About St. Peter · Pacifica, California
St. Peter Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of San Francisco serving the coastal city of Pacifica, California, just south of San Francisco on the San Mateo County coast. Founded in 1956, it currently ministers to more than 1,300 individuals and families from its site at 700 Oddstad Boulevard, at the foot of Linda Mar Boulevard and adjacent to San Pedro Valley Park. The parish offers daily and weekend Masses, a children's religious education program (K–8), adult faith formation and OCIA (formerly RCIA), sacramental preparation, and parish life rooted in decades of community tradition on the coast.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. Peter (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Reverend Jerome P. Foley
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Peter is a warm, mid-sized coastside parish of about 1,300 families in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, with daily and weekend Masses in English and a complete sacramental life. Faith formation is offered for every age — K–6 religious education on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, an older-children class, a Confirmation program for 7th–8th graders, and an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process on Wednesday evenings — together with adult education, youth ministry, a music ministry under Director Tony Eiras, and outreach to the sick and homebound. The parish is debt-free since its 2016 Mortgage Burning and welcomes all to its 'most beautiful spot in the valley' at the foot of Linda Mar Boulevard.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (and by appointment)
Welcome to St. Peter Catholic Church
On the California coast, just south of San Francisco, the scenic city of Pacifica is home to the parish community of St. Peter. St. Peter Catholic Church was established as a parish on June 25, 1956 and is part of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The church is located at the foot of Linda Mar Boulevard, adjacent to San Pedro Valley Park, and currently serves more than 1,300 individuals and families with daily celebrations of the Liturgy, a children's religious education program, adult faith formation, and sacrament preparation. All are welcome.
Parish History
Catholics on the coastside first drove north to Holy Angels in Colma for Mass. A Rockaway Beach dance hall owned by James Troglio served as the 'Rockaway Church,' and in 1950 a Brighton Road living room was converted for daily liturgy. The Archdiocese bought property at 1496 Adobe Road, where the first Mass was held December 18, 1955 and Bishop Merlin Gilfoyle dedicated the church March 18, 1956. On June 25, 1956 Archbishop John Mitty established the Parish of St. Peter in San Pedro Valley, with Reverend Francis E. Rielly as first pastor. The parish later moved to its present home on Oddstad Boulevard at the foot of Linda Mar, the 'most beautiful spot in the valley' that Father Rielly bought for $51,000. The striking modernist 'church-in-the-round,' designed by Architect Mario Ciampi, was dedicated on May 12, 1990 by Archbishop John Quinn. The parish has been served by ten pastors through 2016, celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2006 and Diamond Jubilee in 2016, and published its history as 'Wisdom Has Built a House.'
- 1930s–40s: Holy Angels, Colma, and the Rockaway Church serve coastal Catholics
- 1950: Daily liturgy in a converted Brighton Road living room
- 1951: Church of the Good Shepherd established in northern Pacifica
- Dec 18, 1955: First Mass at 1496 Adobe Road
- March 18, 1956: Dedication by Auxiliary Bishop Merlin Gilfoyle
- June 25/27, 1956: Archbishop John Mitty establishes St. Peter Parish; Rev. Francis E. Rielly named first pastor
- Christmas Eve (late 1950s): First Mass in the unfinished 'church-in-the-round' on a dirt floor
- May 12, 1990: Dedication of the present church by Archbishop John Quinn
- 2006: Golden Jubilee (50th) celebrated with Bishop John Wester
- 2016: Diamond Jubilee (60th) and Mortgage Burning on May 22, 2016
Parish Staff
Members of the parish staff may be reached through the parish office at (650) 359-6313. The parish is led by its tenth pastor, Reverend Jerome P. Foley ('Father Jerome' / 'Father Jerry'), alongside a pastoral associate and director of faith formation, a director of music, and an office manager.
- Rev. Jerome P. Foley — Pastor
- Sister Hilda Sandoval, M.F.P. — Pastoral Associate and Director of Faith Formation (650-359-5000; [email protected])
- Tony Eiras — Director of Music
- Vera Gonzalez — Office Manager / Parish Secretary
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
St. Peter's offers faith formation for every age, organized through Sister Hilda Sandoval, M.F.P., the parish's Pastoral Associate and Director of Faith Formation.
Religious Education for Children (Grades K–6)
Children in Kindergarten through 6th grade meet on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons for religious education classes. The first year of instruction covers the basic topics of God, Jesus, and Church; the second year is immediate preparation for First Eucharist, emphasizing community, forgiveness, the Mass, and a personal relationship with Jesus.
- Tuesday 3:45–5:00 PM — Grades K–6
- Wednesday 3:00–4:15 PM — Grades K–6
- Contact: Sister Hilda Sandoval, M.F.P., (650) 359-5000
Older Children and Sacramental Catch-Up
On an individual basis, children who have not yet celebrated their sacraments are offered a special class to prepare for them.
Confirmation Preparation (Grades 7–8)
Students in grades 7 and 8 prepare for Confirmation, with the sacrament celebrated in the spring of 8th grade. The program requires class attendance, Mass attendance, ministry service, and a retreat. Candidates are encouraged to involve family and a sponsor in their formation; the focus is on completing the initiation begun at Baptism and becoming a disciple of Jesus through the Catholic Church.
OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly RCIA)
OCIA is for any adult inquiring about becoming Catholic or learning more about the Catholic Church, including baptized Christians from other denominations and baptized Catholics who have not yet received First Eucharist or Confirmation. Sessions give participants the chance to ask questions, clarify misconceptions, and learn Catholic teaching, traditions, and practices. Each participant is paired with a parish sponsor, and the group meets weekly on Wednesday evenings.
- For the unbaptized, other Christians, and Catholics seeking sacraments
- Weekly Wednesday evenings
- Contact: Sister Hilda Sandoval, M.F.P. — (650) 359-5000; [email protected]
Adult Faith Formation
Catholic parishioners 18 and older who have received First Eucharist and participate regularly in weekend Masses are eligible to receive Confirmation, either at the parish's annual Confirmation or at St. Mary's Cathedral with other adults in the Archdiocese (Fall and Pentecost). Adults may also contact the Director of Adult Education for ongoing formation.
Sacraments
St. Peter prepares parishioners for the full sacramental life of the Church — from infant Baptism through marriage — and welcomes those returning to the sacraments.
- Baptism — preparation by appointment, typically celebrated shortly after a child's birth
- First Reconciliation — received in 2nd grade of religious education
- First Eucharist (First Communion) — received in 2nd grade
- Confirmation — for 7th–8th graders in the spring of 8th grade; for adults at the parish or at St. Mary's Cathedral (Fall and Pentecost)
- Marriage — preparation by appointment; contact the parish at least six months before the desired wedding date
- OCIA / RCIA — for the unbaptized, other Christians, and Catholics seeking sacraments; weekly Wednesday evenings
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Francis E. Rielly1956–
First pastor; built up Adobe Road church, purchased the Linda Mar site for $51,000, and celebrated the first Mass in the unfinished 'church-in-the-round' on Christmas Eve.
- Reverend Robert Duryea
Early pastor during the parish's growth years.
- Reverend Art Davenport
Former pastor during the Linda Mar community's expansion.
- Reverend William 'Bill' O'Connell1965–
Appointed associate pastor in May 1965 to assist Father Rielly; long-serving and beloved cleric who was still a frequent presider at the 2006 Golden Jubilee.
- Reverend Leonard J. Calegari ('Father Len')
Welcomed as pastor in 1981; oversaw the dedication of the new church in 1990; beloved pastor whose funeral liturgy was hosted by the parish in November 2014.
- Reverend Frederick A. Lenczycki ('Father Fred')1986–
Joined the parish staff in 1986; introduced the Blessing of the Animals on the feast of St. Francis.
- Reverend Michael Healy
Former pastor.
- Reverend Roberto Andrey
Former pastor.
- Reverend Mark Mazza
Former pastor who continued the full schedule of weekend liturgies.
- Reverend Dominador 'Nady' Corrales2012–2014
Parish administrator from July 1, 2012; started a choir for the 7:30 a.m. Sunday liturgy, built a strong finance council and capital maintenance fund, paid the Archdiocesan Appeal in full for the first time, stepped down in June 2014 due to health.
- Reverend Jerome P. Foley ('Father Jerry')2014–present
Tenth pastor, arrived July 2014; led the parish to a debt-free Mortgage Burning on May 22, 2016.