About St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus · Oakland, California
St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish in the Rockridge/Claremont neighborhood of Oakland, California, part of the Diocese of Oakland. It was established on September 15, 1925 by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna of San Francisco and was the first church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco to bear the name of St. Theresa of Lisieux (the 'Little Flower'), the French Carmelite nun canonized that same year. Today the parish serves a multigenerational community around the parish church on Mandalay Road and operates St. Theresa School (TK–8) on nearby Clarewood Drive. Worship is offered in English with a strong music program, a school, faith formation for children and youth, RCIA for adults, and a wide array of liturgical, social-justice, and fellowship ministries.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the 'Little Flower')
- Rector
- Rev. Robert J. McCann
- Diocese
- Diocese of Oakland
Why belong here
St. Theresa offers a complete Catholic life in one parish: weekday and Sunday Mass with a live-streamed 9:00 am Sunday Mass for the homebound, Saturday reconciliation, First Friday adoration and Benediction, and daily morning Rosary. It runs a TK–8 elementary school on Clarewood Drive, full faith formation from KinderChurch through high school Confirmation prep, and an active RCIA process for adults. A wide range of ministries — from liturgical (altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, choirs) to service (St. Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary, Homebound/Hospital Ministry, Consolation Ministry, Men's Club) — gives newcomers many ways to plug in.
Mass times at St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM (face-to-face or anonymous behind the screen)
- By appointment — call the parish office (510-547-2777, ext. 120)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month: Adoration 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Benediction at 4:30 PM on the First Friday of the month
Parish History
St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus was founded on September 15, 1925 by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna — the same year St. Thérèse of Lisieux was canonized — making it the first parish in the Archdiocese of San Francisco to bear her name. From a home Mass on Broadway, to a wood-frame church on Manila Avenue dedicated in 1927, to its present home on Mandalay Road, the parish has served the Rockridge/Claremont neighborhood for a century. It moved into the Diocese of Oakland in 1962, founded St. Theresa School in 1958 under the Sisters of the Holy Names, and celebrated its 100th Jubilee Year in 2025.
- Founded September 15, 1925 by Archbishop Edward J. Hanna
- First Mass in the Chambers home, 5636 Broadway
- First church built 1926 on Manila Avenue; dedicated March 7, 1927
- Moved into the new Diocese of Oakland on February 27, 1962
- St. Theresa School opened September 1958 under the Sisters of the Holy Names
- 100th Jubilee Year celebrated throughout 2025 (Jubilee Mass on November 16, 2025)
St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus — the Patron Saint
The parish's patron is Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin (1873–1897), the French Carmelite nun known as the 'Little Flower.' She entered the Carmel of Lisieux at 15, died of tuberculosis at 24, was canonized in 1925, and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II in 1997. Her autobiography, L'histoire d'une âme (Story of a Soul), inspired the widespread devotion that led to the 'Little Flower' nickname and the practice of offering roses as a sign of her intercession.
- Born January 2, 1873 in Alençon, France
- Entered the Carmel of Lisieux in 1888
- Died September 30, 1897; canonized 1925; named Doctor of the Church on October 19, 1997
- Feast day: October 1
Prayer & Devotions
Beyond Mass and confession, St. Theresa keeps a steady rhythm of devotional life: a morning Rosary prayed in the church every weekday at 8:00 AM, a Family Rosary, a Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and a regular Our Lady of Fatima devotion. First Friday Adoration runs from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, ending with Benediction at 4:30 PM.
- Morning Rosary: Mon–Fri, 8:00–8:30 AM in the church
- First Friday Adoration: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM with Benediction at 4:30 PM
- Family Rosary
- Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help
- Our Lady of Fatima devotion
- Mass Intentions (contact parish office)
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Robert J. McCann and Priest-in-Residence Rev. Ngema W. Enow. A team of lay staff coordinates liturgy, music, formation, school life, and communications.
- Rev. Robert J. McCann — Pastor (ext. 159)
- Rev. Ngema W. Enow — In Residence (ext. 137)
- Cathy Brady — Liturgy Director / RCIA (ext. 86 / ext. 126)
- Rob Cakebread — Music Ministry Director (ext. 139)
- Sophia Kassab — Parish Communications (ext. 134)
- Keri Nims — Coordinator for Early Childhood Catechesis and RCIC (ext. 72)
- Parish Office direct line: 341-202-0077
St. Theresa School (TK–8)
St. Theresa School, located at 4850 Clarewood Drive in Oakland, has served parish and neighborhood families since opening in September 1958 under the direction of the Sisters of the Holy Names. Today it offers a rigorous TK–8 Catholic education with enrichment in art, music, chorale, Spanish, library, technology, physical education, and athletics. Test scores rank among the highest in the Oakland Diocese; eighth graders regularly place into honors programs at top Catholic high schools and earn Presidential Scholarships.
- Address: 4850 Clarewood Drive, Oakland, CA 94618 — 510-547-3146
- Principal: Alicia Ortegon
- Director of Advancement: Karen Raven (510-457-1488)
- STEP Extended Care Director: Barbara Ulbrich
- Programs: Art, music/chorale, Spanish, library, technology, physical education, sports
- School website: www.sttheresaschool.org
Faith Formation for Children and Teens
The parish faith-formation program walks children and teens from preschool through high school. Younger children begin in KinderChurch (ages 3 through Kindergarten), move into Family Faith Formation in grades 1–5, then Middle School Youth Ministry in grades 6–8, and finally High School Youth Ministry with Confirmation Prep.
- KinderChurch (3 yrs–Kinder)
- Family Faith Formation (Grades 1–5)
- Middle School Youth Ministry / MSYM (Grades 6–8)
- High School Youth Ministry / HSYM
- Confirmation Prep
- Coordinator: Keri Nims (Early Childhood Catechesis & RCIC)
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
Adults who wish to become Catholic, or fully initiated Catholics who have not yet been confirmed, journey through St. Theresa's RCIA program. The process moves from Inquiry through the Catechumenate, the Lenten rites of Sending and Election, the Easter Vigil (where the Sacraments of Initiation are received), and finally Mystagogy. Weekly meetings are held Wednesday evenings from 7:00–8:00 PM in Meeting Room #1 of the Parish Center, with inquiries welcome Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.
- Weekly meetings: Wednesdays 7:00–8:00 PM, Meeting Room #1
- Contact: Cathy Brady, 510-547-2777 ext. 126
- Stages: Inquiry → Catechumenate → Purification & Enlightenment (Lent) → Mystagogy (Easter–Pentecost)
- Sacraments received at the Easter Vigil
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners of all ages serve at the altar and around the liturgy. The Music Ministry alone spans five groups — Parish Choir, Children's Choir, Resurrection Choir, Instrumentalists, and Bell Choir — under Director Rob Cakebread.
- Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers
- Ushers, Sacristans, Greeters
- Video Ministry and Projectionists
- Altar Linens, Art & Environment
- Music Ministry: Parish Choir, Children's Choir, Resurrection Choir, Instrumentalists, Bell Choir
Social Justice, Outreach & Fellowship
Service to those beyond the parish walls is a major part of St. Theresa's identity. Ministry to the Homebound keeps shut-ins connected through visits and the live-streamed Sunday Mass, while Hospital Ministry brings Communion and prayer to the sick. The Legion of Mary, St. Vincent de Paul conference, and the parish's own Men's Club coordinate ongoing outreach, and the Consolation Ministry supports families after a death. Fellowship and sports opportunities — including CYO and Men's Basketball — round out parish life.
- Ministry to the Homebound
- Hospital Ministry
- Legion of Mary
- St. Vincent de Paul
- St. Theresa Men's Club
- Memory Bears
- Consolation Ministry
- CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) and Men's Basketball
Adult Enrichment & Faith-Sharing
Beyond RCIA, the parish offers several ongoing adult formation opportunities: WINGS (a women's faith-formation group), a Men's Faith Sharing Group, Cursillo, and the Ignatian Exercises — covering both communal and individually directed spiritualities.
- RCIA
- WINGS
- Men's Faith Sharing Group
- Cursillo
- Ignatian Exercises
Contact, Address & Communications
The parish office is at 30 Mandalay Rd., Oakland, CA 94618 (mailing address noted as Oakland 94618). The main parish number is 510-547-2777, with staff direct lines listed on the parish website. The office uses Flocknote and a weekly bulletin to communicate schedule changes, Mass intentions, and ministry news; the Sunday 9:00 AM Mass is live-streamed on the parish's YouTube channel.
- Address: 30 Mandalay Rd., Oakland, CA 94618
- Phone: 510-547-2777
- Email: [email protected]
- After Hours Medical Emergency: 510-547-2777, option #4
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass on YouTube (via parish website)
- Communications via Flocknote and weekly bulletin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Daniel O'Kelly1925 – July 1955
Founding pastor; served 30 years; remained in residence until his death on August 7, 1975.
- Monsignor Robert Cullen1955 – June 1971
Second pastor; oversaw the founding of St. Theresa School in September 1958 under the Sisters of the Holy Names; remained in residence until his death on November 28, 1978.
- Monsignor Michael LucidJune 1971 – August 1981
Third pastor.
- Monsignor Bernard MoranAugust 1981 – 2003
Fourth pastor; retired in 2003; remained in residence until his death on April 21, 2006.
- Father Patrick GoodwinJuly 2003 – June 2012
Fifth pastor; retired in June 2012; died January 7, 2019.
- Rev. Robert J. McCannJuly 2011 – present
Sixth and current pastor.