About St. Teresa of Avila · San Francisco, California
St. Teresa of Avila is a small, welcoming Catholic parish on Potrero Hill in San Francisco, California, one of the oldest parishes in the city. Founded in 1880 under the direction of Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany, the parish has faithfully served the Dogpatch and Potrero Hill communities for over 145 years. Today the parish is pastored by the Carmelite friars (Order of Carmelites, O. Carm.), continuing the spiritual legacy of the parish's patroness. The parish is known for its intimate size, which lets members get to know each other quickly, and for its commitment to welcoming newcomers on the first Sunday of every month.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- St. Teresa of Avila
- Rector
- Rev. Gregory Houck, O. Carm.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Teresa of Avila is a small, inclusive Potrero Hill parish where members quickly get to know each other — a rare intimacy in San Francisco. The parish offers a full sacramental life with daily Mass, RCIA, faith formation for children, a vibrant St. Vincent de Paul Council, liturgical ministries (choir, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, greeters), small communities meeting in homes, a Seniors' group, and outreach to the sick and homebound. Pastoral Care for social justice is central — the parish has issued formal statements on racism and oppression and runs a Green Team, food pantry volunteering, and a Ministry of Consolation. First Sundays are designated 'Welcome Sunday' to formally greet newcomers.
Mass times at St. Teresa of Avila
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — call the Parish Office
Parish History
St. Teresa's history began in 1880, when Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany established it as a parish rather than a mission of St. Peter's, assigning Father John Kemmery as its first pastor. The community first gathered in a hotel dining room and a school at 20th and 3rd Street, then built a church at 19th and Tennessee in 1892 and a school staffed by the Presentation Sisters in 1912. In 1924, the church was cut in two and moved to its current site atop a new social hall at 19th between Connecticut and Missouri. A 1932 fire restored by 1933 brought ethnic groups together; later decades brought the disruptions of I-280 construction, the closure of the parish school in 1974, and the 32-year pastorate of Father Peter Sammon (1970–2002), under whom the altar was moved to the center of the church in 1993.
- Founded 1880 by Archbishop Joseph Sadoc Alemany
- First pastor: Father John Kemmery
- 1892 church built at 19th and Tennessee
- 1924 church moved to 19th and Connecticut/Missouri
- 1932 fire; church restored by 1933
- 1967 damage from I-280 construction
- 1974 school closed
- 1993 altar placed in center of church (Fr. Sammon)
- April 21, 2024: Fr. Gregory Houck, O.Carm., installed as pastor by Archbishop Cordileone
Leadership & Staff
St. Teresa's is pastored by Carmelite friars (Order of Carmelites, O. Carm.) and supported by a small office and music staff.
- Pastor: Rev. Gregory Houck, O. Carm.
- In Residence: Rev. Michael Kwiecien, O. Carm. (Kaiser Hospital Chaplain)
- In Residence: Rev. Brian Henden, O. Carm. (Hospital Chaplain)
- Rev. Michael A. Greenwell, O. Carm.
- Rev. David Semmens, O. Carm. (Social Outreach Coordinator)
- Director of Faith Formation: Anarose Schelstrate
- Director of Music: Laura Diaz-Flaviani
- Office Staff: Stephani Sheehan
Mass & Sacraments
The parish offers Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, daily weekday Mass, and Holy Day Masses. Reconciliation is available by appointment. The Anointing of the Sick can be arranged through the priests, and trained Eucharistic Ministers bring Communion to the homebound.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:15pm
- Sunday: 8:30am & 10:00am (also via Zoom)
- Weekday Mass Monday–Friday: 8:30am
- Holy Days: 8:30am & 7:00pm
- Reconciliation: by appointment (call Parish Office)
- Anointing of the Sick: arranged through priests
Faith Formation & RCIA
The parish runs a children's faith formation program meeting a few Sundays per month, led by Director of Faith Formation Anarose Schelstrate, and an RCIA program for adults preparing for initiation into the Catholic Church.
- Children's Faith Formation (a few Sundays/month)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- It's never too late to learn more about God's love
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy in many capacities. A two-month schedule of lectors, Eucharistic ministers, greeters, and ushers is published on the parish website.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Greeters
- Ushers
- Altar Servers
- Choir (Director of Music: Laura Diaz-Flaviani)
Outreach, Social Justice & Community Life
St. Teresa's mission is to be 'the heart and hands of Christ in our world,' advocating for and serving those oppressed in society. The parish has issued a formal statement confronting racism and injustice, runs a Green Team, supports the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and parishioners volunteer at food pantries. A Ministry of Consolation and small Christian communities meeting in homes round out parish life.
- St. Vincent de Paul Council
- Green Team (monthly meetings)
- Food Pantry volunteering
- Ministry of Consolation
- Small Christian Communities (meet in homes)
- Seniors' Group
- Men's and Women's Groups
- Social Committee
- Annual Parish Bazaar
- Pastoral Council statements on racism and injustice
Pastoral Care for the Sick & Homebound
When a parishioner is ill, hospitalized, or homebound, the parish asks that the rectory be notified so the pastoral staff and volunteers can stay in touch. Volunteers send cards, priests arrange Anointing of the Sick, and trained Eucharistic Ministers bring Holy Communion to the home at a convenient time for the family.
- Visits from Pastoral Staff or parishioners
- Anointing of the Sick on request
- Eucharistic Ministers to the homebound
- Card ministry to the sick and homebound
Carmelite Identity
Since 2024, St. Teresa's has been served by the Carmelite Order (O. Carm.), whose charism traces back to St. Teresa of Avila herself. The parish's patroness is the 16th-century Spanish mystic, reformer, and Doctor of the Church. A Lay Carmelite community meets the first Saturday of every month in Avila Hall (1490 19th St., entrance facing Connecticut St.).
- Parish patroness: St. Teresa of Avila (feast October 15)
- Pastored by Carmelite friars since 2024
- Lay Carmelite Meeting — first Saturday monthly, 10am–4pm, Avila Hall
- Online Carmelite resources: www.carmelites.net and www.facebook.com/carmelites
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office can be reached by phone or email, and the first Sunday of each month is designated 'Welcome Sunday' to introduce newcomers.
- Address: 390 Missouri St., San Francisco, CA 94107
- Phone: (415) 285-5272
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: (415) 285-8510
- Welcome Sunday: first Sunday of every month
- Bulletin and weekly announcements published on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Kemmery1880–
First pastor; founded parish under Archbishop Alemany; began in a hotel dining room, then a school at 20th and 3rd.
- Father Patrick O'Connell
Built the church at 19th and Tennessee Streets in 1892 and the Presentation Sisters' school (1912). Died 1917.
- Father John Harnett1917–
Improved church and rectory; oversaw the 1924 move of the church to its current Potrero Hill location.
- Father Thomas Heverin1929–
Appointed shortly before the 1932 fire; oversaw restoration completed in 1933.
- Father John Hunt1933–1936
- Monsignor Peter Flynn1936–1967
Served 31 years; died December 1967; oversaw era of freeway disruption (I-280).
- Father Harold O'Day1967–
New school on Connecticut Street completed during his pastorate.
- Father Peter Sammon1970–2002
Beloved 32-year pastor; three renovations (interior paint, exterior 1974, altar reorientation in 1980s, 1993 major renovation with central altar). Died March 21, 2002.
- Father Ed Murray2002–
Assigned after Fr. Sammon's death.
- Father Paul Warren2005–
Appointed June 2005 with Sr. Mary Pat White as Pastoral Associate; succeeded in 2008 by Sr. Maureen O'Brien, BVM. Focused on evangelization and the new Mission Bay area.
- Father Gregory Houck, O. Carm.2024–present
Installed April 21, 2024 (Good Shepherd Sunday) by Archbishop Cordileone; first Carmelite pastor; blesses new prayer garden.