About St. Elizabeth · San Francisco, California
St. Elizabeth Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Portola District of San Francisco, serving the southeast corner of the city near the border with Daly City. The parish was established as a mission church in 1912, and its present church building — best known for stunning stained-glass windows depicting the seven sacraments and the mysteries of the rosary — was dedicated in 1962. It belongs to the Archdiocese of San Francisco and is pastored by Rev. Charles Puthota, Ph.D. The parish runs a Sunday Faith Formation program for grades K–8, hosts a Legion of Mary praesidium, the Over 50 Group, and weekly devotions including Benediction and the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena.
- Established
- 1912
- Rector
- Rev. Charles Puthota, Ph.D.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth is a tight-knit parish with a long history in the Portola neighborhood, where generations of families have worshipped since 1912. Sunday Mass, weekday devotions, and a K–8 Faith Formation program all revolve around the same modest, art-rich church. Parishioners gather for the Legion of Mary, the Over 50 Group, weekly Benediction and the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena, and Eucharistic Ministers regularly bring Communion to the sick and homebound — making it a place where faith is lived out across every age and stage.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. (before the 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass)
- Saturday 3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. (or by appointment)
- Sunday 10:00 a.m. (before the 10:30 a.m. Mass)
Adoration times
- Benediction and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena: Wednesdays after the 8:30 a.m. Mass
Parish History & the Stained-Glass Windows of St. Elizabeth
St. Elizabeth Parish was established in 1912 as a mission church to serve Catholic families in San Francisco's Portola District. The congregation outgrew its original worship space and built the present church in 1960; it was dedicated by Archbishop John J. Mitty — the parish's own records state "Present Church dedicated 1962." The single most distinctive feature of the building is its series of stained-glass windows, commissioned by then-pastor Father Arthur Cantwell and designed by William Dowling, an apprentice of the renowned Harry Clarke Studios of Dublin, Ireland. The side windows depict the seven sacraments interwoven with the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries of the rosary, and the entrance features figures of Sts. Elizabeth, Zachariah and John the Baptist. Father Cantwell wrote to Dowling that the first three windows were "of such beauty of color and design and workmanship that we are at a loss of words," and parishioners have echoed that gratitude ever since. The parish's Faith Formation building, Cantwell Hall, is named in honor of Father Cantwell.
Devotions & Prayer Groups
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish gathers for Benediction and the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena each Wednesday after the 8:30 a.m. Mass, and for the 1000 Hail Mary's devotion on the third Saturday of each month following the 8:30 a.m. Mass until 3:30 p.m.
- Benediction & Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena — Wednesdays after 8:30 a.m. Mass
- 1000 Hail Mary's — Third Saturday, after 8:30 a.m. Mass until 3:30 p.m.
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Rev. Charles Puthota, Ph.D., a former Jesuit (1973–2002) who joined the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 2002, was incardinated in 2008, and previously served as pastor of St. Veronica Church in South San Francisco for twelve years and as Director of Pastoral Ministry for the Archdiocese (2016–2019). He holds a B.S. in Chemistry, M.A. in English, and Ph.D. in American Literature from Marquette, and has won two Catholic Press Association awards for his Scripture column in Catholic San Francisco. He is assisted by Laurrie Digneo (Coordinator of Faith Formation), the Parish Administrative Assistant, and Fred Spence (Maintenance).
- Rev. Charles Puthota, Ph.D. — Pastor
- Laurrie Digneo — Coordinator of Faith Formation
- Sandra Mehrwein / Suzanne Brachna — Parish Administrative Assistant
- Fred Spence — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Faith Formation Program serves children in grades K through 8. Classes meet on Sundays: students and their families attend the 8:30 a.m. Mass together and then walk to Cantwell Hall (located at 490 Goettingen Street) for class, with dismissal at 11:30 a.m. Registration for the 2025–2026 year is open through the Coordinator, Laurrie Digneo, and the program is always looking for catechists willing to share their faith with the parish's children.
- Grades K–8, Sundays
- Begins with 8:30 a.m. Mass in church
- Class in Cantwell Hall, 490 Goettingen Street
- Dismissal at 11:30 a.m.
- Coordinator: Laurrie Digneo — (415) 672-4903 — [email protected]
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Elizabeth's parish life revolves around several small but active groups. The Legion of Mary meets weekly in the church, the Over 50 Group gathers Thursdays at noon in Cantwell Hall, and Eucharistic Ministers regularly bring Communion to parishioners who are sick or homebound. The 1000 Hail Mary's devotion group gathers on the third Saturday of each month.
- Legion of Mary — weekly meeting in the church
- Over 50 Group — Thursdays, 12:00 p.m., Cantwell Hall
- Eucharistic Ministers — bring Communion to the sick and homebound
- 1000 Hail Mary's — Third Saturday of the month
Sacraments
Parishioners are encouraged to contact the Parish Office for information on receiving the Sacraments. Eucharistic Ministers visit the sick and homebound on request. Confessions are heard regularly and by appointment. Couples planning to marry at St. Elizabeth begin a six-month preparation period before the celebration of the Sacrament of Marriage.
- Sacrament of the Eucharist — Communion brought to the sick/homebound
- Sacrament of Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30–4:15 p.m. or by appointment
- Sacrament of Marriage — six-month preparation; contact Parish Office
Visit, Map & Office Hours
The church stands at 459 Somerset Street in the Portola District (mailing address: 449 Holyoke Street, San Francisco, CA 94134-1734). The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to Noon, and closed Friday through Sunday. Driving directions are available on the parish website; the church is four blocks east of the Portola shopping area on San Bruno Avenue and is findable on Google Maps.
- Parish Office: 449 Holyoke Street, San Francisco, CA 94134-1734
- Church: 459 Somerset Street, San Francisco, CA 94134
- Phone: (415) 468-0820 — Fax: (415) 468-1457
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – Noon (closed Friday–Sunday)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Arthur Cantwell
Then-pastor in the early 1960s who commissioned the stained-glass windows from William Dowling. The parish's Faith Formation hall, Cantwell Hall, is named for him.
- Rev. Fr. Vito Perrone
Listed as pastor on older cached versions of the parish website; installed as pastor of Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco on Nov. 6, 2022.
- Rev. Charles Puthota, Ph.D.
Current pastor (since at least 2024). Former Jesuit (1973–2002), incardinated into the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 2008; previously pastor of St. Veronica Church in South San Francisco for 12 years and Director of Pastoral Ministry for the Archdiocese (2016–2019); holds a B.S. in Chemistry, M.A. in English, and Ph.D. in American Literature from Marquette. Award-winning Scripture columnist for Catholic San Francisco.