About St. Raymond · Menlo Park, California
St. Raymond Catholic Church is a Dominican-served parish in Menlo Park, California, established in 1950 as the town's Catholic community outgrew the Church of the Nativity. The parish is staffed by the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus and is named for St. Raymond of Peñafort, a 13th-century Dominican canon lawyer who is also the patron saint of lawyers and surfers. Worship is offered at the distinctive church on Santa Cruz Avenue (built in 1959), with weekday and Sunday Masses, a Wednesday Holy Hour, and a robust Faith Formation program that runs from Pre-K through high-school Confirmation.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Raymond of Peñafort (13th-century Dominican priest and canon lawyer)
- Rector
- Fr. Jerome Cudden, O.P. (since 2019)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Raymond draws parishioners with its identity as an intentional Catholic family: the church buildings, the original 1911 'Fairwinds' mansion (now the rectory), a 280-student parish school, and a strong Faith Formation program from Pre-K through high-school Confirmation all share the same Santa Cruz–Arbor campus. Worship is shaped by the Dominican Friars of the Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus — the parish has been Dominican-led since 2013 — and includes a Wednesday-night Holy Hour with Adoration and Confession, and a livestreamed Mass schedule (Mon–Sat 8:15 am, Sat Vigil 5 pm, Sun 8 am/10 am/5 pm). Members are invited into concrete service through the long-running Homeless Family Fund (since 1984), St. Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary, the BeAST youth group, and recurring parish drives (Chicken, Coat, Diaper, Blood, Giving Tree) — making it easy to put faith into action alongside neighbors.
Mass times at St. Raymond
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 7:00 – 8:00 pm (during Holy Hour with Fr. Jerome)
- Saturday 8:45 – 9:15 am
- Saturday 3:30 – 4:30 pm
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 7:00 – 8:00 pm Holy Hour (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
About St. Raymond Parish
St. Raymond describes itself as a family of Catholic disciples seeking communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through ongoing personal and communal conversion to Christ. Located on an 11-acre campus along Santa Cruz Avenue and Arbor Road, the parish is open to lifelong Catholics, returning visitors, and first-time guests — the website extends an explicit welcome to anyone 'looking for a church that feels like home.' The community encourages all ages to learn about the faith and the Church's role locally and worldwide.
- Family-focused Catholic community in Menlo Park
- Dominican-served since 2013
- Livestreamed daily and Sunday Masses
History
The parish traces its origin to 1950, when Menlo Park Catholics outgrew the Church of the Nativity and Archbishop John J. Mitty purchased the McGinnis family's 11-acre 'Fairwinds' estate. Mass was held in a small wooden theater on the property for nine years before the distinctive church on Santa Cruz Avenue was dedicated on November 22, 1959. The parish school opened in 1954 with the Immaculate Heart Sisters teaching the first classes. The full parish timeline — including all seven pastors, the 1984 founding of the Homeless Family Fund, and the 2013 transition to Dominican leadership — is published on the parish website.
- Established January 23, 1950
- Named for St. Raymond of Peñafort (Dominican patron of lawyers and surfers)
- First pastor: Monsignor Edwin J. Kennedy, J.C.D. (1908–2002)
- School opened Oct. 20, 1954; church dedicated Nov. 22, 1959
- Homeless Family Fund founded 1984
- First Dominican pastor: Fr. Christopher Fadok, O.P. (2013)
Timeline & Pastor Succession
The parish timeline documents seven pastors across more than seven decades, with a notable handoff from diocesan to Dominican leadership beginning July 1, 2013.
- Msgr. Edwin J. Kennedy, J.C.D. — founding pastor (1950)
- Fr. Ray Zohlen — second pastor (transferred from St. James, San Francisco)
- Fr. Edward Phelan — third pastor (1939–2025; from St. Brendan, San Francisco)
- Fr. Patrick T. Michaels — fourth pastor (scripture studies; mission statement)
- Fr. Christopher Fadok, O.P. — fifth/first Dominican pastor (2013–2017)
- Fr. Daniel Syverstad, O.P. — sixth pastor (2017–2019)
- Fr. Jerome Cudden, O.P. — seventh/current pastor (since 2019)
Faith Formation
St. Raymond's Religious Education (RE) program accompanies children from Pre-K through high-school Confirmation. Classes are held Sundays, 9:00–10:00 am (between the 8 am and 10 am Masses), so families can attend Mass together. The two-year First Communion track serves children in grades 1–2 (Class of St. Therese of the Child Jesus / Class of St. Margaret Mary); grades 3–6 continue formation in classes named for Dominican and other saints (St. Catherine of Siena, St. Martin de Porres, St. Albert the Great, St. John Paul II). A two-year Confirmation program for grades 7–8 includes a mandatory annual retreat and Confirmation Mass in the spring. Faith Formation Director: Florence de Bretagne.
- Pre-K & Kindergarten (ages 3–7): Sun 9:00–10:00 am
- First Communion: 2-year program, Grades 1–2
- Grades 3–6 continuing formation
- Confirmation: 2-year program, Grades 7–8; retreat required
- Director of Faith Formation: Florence de Bretagne
Children's Liturgy of the Word
During the 10:00 am Sunday Mass (the parish's most family-friendly liturgy), children are called forward to be blessed by the celebrant, then process to a designated space where the same scripture readings are proclaimed at an age-appropriate level. The children rejoin their families in the pews as the offertory and Liturgy of the Eucharist begin.
- Every Sunday at the 10:00 am Mass
- Ages 3–7
- Blessing by celebrant before processing out
Youth Ministry — BeAST (Be A Saint)
BeAST is St. Raymond's middle-school and high-school youth ministry, framing Catholic identity as 'bold, joyful, and alive in Christ.' Weekly Sunday-evening meetings follow the 5 pm Mass and feed into the parish's two-year Confirmation program. Special annual events include the BEAST Retreat (sleepaway in the Santa Cruz mountains) and a multi-day BEAST Service Trip (in recent years to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, serving migrant workers alongside daily Mass, Adoration, and confessions).
- Weekly BEAST Salt & Light (games, dinner, talk, small groups, prayer)
- BEAST Hot Topic Debates — guest-led
- BEAST Service Nights — monthly local service missions
- BEAST Games — social nights (ice skating, beach, etc.)
- Annual BEAST Retreat (Santa Cruz mountains)
- Annual BEAST Service Trip
- Youth Ministry contact: Dn. John Paul Puschautz, O.P.
Liturgical & Music Ministries
St. Raymond invites parishioners to serve directly in its liturgical life — as lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers and greeters, and in the Music & Liturgy program under Lauri Hofstrom. Ushers and greeters in particular assist at all liturgies, welcoming parishioners and visitors, helping children with bulletins, escorting children to and from the Children's Liturgy, taking up the collection, and helping seat people at crowded Masses.
- Music & Liturgy — Lauri Hofstrom
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers
- Ushers & Greeters (Hospitality)
Community Ministries
Alongside liturgical service, the parish supports ministries that build community life and care for neighbors. The Men's Ministry and Seniors Ministry (Senior Mass, Lunch & Bingo) are listed on the parish website, with regular content updated online. Young Adult Ministry is staffed through Dn. John Paul Puschautz, O.P.
- Men's Ministry
- Seniors Ministry (Senior Mass, Lunch & Bingo)
- Young Adult Ministry (Dn. John Paul Puschautz, O.P.)
- Legion of Mary
- Hospitality — Ushers and Greeters
Outreach & Charity
St. Raymond runs year-round outreach through both established organizations and seasonal parish drives. The Homeless Family Fund — established in 1984 out of one RENEW group's work — assists homeless and at-risk families by helping them save enough for first and last month's rent and a security deposit; donations can be directed to this fund specifically through the parish office. St. Vincent de Paul is also active here. Recurring seasonal drives include the Giving Tree, Blood Drives, Diaper Drive, Coat Drive, and Chicken Drive.
- Homeless Family Fund (since 1984)
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Giving Tree
- Blood Drives
- Diaper Drive
- Coat Drive
- Chicken Drive
- Contact: Homeless Family Fund through the parish office
Stewardship
St. Raymond frames stewardship as the sharing of Time, Talent, and Treasure. Online giving is handled via Vanco, an Archdiocese-approved e-payment partner, and parishioners are encouraged to find a ministry that speaks to their heart through the parish's 'Serve' menu — including liturgical ministries, Hospitality, Children's Liturgy, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Homeless Family Fund.
- Gift of Time — internal and community ministries
- Gift of Talent — special appeals via the bulletin
- Gift of Treasure — online giving via Vanco
- Serve menu: Liturgical, Music, Lectors, EMHCs, Altar Servers, Hospitality, Children's Liturgy, Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul, Homeless Family Fund
Homilies & Speakers
The parish publishes a Homilies archive and People page documenting many of the preachers who have spoken at St. Raymond. Recent regulars include Fr. Jerome Cudden, O.P., Fr. John Paul Puschautz, O.P., Fr. John Winkowitsch, O.P., Fr. Luke Buckles, O.P., Br. Anthony Maria Akerman, O.P., and Dn. Tom Kelly. Notable visitors include Dominican Master of the Order Fr. Gerard Timoner, O.P., Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. (Homeboy Industries), Archbishop Michael J. Byrnes, S.T.D., and Dr. Mica Gonzalez.
- Fr. Jerome Cudden, O.P. (regular)
- Fr. John Paul Puschautz, O.P. (regular)
- Dn. Tom Kelly (regular)
- Fr. John Winkowitsch, O.P.
- Fr. Luke Buckles, O.P.
- Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J. (visiting speaker)
- Fr. Gerard Timoner, O.P. (Master of the Order, visited)
St. Raymond School
Although the school maintains its own site, the parish timeline and history page note that St. Raymond School opened on October 20, 1954, originally serving grades 1–5 and adding a grade each subsequent year. In 2000, the school had roughly 280 students on its Arbor Road campus, making it central to the parish's identity as a multi-generational Catholic community. The school was historically staffed by the Immaculate Heart Sisters of Los Angeles, with Sr. Gregory IHM as first principal.
- Founded 1954; ~280 students
- Originally grades 1–5, added one grade per year after opening
- Originally staffed by Immaculate Heart Sisters
- First principal: Sr. Gregory IHM
Contact & Visit
Parish Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm, closed on major holidays. The site lists specific staff contacts for Music & Liturgy (Lauri Hofstrom), Faith Formation (Florence de Bretagne), Youth Ministry (Dn. John Paul Puschautz, O.P.), Young Adult Ministry (Dn. John Paul Puschautz, O.P.), the Homeless Family Fund, and Website Support.
- Parish Office: 650-323-1755 / [email protected]
- Music & Liturgy: Lauri Hofstrom
- Faith Formation: Florence de Bretagne
- Youth Ministry: Dn. John Paul Puschautz, O.P.
- Young Adult Ministry: Dn. John Paul Puschautz, O.P.
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Edwin J. Kennedy, J.C.D.1950–?
Founding pastor; San Francisco native; doctorate in canon law from Catholic University of America; served 8 years in Hawaii before founding St. Raymond (1908–2002).
- Fr. Ray Zohlenbefore 1995
Came from St. James Church in San Francisco; established the first parish council and introduced weekday noon Masses.
- Fr. Edward Phelan?
Third pastor (1939–2025); arrived from St. Brendan Parish in San Francisco; born in Ireland, ordained June 7, 1963 for the Diocese of Mobile/Birmingham, incardinated into the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 1981.
- Fr. Patrick T. Michaels?
Fourth pastor; scripture scholar; introduced small-group scripture studies and worked with Parish Council on a mission statement; oversaw professional landscaping around Fairwinds for outdoor liturgies.
- Fr. Christopher Fadok, O.P.2013–2017
Fifth pastor; first Dominican pastor; in January 2019 elected Prior Provincial of the Western Dominican Province.
- Fr. Daniel Syverstad, O.P.2017–2019
Sixth pastor (Dominican).
- Fr. Jerome Cudden, O.P.2019–present
Seventh pastor; first profession 2000, ordained 2007; leads the parish's Wednesday Holy Hour and is available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during it.