Director) and Dave Lopez (Boys' Athletic Director).
- Opened 1947; K–8
- Accredited by WCEA and WASC
- Principal: Dianne Lakatta
- Vice Principal: Jan Donovan
- School Secretary: Elizabeth Gamarra
- School phone: (415) 731-2665
- School address: 940 Laguna Honda Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94127
- Extended Care program directed by Inés Casallas
Faith Formation & Ministries
St. Brendan runs a robust Evangelization & Faith Formation Team covering Children's Liturgy of the Word (Grades 1–4), grade-school catechesis (Grades 5–8), Discover Catholicism (the OCIA/RCIA process for adults), and Youth Ministry. Adult faith formation includes the OCIA process and small faith groups, alongside parish-life groups such as the Mother's Club, Men's Club, Under 5's Group, and Experienced Navigators (50+) Group. The parish celebrates an annual Guadalupe Celebration as well.
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (Grades 1–4)
- Catechist for Grades 5–8
- Discover Catholicism / OCIA (RCIA)
- Youth Ministry
- Adult Faith Formation & OCIA
- Voyagers & Under 5
- Mother's Club and Men's Club
- Experienced Navigators (50+) Group
- Guadalupe Celebration
Liturgical Ministries
A Sunday Liturgy Support Team coordinates the many lay roles that make weekend Masses possible at St. Brendan. Volunteers serve as Greeters, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Gift Bearers, Ushers, Sacristans, and on the Art & Environment team (flowers and decorations). A Safety Volunteer ministry also supports weekend worship.
- Greeters and Ushers
- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar Servers, Gift Bearers, Sacristans
- Music Ministry
- Art & Environment (Flowers & Decorations)
- Safety Volunteer ministry
Outreach & Social Justice
St. Brendan's Outreach Ministry Team takes the parish beyond its walls, with a particular emphasis on accompanying the vulnerable. Members visit the homebound, minister to those grieving, serve youth in juvenile detention, advocate for life and social justice, knit for those in need, and partner with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society for care of the poor. The Random Acts of Catholics service team organizes hands-on service opportunities.
- Pastoral Visitation to the Homebound
- Grief Ministry
- Juvenile Detention Ministry
- Social Justice & Pro Life
- Knitting Ministry
- Saint Vincent de Paul Society
- Random Acts of Catholics (Service Team)
Sacraments
The parish prepares families and individuals for the sacraments of initiation and offers regular opportunities for Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. Baptisms are celebrated on Saturdays only, usually at 10:00 AM, and are arranged through the parish office. Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons from 4:00 to 4:45 PM or by appointment. Priests are available for anointings through the emergency line.
- Baptism: Saturdays, usually 10:00 AM — contact parish office
- Confession: Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM or by appointment
- Eucharist: see Mass times
- Anointing of the Sick: priest emergency line 415-246-5535
One Faith, Family & Future Campaign
St. Brendan is in the midst of its 'One Faith, Family & Future' capital campaign, subtitled 'Celebrating Our Past, Building Our Future.' Under Fr. Mike Quinn's leadership, the parish is seeking major investments to fortify and revitalize its physical structures, calling on its families to enhance, maintain, and pass on the parish community to future generations. The campaign reflects the parish's identity as a multi-generational Catholic community rooted in its 1929 founding.
- Capital campaign: One Faith, Family & Future
- Goal: fortify and revitalize parish structures
- Led by Fr. Mike Quinn, Pastor
Visiting & Contact
St. Brendan welcomes visitors and newcomers. The rectory office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and is closed on Independence Day, Labor Day, and other official holidays. The parish can be reached by phone at 415-681-4225 or by email at [email protected]; the pastor can be emailed at [email protected] Newcomers are invited to register as parishioners through the parish website.
- Parish Office: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Phone: 415-681-4225
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Address: 29 Rockaway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127
- Archdiocese: Archdiocese of San Francisco
- EIN: 94-1156783
The Patron: St. Brendan the Navigator
St. Brendan of Clonfert (c. AD 484 – c. 577) was an early Irish monastic saint, one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, and the hero of the Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis — a legendary account of a seven-year Atlantic voyage in search of the 'Isle of the Blessed.' He is venerated as patron of boatmen, divers, mariners, sailors, travelers, and whales, with his feast day kept on May 16 across the Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox traditions. A statue of the saint stands in front of the Rockaway Avenue church.
- Feast Day: May 16
- Patronage: boatmen, divers, mariners, sailors, travelers, whales
- Statue of St. Brendan the Navigator stands in front of the church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Mike Quinn
Current pastor (as of 2022–2025). Native San Franciscan; ordained 2009; previously Pastor of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Sausalito for seven years; first pastoral assignment was at St. Brendan Parish. Leads the parish's One Faith, Family & Future capital campaign.