About St. Gregory · San Mateo, California
St. Gregory Catholic Church is a parish in the Archdiocese of San Francisco located at 2715 Hacienda Street in San Mateo, California. Founded in 1941 by Archbishop John J. Mitty and named for the great Pope and Theologian of the sixth century, it has served the San Mateo, Foster City, and surrounding communities for more than eight decades. The parish is home to a parish school (St. Gregory School), an active religious education program, a Mandarin-language Sunday Mass, and a varied liturgical and devotional life livestreamed through Facebook.
- Established
- 1941
- Patron
- St. Gregory the Great (Pope and Theologian of the sixth century)
- Rector
- Fr. Mark Reburiano
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Gregory is a welcoming, multigenerational parish that has ministered on the same Hacienda Street campus since 1941, offering daily and Sunday Mass in English with a Mandarin Mass each Sunday at 3:00pm, livestreamed liturgies, an active religious education program, the parish-run St. Gregory School (with 800 students across school and faith formation), and a long tradition of vibrant lay ministry—from the Men's Club and Women's Club to faith families and parish festivals. With 24/7 emergency priest availability and active Facebook/YouTube outreach, parishioners can plug in at any stage of life.
Mass times at St. Gregory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — call 650-345-8506
Parish History
St. Gregory was founded in 1941 when Archbishop John J. Mitty purchased a San Mateo dairy farm for a new parish and appointed Fr. John Scanlon — fresh from earning a doctorate in Rome — as founding pastor. For its first months the Manor Theater served as the worship space and the ranch house as the rectory, while 400 parishioners built their first church and a school and convent followed at a cost of $265,000. By 1953, growth from Foster City and the Village area required a new church funded at $358,000.
Founding and the Early Decades
Fr. Scanlon led the parish for 22 years (1941–1963). He chose the name Saint Gregory in honor of the great Pope and Theologian of the sixth century. His 22-year pastorate established the parish school, convent, and church buildings, and created the parish identity that continues today.
Mid-Century Growth: Msgr. Brown Era (1963–1977)
Msgr. James Brown took over in 1963 and physically expanded the campus with new religious education offices and a gymnasium. He also oversaw the transition of the school from religious to lay faculty and established the parish's first lay board of education — an early model of lay governance in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
Refurbishment and Outreach: Fr. Worner Era (1977–1991)
Fr. William Worner, appointed by Archbishop John R. Quinn, refurbished all buildings and strengthened school enrollment and standards. He welcomed three Sisters of Mercy to strengthen religious education, named Sister Sylvia to lead care of the homebound and elderly, launched a seniors' club, and hired a youth minister — embedding the parish's commitment to cradle-to-grave ministry.
Lay Leadership and Renewal: Fr. Murray (1991–1996) and Msgr. McElroy (1996–2010)
Fr. Edward Murray created the Parish Finance Council and added a Pastoral Associate, Parish Manager, and bookkeeper to staff. Msgr. Robert McElroy, who succeeded him in 1996 (serving 14 years total), revived the parish festival, the Men's Club, women's retreats, and completed the original church plan with new stained glass windows. A capital campaign refreshed the parish campus in time for the golden jubilee. In 2010, Msgr. McElroy was ordained a bishop at St. Mary's Cathedral and would later be made a Cardinal by Pope Francis — becoming one of St. Gregory's most distinguished alumni.
Recent Past: Fr. Paul Arnoult (2011–2023) and the 80th Anniversary
Fr. Paul Arnoult established new groups — a Women's Club, a Men's Prayer Group, and Mother's Day and Father's Day Spiritual Bouquets — while undertaking campus plant improvements and preserving the long-standing traditions unique to Saint Gregory. In September 2022, Cardinal McElroy returned to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving for the parish's 80th anniversary.
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Mark Reburiano and Parochial Vicar Fr. Stephen Idoko. Lay leadership includes Rachel Allid (Director of Operations), Edward Dantes (Director of Religious Education), and front office staff Michelle Ostrowski and Monina Enage. The wider parish campus (school included) is served by School Principal Johanna McCormack and Vice Principal, Counselor Tricia Hannon, Extended Care Director Gioia Mongiello, and custodians Silvia Sidal and Cesar Quetzel.
- Fr. Mark Reburiano — Pastor
- Fr. Stephen Idoko — Parochial Vicar
- Rachel Allid, PMP — Director of Operations
- Edward Dantes — Director of Religious Education
- Michelle Ostrowski — Front Office Secretary
- Monina Enage — Front Office Secretary
Ministries and Parish Life
St. Gregory maintains a wide range of parish ministries with deep roots — many going back decades. Active groups include the Men's Club (revived by Msgr. McElroy), Women's Club (founded by Fr. Arnoult), Men's Prayer Group, the annual parish festival, the Parish Finance Council, Liturgy and Worship committees, youth ministry, and outreach to the homebound and elderly. Mother's Day and Father's Day Spiritual Bouquets are a tradition introduced by Fr. Paul Arnoult.
- Men's Club and Men's Prayer Group
- Women's Club
- Annual Parish Festival
- Parish Finance Council
- Liturgy and Worship committees
- Youth Ministry
- Care of the homebound and elderly (Sister Sylvia ministry)
- Mother's Day and Father's Day Spiritual Bouquets
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Religious Education Program welcomes all parish families and children not currently enrolled in a Catholic school, and is directed by Edward Dantes. The parish school, St. Gregory School, has its own faith formation program including the long-running Faith Families tradition, in which students from each grade are grouped monthly — led by 7th and 8th graders — for faith-filled projects, games, and discussions.
- Parish Religious Education Program (Director: Edward Dantes)
- St. Gregory School Faith Formation
- Faith Families cross-grade mentoring program
St. Gregory School
St. Gregory School, located at 2701 Hacienda Street on the parish campus, was founded alongside the parish in the early 1940s and continues today as a parish-run Catholic elementary school. The school reports a 98% retention rate, average class size of about 35, three resource teachers, five enrichment day offerings, three accelerated math courses in junior high, five PPSL (parochial) sports offerings, and an average of 63 service hours donated per family each year.
- Address: 2701 Hacienda Street, San Mateo, CA 94403
- Phone: (650) 573-0111
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.stgregs-sanmateo.org
- Principal: Ms. Johanna McCormack
- Faith-rooted mission: Faith, Academic achievement, Integrity, Trust, and Honor
Sacraments
In addition to the Eucharist and Reconciliation, St. Gregory celebrates the Anointing of the Sick, and parishioners are invited to contact the parish office to arrange Baptisms and Marriages.
- Anointing of the Sick
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Reconciliation — by appointment
Visit, Connect, and Contact
The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 10:00am–4:00pm and Friday 10:00am–2:00pm, closed on weekends. Visitors and newcomers are welcomed through the parish's 'Newcomer' page. Email updates and the weekly bulletin are delivered via Flocknote at saintgregory.flocknote.com, and the parish maintains an active Facebook page (facebook.com/saintgregorychurch) and a YouTube channel (bit.ly/stgregyoutube).
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 10am–4pm; Fri 10am–2pm
- Newcomer resources: saintgregorychurch.org/newcomer
- Email updates: saintgregory.flocknote.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/saintgregorychurch
- YouTube: bit.ly/stgregyoutube
- Emergency priest line: 650-345-8506, dial #1
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. John Scanlon1941–1963
Founding pastor; named parish after Pope Gregory the Great; built first church, school and convent.
- Msgr. James Brown1963–1977
Built religious education offices and gymnasium; transitioned school to lay faculty; established first lay board of education.
- Fr. William Worner1977–1991
Appointed by Archbishop John R. Quinn; refurbished buildings; expanded religious education with Sisters of Mercy; created ministries to seniors, homebound, and youth.
- Fr. Edward Murray1991–1996
Created Parish Finance Council; added Pastoral Associate, Parish Manager, and bookkeeper; promoted lay ministry involvement.
- Msgr. Robert W. McElroy1996/1997–2010
Revived the parish festival and Men's Club, reinstituted women's retreats, completed the church with stained glass windows, led a capital campaign and golden jubilee; ordained a bishop in 2010; later elevated to Cardinal.
- Fr. Paul Arnoult2011–2023
Established Women's Club, Men's Prayer Group, Mother's and Father's Day Spiritual Bouquets; oversaw facility improvements.
- Fr. Mark Reburiano2023–present
Current pastor.