About St. Louis Bertrand · Vallejo, California
St. Louis Bertrand Chapel is a Catholic mission chapel located at 651 Sonoma Boulevard in Vallejo, California, within the Diocese of Sacramento. It serves as a mission church of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, which was established in 1855 by Dominican friars from Benicia and is one of the oldest Catholic communities in Solano County. The chapel offers a single Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. in English and shares its clergy and administration with the mother parish at 816 Santa Clara Street in Vallejo.
- Patron
- St. Louis Bertrand (Luis Beltrán, O.P.) — Spanish Dominican friar, missionary to South America, the 'Apostle of the Americas,' born 1 January 1526 in Valencia, Spain, died 9 October 1581; patron of Buñol, New Granada, and Colombia; canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671.
- Rector
- Rev. Vicente C. Teneza (Pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, which oversees the chapel)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Sacramento (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
St. Louis Bertrand Chapel is a welcoming Sunday worship site for Catholics living on the Sonoma Boulevard side of Vallejo who want a smaller, intimate setting for Mass. As a mission of historic St. Vincent Ferrer Parish (established 1855 by Dominican friars), it connects parishioners to one of Solano County's oldest Catholic communities while also linking them to a full range of ministries — religious education, youth and young adult ministry, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, and St. Vincent Ferrer School (PK-8) — through the parent parish. It's an especially good fit for English-speaking Catholics seeking a quiet, mission-style chapel within the Diocese of Sacramento.
Mass times at St. Louis Bertrand
Weekly Mass schedule
St. Louis Bertrand Chapel at a Glance
St. Louis Bertrand Chapel is the mission chapel of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, serving the Sonoma Boulevard area of Vallejo, California. It offers a Sunday Mass in English at 10:00 a.m. and is administered as part of the Diocese of Sacramento's Solano Deanery. The mailing address and parish business go through the parent parish office at 816 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo.
- Type: Chapel (mission of a parish)
- Diocese: Sacramento
- Deanery: Solano County, Solano Deanery
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 AM (English)
- Phone: (707) 644-8396
History & Dominican Roots
Catholic life in Vallejo traces back to 1855, when Father Francis Vilarassa, OP, and the Dominican friars from Benicia dedicated the first Catholic church in Vallejo — a small white frame structure on the corner of Capitol and Marin Streets, on land donated by General John Frisbie. Archbishop Alemany was present at the August 1855 dedication. For the next ten years the community was a mission of St. Dominic's, Benicia. In 1865 a parish house was built and Father Louis Daniel, OP, became the first resident pastor, serving for 31 years. The parish was eventually turned over to diocesan priests of the Diocese of Sacramento. St. Louis Bertrand Chapel exists today as an outreach of this historic parish, sharing its clergy and ministries.
- 1855: First Catholic church in Vallejo dedicated
- Mission of Benicia Dominican community for its first decade
- 1865: First resident pastor, Father Louis Daniel, OP
- Dominican administration later transferred to diocesan clergy
The Patron Saint: St. Louis Bertrand, O.P.
The chapel is named for St. Louis Bertrand (1526–1581), a Spanish Dominican friar remembered as the 'Apostle of South America.' He was born in Valencia, entered the Dominican Order in 1544, and was sent to mission in what is now Colombia, where — alongside Bartolomé de Las Casas — he defended the rights of indigenous peoples and reportedly received the gift of tongues so that different tribes could understand him. He returned to Spain in 1569 and trained new preachers before dying in Valencia on October 9, 1581. He was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1608 and canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671. He is the patron of Buñol, New Granada, and Colombia.
- Born: 1 January 1526, Valencia, Spain
- Died: 9 October 1581, Valencia, Spain
- Feast day: October 9
- Order: Dominican (O.P.)
- Patron of: Buñol, New Granada, Colombia
Mass & Sacramental Schedule
St. Louis Bertrand Chapel celebrates one Sunday Mass each week at 10:00 a.m. in English. The fuller sacramental schedule — including weekday Masses, additional Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation — is offered at the parent parish, St. Vincent Ferrer, at 816 Santa Clara St., Vallejo.
- Sunday: 10:00 AM, English
Clergy & Staff
The chapel is staffed through the Diocese of Sacramento by the clergy of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish. The pastor is Rev. Vicente C. Teneza, and Rev. Apolonio C. Catada serves as Parochial Vicar. Two deacons, Dcn. John Bockman and Dcn. Rafael Rey, assist at the parish.
- Rev. Vicente C. Teneza — Pastor
- Rev. Apolonio C. Catada — Parochial Vicar
- Dcn. John Bockman — Deacon
- Dcn. Rafael Rey — Deacon
Ministries & Parish Life (via St. Vincent Ferrer Parish)
Because St. Louis Bertrand Chapel is a mission of St. Vincent Ferrer, its parishioners participate in the full range of ministries coordinated at the parent parish — including faith formation for children and adults, youth and young adult ministry, outreach to those in need through the St. Vincent de Paul Women's Center, and connection with St. Vincent Ferrer School (PK-8).
- Religious Education — Sr. Maria Fe Bigwas, RVM, (707) 643-0188
- Youth & Young Adult Ministry — Justine Joyce Gemo, (707) 644-8396
- St. Vincent de Paul Women's Center — 404 Florida St., Vallejo, (707) 553-9469; Director: Elizabeth Badua-Smail
- St. Vincent Ferrer School (PK-8) — 411 Kentucky St., Vallejo, (707) 642-4311; Principal: Jessica Dare
Visit, Contact & Location
The chapel is at 651 Sonoma Boulevard in Vallejo, in Solano County. Parishioners and visitors can reach the office through the parent parish phone line. Mass is celebrated each Sunday morning.
- Address: 651 Sonoma Blvd., Vallejo, CA 94590
- Phone: (707) 644-8396
- Mailing address (parent parish office): 816 Santa Clara St., Vallejo, CA 94590
- Diocesan page: https://www.scd.org/parish/st-louis-bertrand-chapel-vallejo