About St. Thomas the Apostle · San Francisco, California
St. Thomas the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in San Francisco's Outer Richmond District, located at 3835 Balboa Street. Since December 8, 2016, it has been canonically merged with neighboring St. Monica Parish to form the single Saint Monica–Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish under the Archdiocese of San Francisco, sharing clergy, ministries and a Catholic preschool and elementary school across both campuses. Worship is offered in English and Vietnamese (with a Cantonese Mass at the St. Monica side), and the parish serves a diverse community that also shares St. Monica's campus with Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic Church.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Reverend Ben Rosado (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco (Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Francisco)
Why belong here
The parish welcomes visitors and newcomers into a diverse, faith-filled community rooted in more than a century of Catholic life on San Francisco's west side. Worship is celebrated in English and Vietnamese (with a Cantonese Mass on the St. Monica side), and the parish shares its St. Monica campus with the Eastern-rite Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic Church — an unusual ecumenical richness found in few other parishes. Members can serve through Adoration, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Eucharistic Ministry, the parish choir, Liturgical Ministry, Family Ministry, Rosary, or Alcoholics Anonymous meetings held in Foudy Hall — and children are served by St. Thomas the Apostle Pre-School/Pre-K, St. Monica School (K–8) and the Parish School of Religion (PSR).
Mass times at St. Thomas the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Thomas the Apostle Church: by appointment (parish office 415-751-5275)
- Reconciliation is also heard before the 5:00pm Vigil Mass at St. Monica Church on Saturdays at 4:00pm (sister site of the merged parish)
Adoration times
- 1st Saturday of the month, 9:00am – 10:00am at St. Thomas the Apostle Church
- Adoration also follows the 8:30am 1st Saturday Mass at St. Thomas
Parish History
St. Thomas the Apostle traces its origins to a division of St. Monica Parish in San Francisco's Outer Richmond — then mostly sand dunes being filled in with new homes in the early 1920s. Ground was broken December 21, 1922; the first Mass was celebrated Christmas Day 1923 by Father Thomas A. Crimmins, with the church designed by Caldwell and Bryant and seating just 292. Growth drove an expansion to 750 seats completed in December 1930 under Father James P. Moran. By 1946 the parish was debt-free; that October Father Stephen F. Barron was appointed administrator and, with architect Vincent Buckley, broke ground on a school and convent in August 1947 (both ready for the 1948 fall term). On December 8, 2016, St. Monica and St. Thomas were canonically merged into a single parish while both church buildings remained active.
- Founded 1923 (first Mass Christmas Day)
- Ground broken December 21, 1922
- Architect / contractor: Caldwell and Bryant
- First pastor: Fr. Thomas A. Crimmins
- Church enlarged to 750 seats, completed December 1930 ($31,910, paid by subscription)
- By 1946 the parish was out of debt
- School / convent opened for the 1948 fall term (architect Vincent Buckley)
- Canonical merge with St. Monica Parish: decree dated December 8, 2016
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
The merged parish is led by an Administrator rather than a pastor and is served by an unusual mix of priests in residence — including two who serve as Catholic chaplains at major San Francisco medical institutions. Fr. Ben Rosado is the parish Administrator. Fr. Te Van Nguyen ministers to the Vietnamese community and serves as Chaplain for UCSF. Fr. Paulinus Iwuji, SMMM (Society of Mary of the Missions) is in residence at the St. Thomas the Apostle Rectory and serves as Catholic Chaplain at the VA Hospital; Fr. Andrew Spyrow is Vicar for Clergy for the Archdiocese and also lives at the St. Thomas Rectory. Pastoral care at Mass is assisted by Deacon Xristopher Compagno. Alix Jerinic serves as Administrative Assistant for St. Thomas the Apostle.
- Administrator: Rev. Ben Rosado ([email protected])
- Rev. Te Van Nguyen — Vietnamese Ministry; Catholic Chaplain, UCSF
- Rev. Paulinus Iwuji, SMMM — In Residence, St. Thomas Rectory; Catholic Chaplain, VA Hospital
- Rev. Andrew Spyrow — In Residence, St. Thomas Rectory; Vicar for Clergy, Archdiocese of San Francisco
- Deacon Rev. Mr. Xristopher Compagno ([email protected])
- Music Director (parish)
- Administrative Assistant (St. Thomas): Alix Jerinic ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish supports the faith formation of children and adults through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation, RCIA for adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their initiation, and Marriage preparation (including for couples already civilly married). On the school side, the parish operates two distinct Catholic schools: St. Thomas the Apostle Pre-School/Pre-K (on the St. Thomas campus at 710 40th Avenue) and St. Monica School, a K-8 elementary school (on the St. Monica campus at 5950 Geary Boulevard).
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — sacramental preparation for children
- RCIA — adult Christian initiation (Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation)
- Marriage preparation (arrangements made six months in advance)
- St. Thomas the Apostle Pre-School / Pre-K — 710 40th Avenue, SF 94121 · 415-387-5511 · www.stapreschool.org · Director Ms. Grechen Love
- St. Monica School (K–8) — 5950 Geary Boulevard (@ 24th Avenue), SF 94121 · 415-751-9564 · [email protected] · Principal Mr. Vince Sweeters
Parish Ministries & Groups
The parish offers a wide range of ministries that span liturgy, music, outreach, family life, and recovery. Adoration is observed on the first Saturday of each month at St. Thomas; the St. Vincent de Paul Society meets every third Tuesday in Foudy Hall, takes a second collection for the needy every fifth Sunday, and coordinates sandwich-making for 300. The St. Thomas the Apostle Choir rehearses each Sunday at 9:00am in church, and the Liturgical Ministry calls for Altar Servers, Cross Bearers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Greeters, Ushers, Cantors and Musicians at every Mass. The daily Rosary is prayed at St. Monica Church, and Alcoholics Anonymous meets on Wednesday evenings in Foudy Hall beneath St. Thomas.
- Adoration — 1st Saturday, 9:00–10:00am at St. Thomas
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — meets 3rd Tuesday in Foudy Hall; every 5th Sunday second collection; sandwich program for 300
- St. Thomas the Apostle Choir — Sundays 9:00am
- Eucharistic Ministers — youth (16+, confirmed) and adults; training provided
- Family Ministry — Archdiocese collaboration to build Outer Richmond family community
- Liturgical Ministry — Altar Servers (4th Grade+), Cross Bearers, Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Cantors, Musicians
- Rosary — Monday–Saturday 8:00am at St. Monica
- Alcoholics Anonymous — Wednesdays 7:00pm–9:00pm, Foudy Hall beneath St. Thomas
Sacraments
All sacramental inquiries begin at the Parish Office with Jessica Montgomery (415-751-5275 / [email protected]). The seven Catholic sacraments are all available: Baptism (with required preparation), Reconciliation / Confession (St. Thomas by appointment; Saturday 4:00pm at St. Monica), First Eucharist and Confirmation (through the Parish School of Religion), Marriage (arrangements must be made six months in advance — including for couples already civilly married), and Anointing of the Sick (arranged through a priest or the parish office for the sick, elderly and dying). Adults interested in becoming Catholic or completing their initiation participate in the RCIA process.
- Baptism — through Parish Office, begin with Jessica Montgomery
- Confession — by appointment at St. Thomas; Saturdays 4:00pm at St. Monica
- Eucharist & Confirmation — via Parish School of Religion
- Marriage — arrangements made 6 months in advance; preparation for civilly married couples
- Anointing of the Sick — call Parish Office at 415-751-5275
- RCIA — adult sacramental formation
Devotions & Other Services
Beyond Sunday and weekday Masses, the parish sustains a steady devotional rhythm. Monthly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is celebrated on the first Saturday from 9:00 to 10:00am at St. Thomas the Apostle. The Rosary is prayed every morning (Monday through Saturday at 8:00am) at St. Monica Church. Mass Intentions can be offered at either church for the living or deceased by contacting Jessica at the parish office. Foudy Hall, the meeting space beneath St. Thomas the Apostle, also hosts Alcoholics Anonymous on Wednesday evenings.
- First Saturday Adoration — 9:00–10:00am at St. Thomas
- Daily Rosary — 8:00am Mon–Sat at St. Monica
- Mass Intentions — offered at either church for the living or deceased
- Alcoholics Anonymous — Wednesdays 7:00–9:00pm, Foudy Hall
Parish Life: Our Two Campuses
Since the 2017 canonical merger, Saint Monica–Saint Thomas the Apostle Parish operates as one Catholic community across two historic Outer Richmond campuses. St. Thomas the Apostle Church (3835 Balboa Street, near 40th Avenue) is the parish's Richmond-side worship site, with its attached rectory, the Pre-School / Pre-K, and Foudy Hall. St. Monica Church (470 24th Avenue, at Geary Boulevard) hosts the parish office, St. Monica School (K–8), the Cantonese-language Mass, and — in a unique ecumenical arrangement — Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic Church, which celebrates Eastern-rite Divine Liturgy on Sundays.
- St. Thomas the Apostle — 3835 Balboa St., SF 94121 · Rectory 415-387-5545
- St. Monica (parish office / school) — 470 24th Ave. & 5950 Geary Blvd., SF 94121 · 415-751-5275
- Our Lady of Fatima Russian Byzantine Catholic Church — shares St. Monica's campus, celebrates Divine Liturgy
- Foudy Hall — beneath St. Thomas; hosts AA and St. Vincent de Paul meetings
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas A. Crimmins1923–1927
First pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle; celebrated the inaugural Mass on Christmas Day 1923.
- Father James P. Moran1927–c.1946
Second pastor; led the 1929 decision and 1930 completion of the church enlargement to seat 750.
- Father Stephen F. Barronfrom October 1946
Appointed administrator of the parish; oversaw architect Vincent Buckley's plans for the new school, begun August 20, 1947 and opened for the 1948 fall term.