About St. Felicitas Parish · San Leandro, California
St. Felicitas Parish is a trilingual Roman Catholic parish in the Manor neighborhood of San Leandro, California, in the Diocese of Oakland. Established in 1952 by Msgr. Michael J. McGinty, it grew from a single farmhouse chapel into a thriving campus with a church (dedicated 1968), an attached Catholic school, and a multipurpose hall. The parish serves English-, Spanish-, and Vietnamese-speaking Catholics, celebrating a 12:30 p.m. Mass in Spanish and a 4:30 p.m. Mass in Vietnamese each Sunday, and offers the sacraments, faith formation, a school, Adoration, and outreach through St. Vincent de Paul.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- St. Felicitas of Rome (2nd-century Roman martyr, venerated along with her seven sons)
- Rector
- Rev. Peter D. Ngo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland
Why belong here
St. Felicitas is one of the few San Leandro-area parishes that regularly celebrates Mass in three languages — English, Spanish, and Vietnamese — and that welcomes families with a parish school (Preschool through 7th grade). Beyond Sunday and weekday Masses, the parish offers daily Eucharistic Adoration (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the chapel at St. Joseph Center), a year-round Religious Education / OCIA program, Youth Confirmation, a CYO, the St. Vincent de Paul call center, Stations of the Cross in three languages during Lent, and Devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Wednesday mornings. It is a long-established, family-friendly community rooted in the Manor neighborhood since 1952.
Mass times at St. Felicitas Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 7:30 am – 8:00 am
- Saturday: 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm (also listed as 3:00–4:00 pm in some bulletins)
- By appointment
- Penance services during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm in the Chapel at St. Joseph Center (the Parish Office)
- Also listed as Monday 9:00 am–4:00 pm on Discover Mass
- Lenten Friday evenings: 7:30 pm Adoration followed by 8:00 pm Mass
Parish History — From Farmhouse Chapel to Today's Campus
St. Felicitas was founded in February 1952 under the Diocese of Oakland with Msgr. Michael J. McGinty as its first pastor. He celebrated the parish's first Mass on September 7, 1952, in the basement of an old farmhouse that occupied the spot where the present rectory stands. What is today called McGinty Hall served as the original church and was dedicated on June 21, 1953. As the parish grew, school and convent buildings were constructed in 1957–1958 and opened in 1959, additional classrooms were added in 1960, and the present church was dedicated on May 5, 1968, with distinctive faceted-glass windows installed by Carl Huneke / Century Stained Glass Studio the following year. In 1995, the original convent was converted into St. Joseph Center in honor of the Sisters of St. Joseph who had ministered there for 36 years; the rectory was rebuilt in 1996 as a duplex residence for both priests and sisters. Fr. Wayne Campbell served as the fourth pastor.
- Established: February 1952
- Founding pastor: Msgr. Michael J. McGinty
- First Mass: September 7, 1952 (farmhouse basement)
- Original church (now McGinty Hall) dedicated June 21, 1953
- School & convent built 1957–1958; opened 1959; classrooms added 1960
- Present church dedicated May 5, 1968
- Faceted stained-glass windows by Carl Huneke installed 1969
- St. Joseph Center created from original convent in 1995
- Rectory rebuilt as duplex in 1996
- Fr. Wayne Campbell identified as the fourth pastor
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Peter D. Ngo, and is also served by two priests in residence (Fr. Rinto Puthussery and Fr. Anthony Huong Le), Deacon Timothy Myers (RCIA / Pastoral Care), and a full lay staff including a parish secretary, bookkeeper/bulletin editor, Spanish coordinator, director of religious education, youth ministry coordinator, and school principal.
- Rev. Peter D. Ngo — Pastor
- Fr. Rinto Puthussery — In Residence
- Fr. Anthony Huong Le — In Residence
- Deacon Timothy Myers — RCIA / Pastoral Care
- Sharon Clancey — Office Secretary
- Mildred de Sousa — Bookkeeper / Bulletin
- Maria Castillo — Spanish Coordinator
- Sandi Walton — Director of Religious Education
- Geri Lara — Youth Services / Confirmation
- Shannon Bellison — School Principal
Devotions & Holy Week
Devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help is celebrated every Wednesday morning after the 7:00 am Mass. During Lent, the parish prays the Stations of the Cross every Friday evening at 7:00 pm in English, every Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm in Spanish, and every Sunday at 4:00 pm in Vietnamese. The Vietnamese Community traditionally leads the English Stations on one Friday each Lent.
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help – Wed AM after 7:00 am Mass
- Stations of the Cross (Lent) – Fri 7 pm English; Wed 7 pm Spanish; Sun 4 pm Vietnamese
- Lenten Friday evenings: 7:30 pm Adoration + 8:00 pm Mass
- Tuần Cửu Nhật (Novena of the patron) before the November 23 feast
Sacraments
St. Felicitas celebrates Reconciliation, Marriage, Baptism and Confirmation. Couples must arrange weddings at least six months in advance. Parents requesting Baptism must be registered members of the parish for at least six months; Baptisms in English are normally celebrated on the 4th Sunday of the month at 2:00 pm, with preparation classes for parents and godparents on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm in St. Mary's Center.
- Reconciliation: Mon–Fri 7:30–8:00 am; Sat 3:15–4:00 pm; by appointment
- Baptism: 4th Sunday of the month, 2:00 pm; prep class 2nd Wednesday, 7:00 pm, St. Mary's Center
- Marriage: minimum 6 months advance notice to parish office
- Youth Confirmation: Youth Ministry Office (Geri Lara)
- Adult Confirmation: Saturdays 9:00 am, St. Mary's Center
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is offered in all three of the parish's languages. Sandi Walton directs the English CCD program; Marvin Ramos coordinates the Spanish Catecismo; Mr. Hoang Hung leads the Vietnamese Giáo Lý classes. OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — formerly RCIA) is coordinated by Deacon Timothy Myers, with meetings in person at St. Joseph Center at 6:30 pm. Youth Confirmation and the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) round out the formation offerings.
- English CCD – Sandi Walton (510) 347-1282, [email protected]
- Spanish Catecismo – Marvin Ramos (510) 919-4314
- Vietnamese Giáo Lý – Mr. Hoang Hung
- OCIA / RCIA – Deacon Timothy Myers
- Youth Confirmation – Geri Lara (510) 326-5693
- CYO – Theresa Legaspi, [email protected]
Parish School — St. Felicitas Catholic School
St. Felicitas Catholic School, located next to the parish at 1650 Manor Blvd., has been educating students in San Leandro for over 65 years. The school is accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and welcomes Preschool through 7th grade (including Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten). Principal Shannon Bellison leads a faculty that educates students in a diverse, faith-filled environment, reminding students each morning at assembly that they are loved by God.
- Address: 1650 Manor Blvd., San Leandro, CA 94579
- Principal: Shannon Bellison — (510) 357-2530
- Pastor: Rev. Peter D. Ngo
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stfelicitas-school.org
- Grades: Preschool, TK, K–7
- Accredited by WCEA and WASC
- Facebook: /stfelicitascatholicschool
- Instagram: @sf_falcons
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Beyond Mass and sacraments, St. Felicitas maintains a network of ministries serving its three language communities. Pastoral Care, coordinated by Deacon Timothy Myers, visits and ministers to the sick and homebound. The parish supports a St. Vincent de Paul Call Center (510-638-7600) for local social outreach, runs a CYO for parish youth, and offers Liturgical Ministries (altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers) alongside the Vietnamese and Spanish community associations.
- Pastoral Care – Deacon Timothy Myers
- St. Vincent de Paul Call Center – (510) 638-7600
- CYO – Theresa Legaspi
- Liturgical Ministries / Altar Servers
- Vietnamese Community Ministry
- Spanish / Hispanic Community Ministry
Architecture & Stained Glass
The defining artistic feature of St. Felicitas is the faceted stained glass created by Carl Huneke of Century Stained Glass Studio and installed in 1969 — the year after the present church was dedicated. Each window is built from inch-thick glass set in a thin epoxy matrix, with carefully chipped edges that refract the light into radiant colors. Matching windows were installed in St. Joseph Center when the convent was converted in 1995.
- Present church dedicated May 5, 1968
- Windows by Carl Huneke / Century Stained Glass Studio, 1969
- Faceted glass — inch-thick pieces in epoxy matrix with chipped, light-refracting edges
- Matching windows in St. Joseph Center (1995)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Michael J. McGinty1952 – (founding pastor)
Founded parish in February 1952; the original church/now McGinty Hall is named in his honor; first Mass in the farmhouse-basement chapel, September 7, 1952.
- (unnamed intermediate pastors)
History mentions later pastors without listing them all.
- Fr. Wayne Campbell
Identified in the stained-glass history as the fourth pastor of the parish.