About St. Leander · San Leandro, California
St. Leander Catholic Church is a historic multicultural Catholic parish in San Leandro, California, founded in 1864 on land donated by the Estudillo family, one of the city's founding families. It is the second-oldest Catholic church in Alameda County and is often called the "mother church" of central Alameda County. The parish today is a welcoming, multilingual community celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and (via the Oakland Chinese Catholic Community) Chinese, with daily and Sunday liturgies, a parish school (St. Leander School, opened 1881), and active outreach including a robust Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference.
- Established
- 1864
- Patron
- St. Leander of Seville (San Leandro, Spain — 6th-century Archbishop, Doctor of the Church, whose name is also the source of the city's name)
- Rector
- Fr. Hugo França (Parochial Administrator, since 2015)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland
Why belong here
St. Leander is one of the oldest parishes in the East Bay and a genuinely multicultural Catholic home. Weekend Mass is celebrated in English, Spanish, and Chinese, the parish runs a long-standing Catholic school (St. Leander School, opened 1881), and its ministries reach beyond the parish walls — from a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference that provides food, clothing, rent and utility help, to Pastoral Care Ministers who visit the sick, homebound and elderly in care facilities. Combined with daily Mass, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and a robust RCIA process in both English and Spanish, it is a parish where newcomers, returning Catholics, and those curious about the faith can find a place.
Mass times at St. Leander
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM in the Church (English and Spanish)
- Anointing of the Sick offered at the 8:00 AM Saturday Mass on the first Saturday of each month
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration — Fridays after the 7:00 AM Mass (English)
- Adoración Eucarística en español — first Fridays at 6:00 PM (Spanish)
Our History
The parish's story stretches back to 1834, when the secularization of the California missions freed up vast land grants. Mexican-era grantee José Joaquín Estudillo was awarded Rancho San Leandro — 7,000 acres including the spot known as 'El Rodeo de Arroyo de San Leandro.' After Estudillo's death, two Gold Rush arrivals and Estudillo sons-in-law — William Heath Davis and John B. Ward — laid out the town of San Leandro. In 1864 the Estudillo family donated land that became the site of St. Leander Catholic Church. The parish traces its formal founding to that year and lists Fr. James Callan as its first pastor. St. Leander School (originally St. Mary's School) followed in 1881, and over the next 160 years 17 successive pastors — culminating in Fr. Hugo França in 2015 — guided the community through waves of immigration, building campaigns, and a major renovation completed in time for the 2006 community open house.
- Founded 1864 by the Estudillo family on land of Rancho San Leandro
- First pastor: Fr. James Callan (1864)
- St. Leander School opened as St. Mary's School in 1881
- Second-oldest Catholic church in Alameda County; 'mother church' of central Alameda County
- Faith community roots traced to Spanish mission-era California, 1769–1833
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at St. Leander includes Religious Education (CCD) for children and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for adults and older children preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, or First Eucharist. The RCIA process is offered in both English and Spanish; inquiries are handled by Religious Ed Coordinator Rebecca Martinez at [email protected].
- Religious Education (CCD)
- RCIA — English and Spanish — for unbaptized adults, Christians from other traditions, Catholics seeking Confirmation, or anyone exploring the faith
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
St. Leander describes RCIA as 'more than a class — it's a journey of faith, discovery, and transformation.' The parish welcomes the unbaptized, Christians baptized in another tradition, those married to Catholics, and lifelong Catholics seeking deeper formation. Through prayer, study, reflection, and community, participants are gradually introduced to Catholic teaching, liturgy, and sacramental life.
- Contact: Rebecca Martinez, [email protected] or (510) 895-5631
- Welcomes candidates and volunteers
- Prepares adults for Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation
St. Leander School
St. Leander School has educated San Leandro children since 1881, when it opened as St. Mary's School. Today it operates from 451 Davis Street (across the neighborhood from the church) under Principal Amy Cross ([email protected]) and Vice Principal Rebecca Martinez ([email protected]), with the motto 'Academics, Faith, Service . . . We Make A World of Difference!' Students are formed to be Committed Christians, Lifelong Learners, Effective Communicators, Active and Positive Leaders, and Responsible Citizens. The school website is www.stleanderschool.org.
- Address: 451 Davis Street, San Leandro, CA 94577
- Founded 1881 (125th anniversary celebrated in 2006)
- Phone: (510) 351-4144; Fax: (510) 483-6060
- Principal: Amy Cross
Outreach & Charity
Outreach has been a hallmark of St. Leander since long before it became common practice. Historically, the parish helped open San Leandro's first shelter for abused women and children (now Building Futures With Women & Children), distributes bag lunches to the homeless, and joins other local congregations each year in the April Showers program. Two parish-organized outreach streams are highlighted on the website: the local Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference and the global Operation Rice Bowl program.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — emergency food, grocery gift cards, clothing, rent/utility help, holiday outreach
- Pastoral Care Ministry — visits to sick, homebound, elderly in hospitals and care facilities
- Operation Rice Bowl (Lent) — supports CRS global hunger programs and local Diocese of Oakland hunger initiatives
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The parish's SVdP conference, inspired by St. Vincent de Paul, provides confidential, compassionate, direct assistance to neighbors in need — including emergency food, grocery gift cards, clothing, rent and utility support, and seasonal giving programs for families. Volunteers are welcomed for home visits, donation organization, and behind-the-scenes support; inquiries go through the Parish Office.
- Contact: Parish Office, [email protected], (510) 895-5631
- Phone: (510) 895-2270
- Mission: 'To offer direct, personal assistance to those who are struggling, guided by love, humility, and a spirit of fellowship.'
Clergy & Staff
The pastoral team is led by Fr. Hugo França as Parochial Administrator and includes Fr. Bogdan Michalski (Parochial Vicar), Fr. Mike Lacey (in residence), Deacon Victor Silveira (Permanent Deacon), and Liturgical Assistant Raymond Solis. The Parish Office staff includes Margarita Guevara (Office Manager), Eva Lowe (Finance), Amber Martinez (Facilities), Rebecca Martinez (Religious Ed Coordinator), Diana Gregory, Trudy Miller, Hope Vaquera (Office Volunteers), and Moises Avina (Maintenance).
- Fr. Hugo França, Parochial Administrator (since 2015)
- Fr. Bogdan Michalski, Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Mike Lacey, In Residence
- Deacon Victor Silveira
- Liturgical Assistant: Raymond Solis ([email protected])
Contact, Office Hours & Directions
The Parish Office is at 474 West Estudillo Avenue and is open Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00–5:00 PM, plus Saturday 9:30 AM–2:00 PM (closed Sunday and Monday and on certain holidays). The church itself is at 550 West Estudillo Avenue, about a 2-minute walk from the San Leandro BART Station, with street and lot parking on site. Mass Intention requests are accepted in person at the Parish Office.
- Phone: (510) 895-5631; Fax: (510) 352-3578
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue–Fri 9 AM–12 PM & 1–5 PM; Sat 9:30 AM–2:00 PM; closed Sun–Mon
I'm New — Getting Involved
The parish welcomes newcomers — those who have just moved to the area, are returning to the Church after time away, or are exploring the Catholic faith for the first time. There is a network of multicultural communities, faith groups, outreach programs, and parish organizations to join, with explicit invitations to attend Mass, sign up for RCIA, volunteer with a ministry, or join a prayer group. The parish's welcome message centers on the phrase 'ALWAYS TOGETHER!'
- Welcome message from Fr. Hugo França
- Pathways: attend Mass • join a ministry • attend a prayer group • volunteer at events
- RCIA available for those exploring the Catholic faith
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. James Callan1864
First pastor at the parish's founding
- Fr. John F. Cassidy1865–1866
- Fr. John Hodges1866–1867
- Fr. John Griffin1867–1869
- Fr. Denis Nugent1869–1878
- Fr. John McEvoy1878–1898
- Fr. William G. O'Mahony1898–1911
- Fr. Francis Garvey1911–1920
- Fr. John J. Hunt1920–1933
- Fr. James McCaul1933–1952
- Msgr. Philip J. Ryan1952–1963
- Fr. Richard B. O'Connell1964–1976
- Fr. Richard A. Mangini1976–1990
- Fr. Ricardo A. Chavez1990–1996
- Fr. John ProchaskaPastor 1998–2003; Parochial Administrator 1996–1998
- Fr. Jerrold F. Kennedy2004
Parochial Administrator
- Fr. Paul R. Vassar2004–2015
- Fr. Hugo França2015–present
Parochial Administrator