About St. Catherine of Siena · Burlingame, California
St. Catherine of Siena is a Roman Catholic parish in Burlingame, California, part of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, established in 1908 by Archbishop Patrick Riordan. Located on Bayswater Avenue near Primrose Road, the parish serves a long-standing, predominantly English-speaking Burlingame community with Masses celebrated throughout the week and a K-8 Catholic school staffed by the Sacro Costato Missionary Sisters. The current English Gothic church was dedicated in 1952 by Archbishop John J. Mitty, and the parish combines a 100-plus-year history of prayer, faith formation, and service with ministries for youth, families, the elderly, and the broader Peninsula community.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Catherine of Siena (Italian Dominican tertiary, 1347–1380, Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Rev. John Ryan
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Catherine of Siena is a well-established Burlingame parish that combines more than a century of Catholic tradition with a still-active parish school and a broad range of lay ministries — from St. Vincent de Paul and Respect Life to a Siena Social Club, a Catholic 20s young-adults group, and faith formation for every age including RCIA, CCD (K–8), and youth Confirmation. Daily and Sunday Masses (with a Saturday Vigil, four Sunday Masses, and weekday Masses) make it easy to worship around a working or school schedule, and the Saturday afternoon Confession schedule plus by-appointment confessions keep the Sacrament of Reconciliation accessible. A long-running partnership with the Sacro Costato Missionary Sisters — who have staffed the school since 1975 and live on-site — gives the parish a distinctive spiritual character rooted in devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Mass times at St. Catherine of Siena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Joint Communal Penance Service with Our Lady of Angels Parish twice a year (Lent and Advent)
- By appointment — call the rectory at 650-344-6884
- School and CCD children have their own Penance Services during the school year
Adoration times
- Sacro Costato Lay Association: First Friday — Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by a short meeting
About St. Catherine of Siena Parish
St. Catherine of Siena is a Roman Catholic parish in Burlingame, California, in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The parish community describes itself as one with a long history of prayer, friendships, and service to others, with a strong emphasis on the spiritual formation of children and an ever-growing melding of persons of different ethnic backgrounds. Visitors and newcomers are welcomed by parishioners and staff, and those who worship with the parish regularly are invited to complete a Parish Registration Form at the parish office.
- Parish Mission Statement
- Parish Staff
- Parish Council
- Protection of Children
- Parish Registration Form
History of the Parish (1908–Present)
The parish was created on August 28, 1908, by Archbishop Patrick Riordan, with Father James A. Grant as its first pastor. Its original territory ran from Poplar Avenue in San Mateo to the San Francisco county line, and from the Bay to the top of Black Mountain, and it served mission stations at San Bruno and Millbrae until 1913. The first church (a $12,400 wood-frame building at Park Road and Howard Avenue) was dedicated October 3, 1909; it was physically moved to the present Bayswater and Primrose site in 1925. Five pastors have shepherded the parish in turn: Father Grant, Father Michael R. Power, Monsignor Thomas F. Millett, Monsignor Thomas J. Cummins, and Monsignor John J. Murphy. In 1952, Monsignor Cummins completed the present English Gothic church, dedicated by Archbishop John J. Mitty. The parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2008.
- 1908 — Parish established by Archbishop Patrick Riordan; Father James A. Grant appointed first pastor
- 1909 — First church built at Park Road & Howard Avenue; dedicated Oct 3, 1909
- 1910 — Religious education program begun with the Holy Family Sisters (90 children)
- 1913 — San Bruno and Millbrae missions split off as their own parish
- 1924–25 — Rectory and church moved to Bayswater & Primrose ($35,000)
- 1937 — Monsignor Thomas F. Millett appointed third pastor
- Sept 12, 1938 — Parish school opens (K–7), staffed by Sisters of Mercy, $2/month tuition
- 1941 — Monsignor Thomas J. Cummins appointed fourth pastor
- 1949 — $300,000 drive for new English Gothic church and rectory
- Sept 7, 1952 — New church dedicated by Archbishop John J. Mitty
- 1975 — Monsignor John J. Murphy appointed fifth pastor; Sacro Costato Missionary Sisters arrive to staff the school
- 2008 — Centennial of the parish celebrated
Sacramental Life
The parish website lists all seven sacraments and provides contact information for the preparation of each. The parish prepares children, youth, and adults for Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist through its Religious Education program, its school, and the RCIA process. Couples seeking marriage, those discerning Holy Orders, and the sick requesting Anointing are all served by contacting the rectory.
- Baptism of Infants
- Baptism of Children and Youth
- Confirmation (8th grade, High School, and Adult)
- Eucharist / First Communion
- Penance / Reconciliation / Confession
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Matrimony / Marriage
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is offered for every age and stage of life. The Religious Education (CCD) program serves children in Grades K–8, with preparation for First Communion and Confirmation each requiring at least two years of formation. High-school students have their own ongoing program of education, formation, and spiritual development. Adults considering becoming Catholic journey through the RCIA, and baptized Catholics who have not yet been confirmed are served through an Adult Confirmation process overseen by the pastor.
- Religious Education (CCD) — Grades K–8 — contact Mark Tomsic, [email protected], 650-344-6884 x103
- Confirmation for 8th grade students
- Confirmation for High School students
- Adult Confirmation — contact Fr. John Ryan, [email protected]
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
Parish School (K–8)
St. Catherine of Siena School has been an active and integral part of the parish since it opened on September 12, 1938, when it accepted students from kindergarten through seventh grade at a tuition of $2.00 per month. The school is housed in a building with nine classrooms, a library, a cafeteria, and an auditorium, and has been staffed by the Sacro Costato Missionary Sisters since 1975 — four of whom still teach there today. Over the years, the school has been expanded (a library in 1977, a computer classroom in 1994, a science room in 1998, and a multi-media lab in 2003), and a Scholarship Fund was established in 1980 to assist families.
- Opened September 12, 1938 — K through 7th grade
- Original tuition: $2.00 / month
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of Mercy (Burlingame)
- Sacro Costato Missionary Sisters arrived July 31, 1975; four sisters still teaching
- Principal: Patricia Bandel — 650-344-7176
- Scholarship Fund established 1980; Development Fund 1989
Ministries and Outreach
St. Catherine of Siena has an active lay community with ministries spanning service, prayer, fellowship, and evangelization. Outreach efforts include the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a Respect Life ministry, a Communion Ministry bringing the Eucharist to the sick and homebound, and a Vocation Ministry with a Traveling Crucifix. Parish life is enriched by parish social groups (Men's Club, Women's Club, Siena Social Club) and groups for particular stages of life, including a Catholic 20s young-adults group and a ministry for those who are divorced, separated, or widowed.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Respect Life
- Vocation Ministry / Traveling Crucifix
- Communion Ministry
- Siena Social Club
- Men's Club
- Women's Club
- Catholic 20s Group (Young Adults)
- Divorced, Separated, Widowed Ministry
- Hospitality – Ushers, Greeters, After-Mass Refreshments
Prayer and Devotional Life
Beyond the regular Mass and Confession schedule, the parish supports a number of prayer and devotional groups. The Sacro Costato Lay Association, affiliated with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacro Costato, gathers on the First Friday for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by a short meeting, and on the third Friday for spiritual enrichment through reflection on the Sunday Gospel and other Church documents. The Call to Holiness Prayer Group and the Our Mother of Perpetual Help devotion are listed among the prayer offerings.
- Call to Holiness Prayer Group
- Our Mother of Perpetual Help
- Sacro Costato Lay Association (First Friday adoration + third Friday Gospel reflection)
Sacro Costato Missionary Sisters
The Sacro Costato Missionary Sisters have served St. Catherine of Siena School and Parish since 1975, witnessing God's love among the children and their families. Their charism is rooted in devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and their mission embraces the education of children and youth, catechetical instruction, parish work, spiritual exercises, the Apostleship of Prayer, foreign missions, and spiritual and material assistance to the poor and the sick. The congregation ministers in Italy, Taiwan, the United States, the Philippines, Ecuador, Albania, China, Brazil, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
- Arrived in Burlingame on July 31, 1975
- Charisma: devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Four sisters still teaching at the school: Sr. Alessandra, Sr. Corinna, Sr. Amy, and Sr. Antonella
- Local contact: 650-342-4780, [email protected]
- Superior (local community): Sr. Amelita Adao, M.S.C.
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is served by a pastor and parochial vicar, supported by a team of lay and religious staff who oversee administration, religious education, liturgy, music, and the parish school. The Missionary Sisters of the Sacro Costato maintain a convent community on the parish grounds, with the local superior listed among the staff.
- Rev. John Ryan — Pastor
- Rev. David Mees — Parochial Vicar
- Marlin Ang — Office Manager / Executive Secretary ([email protected])
- Mark Tomsic — Director of Religious Education / Confirmation / Youth Ministry ([email protected], x103)
- Sr. Imelda Kelulu, M.S.C. — Liturgy Coordinator
- Aki Amai — Music Director ([email protected])
- Patricia Bandel — School Principal (650-344-7176)
- Sr. Amelita Adao, M.S.C. — Superior, Sacro Costato Missionary Sisters Community
Music and Liturgy
Music at St. Catherine of Siena is led by Music Director Aki Amai. The Saturday Vigil Mass is supported by a cantor, while the Sunday Masses feature choirs, and visitors have noted the church's good acoustics. Liturgy coordination is overseen by Sr. Imelda Kelulu, M.S.C.
- Saturday Vigil: cantor
- Sunday Masses: choirs
- Music Director: Aki Amai
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James A. Grant1908–c.1926
First pastor; born in Scotland, raised in Nova Scotia, ordained 1895 in Lille, France. Built first church (1909), started CCD (1910), oversaw the 1925 move to Bayswater & Primrose. Died at age 58 after 18 years.
- Father Michael R. Power1926–1937
Born in Ireland; began the beloved annual parish picnic. Returned to Ireland in 1937.
- Monsignor Thomas F. Millett1937–1941
Born in Ireland; built and opened the parish school in 1938 with the Sisters of Mercy.
- Monsignor Thomas J. Cummins1941–1975
Guided the parish through WWII; led the $300,000 campaign to build the present English Gothic church, dedicated September 7, 1952. Died December 1975.
- Monsignor John J. Murphy1975–
Appointed pastor December 1975 after Monsignor Cummins's death.
- Rev. John Ryanpresent
Current pastor; oversees parish and school.