About St. Francis Solano · Sonoma, California
St. Francis Solano Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 469 3rd Street West in Sonoma, California, in the Diocese of Santa Rosa. The parish traces its origin to Mission San Francisco Solano, founded in 1823 by Franciscan missionaries — the last and northernmost of California's 21 Spanish missions — and it is currently celebrating its 200th anniversary of ministry. The parish serves the Sonoma Valley with Mass in both English and Spanish, an attached parish school (K-8), an active Hispanic ministry, a Knights of Columbus council, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, and ongoing faith formation for children and adults.
- Established
- 1823
- Patron
- Saint Francis Solano (17th-century Franciscan missionary to South America)
- Rector
- Fr. Alvin Villaruel
- Diocese
- Diocese of Santa Rosa
Why belong here
St. Francis Solano is one of the oldest continuously active Catholic communities in California, with roots reaching back to the last Spanish California mission. It is a bilingual parish that celebrates Mass in English and Spanish every weekend, runs a K-8 Catholic elementary school, and supports a wide network of lay ministries — RCIA, Hispanic Ministry, the Knights of Columbus, a Women's Group, the St. Vincent de Paul Society for those in need, and faith formation for children. For a Catholic moving to the Sonoma Valley, it offers the rare combination of deep historical identity, a working parish school, and a genuinely multicultural worshipping community.
Mass times at St. Francis Solano
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM by the Sacred Heart Chapel (English)
- Wednesday 6:30 – 7:00 PM (Spanish)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Parish History & 200th Anniversary
The parish community at St. Francis Solano traces its origin to Mission San Francisco Solano, the last and northernmost of California's 21 Spanish missions, founded in 1823 by Franciscan friar José Altimira and secularized in 1834. After years of disrepair following secularization, the church was restored and reopened for Catholic worship in 1846. In 2023 the parish launched a yearlong celebration of its bicentennial — 'Celebrando 200 años de Ministerio y Servicio' — under the leadership of Fr. Alvin Villaruel, Fr. Rowell Gumalay, and Deacon David (Dave) Gould, with a fundraising campaign dedicated to building safety and repairs and to a series of liturgical, eucharistic, and family events.
- Mission founded July 4, 1823 by Fr. José Altimira
- Became a parish on November 3, 1834 (first parish priest: Fr. Lorenzo Quijas)
- Restored for worship in 1846 after U.S. acquisition of California
- Bicentennial celebrated in 2023
- Original mission chapel preserved as part of Sonoma State Historic Park (California Historical Landmark No. 3)
Pastoral Staff & Parish Office
St. Francis Solano is led by Fr. Alvin Villaruel, who became pastor in January 2016. He previously served as chaplain and campus minister at Cardinal Newman High School, taught religion and coached tennis, was assigned to the Cathedral of St. Eugene in Santa Rosa, and then pastored St. Mary of the Angels in Ukiah beginning in 2011. He is assisted by Fr. Rowell Gumalay and Deacon David Gould. The parish office is staffed by Administrative Secretary Diane Klauber, Bookkeeper Michele Cosgrove, Director of Religious Education Sarah Wilson, and Secretary Liz Tinoco (afternoons 1:00–5:00 PM).
- Pastor: Fr. Alvin Villaruel (since January 2016)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Rowell Gumalay
- Deacon: David (Dave) Gould
- Administrative Secretary: Diane Klauber — ext. 100, [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Michele Cosgrove — ext. 103
- Director of Religious Education: Sarah Wilson — ext. 107
- Secretary: Liz Tinoco — ext. 105 (1:00–5:00 PM)
- Office hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday
Parish Ministries & Outreach
Lay ministry is central to parish life at St. Francis Solano. The Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano coordinates Spanish-language liturgy, sacramental preparation, and outreach. RCIA welcomes adults seeking baptism or full communion with the Catholic Church. The parish hosts a council of the Knights of Columbus, a Women's Group, and an active St. Vincent de Paul conference that assists local families in need.
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (John Bonnoit, 707-996-2482)
- Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano (Sarah Wilson / Liz Tinoco, 707-996-6759)
- Knights of Columbus (Bill Roualdes, 415-309-0175)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (1:00 – 2:30 PM, 707-935-7314)
- Women's Group (Lynne Bennett, 707-484-2151)
Sacramental Life
The parish walks families through Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony. Infant Baptisms are usually celebrated on Saturday mornings, after parents meet with Fr. Alvin and complete baptismal preparation classes; the parish asks families to call about two months ahead of the desired date, and welcomes inquiries even before the child is born. Older children prepare for Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in 2nd grade and for Confirmation in 7th grade, typically through the parish school or Religious Education program.
- Infant Baptism — contact Diane Klauber in the parish office to begin
- Reconciliation (Confession) — see weekly schedule above
- First Holy Communion — 2nd-grade preparation
- Confirmation — 7th-grade preparation, celebrated by the Bishop
- Marriage — arranged through the parish office
- Religion curriculum: Faith and Life series (Ignatius Press)
St. Francis Solano Parish School
Sharing the parish campus, St. Francis Solano School is a Catholic elementary school serving grades K-8 for families of the parish and the wider Sonoma Valley. The school is guided by Pastor Fr. Alvin Villaruel and welcomes students of all faiths, with particular emphasis on the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion in 2nd grade and Confirmation in 7th grade. Personal tours of the school are available by appointment.
- Grades K-8, Catholic elementary school
- Principal: Debbie Picard — (707) 996-4994, [email protected]
- Religion curriculum: Faith and Life series (Ignatius Press)
- Personal tours available by appointment
Parish Identity & Mission
The parish describes itself as 'a welcoming Catholic community called by God to live out the message of Christ in love and service to all people.' Its stated parish mission is 'to proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.' Worship is bilingual, the parish school and sacramental programs anchor family life, and outreach to those in need is carried out in particular through the St. Vincent de Paul conference.
- Mission statement: 'To proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our local community in word, deed, and truth.'
- Bilingual parish (English and Spanish)
- Active parish school (K-8)
- Outreach through St. Vincent de Paul Society
Visiting & Contact
St. Francis Solano is located at 469 3rd Street West in the historic town of Sonoma. The parish office is open 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and can be reached by phone, fax, or email. New parishioners are warmly welcomed and may register online via the parish website or by emailing the parish secretary.
- Address: 469 3rd St W, Sonoma, CA 95476
- Phone: (707) 996-6759
- Fax: (707) 996-2027
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday
- Parish registration form available on the website