About St. Mary Magdalen Parish · Berkeley, California
St. Mary Magdalen Parish is a Catholic parish in North Berkeley, California, founded in 1923 and now part of the Diocese of Oakland. Originally staffed and shaped by the Western Dominican friars for nearly a century, the parish blends a rich intellectual and liturgical tradition with active social justice and faith formation ministries. The parish campus includes the Church of St. Mary Magdalen and the School of the Madeleine, Berkeley's only remaining Catholic elementary school, founded by Dominican sisters in 1937.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Mary Magdalen
- Rector
- Fr. Nicholas (Nick) Glisson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland (formerly Archdiocese of San Francisco)
Why belong here
St. Mary Magdalen offers a Catholic home grounded in the Four Pillars of Dominican Spirituality — prayer, study, community, and preaching — with a deep tradition of social justice and adult faith formation. Weekly worship includes a sung Vigil Mass, three Sunday Masses with choirs (the Family Liturgy Choir and the Schola Magdalen Concert Choir), daily Masses, Morning and Evening Prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, and regular Reconciliation. The parish grounds also house the School of the Madeleine, Berkeley's only Catholic elementary school, and active ministries including RCIA, youth formation, Bible studies, St. Vincent de Paul, and spiritual direction — making it a lively, intellectually engaged community for families and individuals alike.
Mass times at St. Mary Magdalen Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 – 5:00 pm
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of each month after the 5:30 pm Mass
- During Lent: Mondays after the 5:30 pm Mass
Parish History and 100-Year Story
St. Mary Magdalen Parish was formally established on February 1, 1923, by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna of San Francisco to serve the growing Catholic population of North Berkeley's Thousand Oaks, Northbrae, and Cragmont neighborhoods. On the same day, Archbishop Hanna and Dominican Provincial Fr. Arthur Laurence McMahon, O.P., signed an agreement exchanging two North Bay parishes (St. Catherine in Martinez with its mission All Saints in Concord, and St. Rose in Crockett with St. Patrick in Port Costa) for the new parish under the patronage of St. Mary Magdalen. The first pastor, Fr. Francis Pius Driscoll, O.P., arrived in July 1923 and celebrated the parish's inaugural Mass on July 22, 1923, in the home of parishioners Martin and Olive Gavin on The Alameda. The permanent church building was dedicated in August 1924, and the parish celebrated its centennial in 2023.
- Founded February 1, 1923 by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna, Archdiocese of San Francisco
- Run by Western Dominican friars from its founding until June 30, 2017
- First pastor: Fr. Francis Pius Driscoll, O.P.
- Church building dedicated August 1924
- School of the Madeleine opened 1937 by six Dominican sisters
- First non-Dominican pastor, Fr. Nick Glisson, arrived June 30, 2017
- Centennial celebrated in 2023
Dominican Heritage and the Four Pillars
St. Mary Magdalen has been formed for nearly a century by the spirituality of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). The parish mission and community life are organized around the Four Pillars of Dominican Spirituality — prayer, study, community, and preaching. This is visible in the parish's strong emphasis on the Liturgy of the Hours, ongoing adult faith formation (Bible studies, Adult Sunday School, Adult Confirmation), intellectual engagement with Catholic thought, and dedication to social justice and proclamation of the Good News.
- Pillar of Prayer — daily Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic Adoration
- Pillar of Study — School of the Madeleine, Adult Sunday School, Bible & Faith Studies
- Pillar of Community — parish councils, festival, picnic, St. Vincent de Paul
- Pillar of Preaching — homilies, RCIA, Adult Confirmation, social justice outreach
Our Patroness, St. Mary Magdalen
St. Mary Magdalen, the 'Apostle to the Apostles,' was the first witness of Christ's Resurrection. According to Luke 8:2, Jesus drove seven demons from her; she then joined the women who supported Jesus and the Twelve during their ministry, and she was present at the Crucifixion and burial. Her feast is celebrated on July 22, and tradition holds that she was buried at Saint-Maximin in France, where her relics are contained in a splendid bronze casket in the crypt of a Benedictine church destroyed in the eighth century and rebuilt by Dominicans in 1295. During a 2011 tour, these relics and casket visited St. Mary Magdalen in Berkeley on February 17. She is patron of the contemplative life, converts and penitent sinners, people ridiculed for their piety, glove makers, hairstylists, perfumers, and pharmacists.
- Feast day: July 22
- Mary Magdalen Novena held annually around her feast
- Relics of St. Mary Magdalen visited the parish February 17, 2011
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Mary Magdalen spans the whole life of the parish. The School of the Madeleine, founded in 1937 by six Dominican sisters and still affiliated with the Dominican Sisters, is the only Catholic elementary school in Berkeley and is a long-standing partner of parish life. For adults, the parish runs Bible & Faith Studies, an Adult Sunday School, an Adult Confirmation program, and ongoing Adult Formation coordinated through the parish office. Youth Formation is offered through the parish's Religious Education program under the Director of Religious Education, Heather Skinner.
- School of the Madeleine (founded 1937; the only Catholic elementary school in Berkeley)
- Adult Confirmation
- Bible & Faith Studies
- Adult Sunday School / Adult Formation
- Youth Formation / Religious Education
School of the Madeleine
The School of the Madeleine is Berkeley's only remaining Catholic elementary school, opened in 1937 with six Dominican sisters on staff and still affiliated with the Dominican Sisters' tradition. It shares the St. Mary Magdalen campus and ministry with the parish and continues the long-standing Dominican educational mission in North Berkeley. Updates and registration details are listed on the school website, themadeleine.com.
- Opened 1937
- Original staff: six Dominican sisters
- Still affiliated with the Dominican Sisters
- Only Catholic elementary school in Berkeley
- School website: themadeleine.com
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music at St. Mary Magdalen is led by Music Director Andy Canepa and centers on the parish's Sunday choirs. The 9:30 am Sunday Mass is sung by the Family Liturgy Choir and the 11:30 am Mass is sung by the Schola Magdalen Concert Choir. Worship ministries also include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) and Lectors, whose schedules are published weekly in the parish bulletin.
- Music Director: Andy Canepa
- Family Liturgy Choir — sings at the 9:30 am Sunday Mass
- Schola Magdalen Concert Choir — sings at the 11:30 am Sunday Mass
- EMHC (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
- Lectors
- Weekly EMHC & Lector schedule in the bulletin
Pastoral Staff and Councils
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Nick Glisson with a lay staff that handles pastoral care, faith formation, music, technology, facilities, and communications. Fr. Wilson Sagayaraj, SVD serves as a Priest in Residence, and Dn. Jeff Burns supports the parish's Renewal ministry. The Parish Pastoral Council, chaired by Lisa Aliferis, and the Parish Finance Council (chaired by Georganne Perkins, with Vice Chair Mark Hurley) provide lay governance and oversight.
- Pastor: Fr. Nick Glisson (voicemail ext. 112; [email protected])
- Priest in Residence: Fr. Wilson Sagayaraj, SVD
- Pastoral Associate / Business Manager: Norah Hippolyte (ext. 111)
- Music Director: Andy Canepa (ext. 122)
- Director of Religious Education: Heather Skinner (510-526-4744)
- Deacon: Dn. Jeff Burns (Renewal)
- Parish Technologist / Adult Formation Coordinator: Cat Nielsen (ext. 113)
- Facilities: Oscar Guillen (Supervisor); Ana Guillen (Housekeeper)
- Bulletin Editor: Laura Morland (ext. 118)
- Parish Pastoral Council: Lisa Aliferis, Convener
- Parish Finance Council: Georganne Perkins (Chair), Mark Hurley (Vice Chair)
Outreach, Social Justice, and Spiritual Direction
St. Mary Magdalen's outreach and formation ministry reflects the Dominican pillar of preaching. The parish supports a St. Vincent de Paul Conference for those in need, provides Spiritual Direction (including a free Zoom group spiritual direction option), and runs seasonal formation programs including a Lecture series on topics such as 'Explore Sacred Music by Women.' The parish also maintains a Parish Scrapbook Project seeking volunteer help during its centennial era.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference
- Spiritual Direction (individual and free Zoom group)
- Parish Scrapbook Project (volunteer)
- Lecture series (e.g. 'Explore Sacred Music by Women')
Parish Life, Festival, and Calendar
Parish life at St. Mary Magdalen is marked by recurring events including the annual Mary Magdalen Festival (held in mid-July around the patroness feast), a School+Parish Picnic, a Rectory Open House Potluck, Music Fest tickets, and the regular Friday 'Parish Blast' bulletin email. The parish also hosts 'Happenings' and 'Parish Events' listings, plus exploration events like a Camino de Santiago walk reflection.
- Mary Magdalen Festival (annual, mid-July)
- School+Parish Picnic
- Rectory Open House Potluck
- Music Fest
- Parish Blast (weekly bulletin email)
- Happenings / Parish Events listings
Location, Hours, and Contact
St. Mary Magdalen Parish is located at 2005 Berryman Street, Berkeley, CA 94709, on the corner of Berryman and Milvia Streets in North Berkeley. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to noon, with afternoon hours 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Phone: 510-526-4811; Fax: 510-525-3638; Email: [email protected].
- Address: 2005 Berryman Street, Berkeley, CA 94709
- Phone: 510-526-4811
- Fax: 510-525-3638
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 am – Noon and 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Church entrance: corner of Berryman and Milvia Streets
- Parking lot entrance: near Berryman and Henry Streets
- Parking and accessibility layout available on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Francis Pius Driscoll, O.P.1923–first pastor
Founding pastor, Dominican friar recalled from Los Angeles in June 1923; celebrated the parish's first Mass on July 22, 1923.
- Fr. Nick Glisson2017–present
First non-Dominican pastor in the parish's history, arrived June 30, 2017, ending nearly a century of Dominican pastoral leadership.