About St. Dominic · San Francisco, California
St. Dominic's Catholic Church is a historic Dominican parish located at 2390 Bush Street in San Francisco's Lower Pacific Heights neighborhood, at the corner of Bush and Steiner Streets. Founded by the Dominican Order in 1873 and served continuously by the Western Dominican Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, the parish is housed in a striking Gothic-style church completed in 1928 and seismically restored and rededicated in 1992. Known for its lively liturgy, active young adults community, bilingual (English/Spanish) Mass schedule, and its associated Shrine of St. Jude and Columbarium, St. Dominic's is described by the parish itself as 'Radiating the Joy of the Gospel in the Heart of the City.'
- Established
- 1873
- Patron
- St. Dominic (de Guzmán), founder of the Order of Preachers
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Hurley, O.P.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Dominic's offers the rare combination of a downtown Dominican parish with a full sacramental life and an unusually active young adult community — one of the most engaged in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Weekday and Sunday Masses are offered in English (with traditional quiet, family, solemn choral, and contemporary music settings) plus a weekly Spanish Mass, and the church is open throughout the day for personal prayer. The parish runs a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd-based Children's Faith Formation program, a two-year Confirmation program, RCIA, marriage and baptism preparation, a robust community outreach ministry, the Shrine of St. Jude, and the on-site Columbarium.
Mass times at St. Dominic
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before the Saturday Vigil Mass and before each Sunday Mass (except the 1:30 PM Spanish Mass)
- By appointment during the week — call the parish office at 415-567-7824
Parish History & Heritage
St. Dominic's traces its origins to the arrival of the Dominican Order in San Francisco in 1850 with Bishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany and Fr. Sadoc Francis Vilarrasa. The first small church at Bush and Steiner was blessed in 1873; the current Gothic church, designed by Arnold Constable of the Beezer Brothers, was completed in 1928 and rededicated by Archbishop John R. Quinn on August 1, 1992 after a seismic restoration featuring nine flying buttresses.
- 1850: Dominicans arrive in San Francisco with Bishop Alemany
- 1863: Order purchases the Steiner/Bush/Pierce/Pine city block for $6,000
- June 29, 1873: First St. Dominic's blessed at Bush and Steiner
- 1876: Priory of St. Dominic formally established
- 1883: Cornerstone of second (brick) church laid; opened 1887
- April 18, 1906: Church destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake and fire
- October 1906: Wooden 'temporary' church opens on the Pierce Street side
- 1923: Construction begins on the fourth (current) church
- February 19, 1928: Archbishop Edward J. Hanna blesses the new Gothic church designed by Arnold Constable
- 1973: Building fully completed at the parish centennial
- 1989: Loma Prieta earthquake damages tower 'lantern' and ceiling
- 1986–1992: Preservation and Restoration Project; nine flying buttresses built ($6.6M)
- August 1, 1992: Archbishop John R. Quinn rededicates the church
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Dominic's runs a comprehensive faith formation program for children, youth and adults, anchored in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Montessori method and the Ascension Press 'Chosen' Confirmation curriculum. Practical Faith offers weekly adult parent formation on Sundays, and RCIA welcomes adults preparing for initiation into the Catholic Church.
- Level 1 Atrium — ages 3 (toilet-trained) through Kindergarten, Sundays 10:30–11:30 AM
- Level 2 Atrium / First Communion — 2-year program, 1st grade and up
- Level 3 Atrium — 3rd–6th grade, Sundays 10:30–11:30 AM
- Confirmation Year 1 — minimum 7th grade, Sundays 10:30–11:30 AM (September–May)
- Confirmation Year 2 — September–February, Sundays 10:30–11:30 AM
- Practical Faith — Sundays 10:40–11:30 AM, Aquinas Room
- Youth Group — ages 13–17
- RCIA — for adults seeking initiation
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — at the 9:30 AM Sunday Family Mass
Children's Faith Formation (CFF)
Directed by Mrs. Kathleen Folan, the Children's Faith Formation program uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Montessori method across multiple atrium levels for ages 3 through 6th grade. First Communion is a two-year preparation, and a 'Chosen'-based Confirmation program serves youth in 7th grade and above. Tuition assistance 'Agape gifts' are welcomed.
- Director: Kathleen Folan ([email protected], ext. 111)
- First Communion program is 2 years; children may begin in 1st grade
- Confirmation requires Baptism, Confession and First Communion; minimum age 7th grade
- Fees: $200 for one child non-sacramental year; $100 for 2nd child; $50 for 3rd+; $75 extra for sacramental year
Young Adults & Youth
St. Dominic's is widely recognized as home to one of the most active Young Adults groups in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Weekly Wednesday gatherings in the Parish Hall and a month-end Mass in the church nave anchor a vibrant community. The Youth Group for ages 13–17 adds faith, fellowship and fun for teens.
- Young Adults Group — Wednesdays 7:30 PM, Parish Hall
- YAG Month-End Mass — last Wednesday of the month, 7:30 PM, Church Nave
- Newsletter, Facebook and Instagram connections via stdominics.org/young-adults-group
- Youth Group (ages 13–17) — mailing list via bit.ly/stdoms-youth-list
Marriage & Baptism Preparation
Sacramental preparation for engaged couples and parents is coordinated through Mrs. Lolita Clemenson, Sacramental Liaison. Marriage Preparation classes are held monthly on two consecutive evenings — the first on Zoom, the second in person — presented by Deacon and Mrs. Dino and Katharine Ornido. The Baptismal Preparation Program is open to registered parishioners and associate members by RSVP.
- Marriage Prep Classes — 7:30–9:00 PM, two consecutive evenings monthly (Wednesday Zoom + Thursday in-person at 2389 Bush Building)
- Couples must register for the Marriage Prep Program before attending classes
- Contact: Lolita Clemenson, [email protected], ext. 103
- Baptismal Preparation — held in the Aquinas Room at 7:00 PM; RSVP required
Community Outreach & Charity
A dedicated Director of Community Outreach Services, Mr. Huw Richardson, coordinates the parish's charitable works. The parish operates a Community Service office (415-567-7824 ext. 117) as part of its mission to serve those in need in the heart of San Francisco.
- Director of Community Outreach: Huw Richardson ([email protected], ext. 117)
- Community Service office — 415-567-7824 ext. 117
Shrine of St. Jude & The Columbarium
St. Dominic's campus includes two affiliated ministries. The Shrine of St. Jude offers devotional resources dedicated to the patron of hopeless or difficult causes. The on-site Columbarium provides a Catholic resting place for the cremated remains of the faithful and is administered through the parish office.
- Shrine of St. Jude — (415) 931-5919 (linked website)
- The Columbarium — contact parish office, ext. 103
Parish Staff, Leadership & Friars
The parish is served by Dominican friars of the Western Dominican Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, supported by a lay staff of directors and administrators. Fr. Michael Hurley, O.P. is the current Pastor; Fr. Carl Schlichte, O.P. serves as Prior of St. Dominic's Priory and Parochial Vicar; Fr. Patrick Rooney, O.P. is Parochial Vicar. Four deacons serve as Pastoral Associates, and lay staff lead music, faith formation, evangelization, outreach, and parish administration.
- Pastor: Fr. Michael Hurley, O.P. ([email protected])
- Prior & Parochial Vicar: Fr. Carl Schlichte, O.P. ([email protected])
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Patrick Rooney, O.P. ([email protected])
- Resident: Fr. John M. Bingham, O.P.
- Deacons: Charles McNeil, Dino Ornido, Dan Rosen, Jimmy Salcido
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Simon Berry, D.M.A. ([email protected], ext. 104)
- Sacramental Liaison: Lolita Clemenson ([email protected], ext. 103)
- Director of Family and Youth Ministries: Kathleen Folan ([email protected], ext. 111)
- Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation: Daniel Wandres ([email protected], ext. 102)
- Director of Community Outreach Services: Huw Richardson ([email protected], ext. 117)
- Parish Administrator: Gary Price ([email protected], ext. 218)
- Office Manager & Parish Accountant: Mark Lizama ([email protected], ext. 107)
- Sacristan: Teresa Antonio ([email protected], ext. 109)
- Receptionist: Teresa Au
- Parish and Priory Maintenance Manager: Eduardo Batiz
Visiting, Hours & Contact
The church is open throughout the day for prayer — Sunday through Friday 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Parish offices are located in the Priory building attached to the back of the church and are open Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:00 to 5:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:30–1:00 PM). The office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and most holidays. General inquiries: [email protected] or 415-567-7824 (fax 415-567-1608).
- Address: 2390 Bush Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
- Phone: (415) 567-7824 — Fax: (415) 567-1608
- Email: [email protected]
- Church hours: Sun–Fri 7:00 AM–9:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM–9:00 PM
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–12:30 PM and 1:00–5:00 PM (closed Sat/Sun/holidays)