About St. Vincent de Paul · Petaluma, California
St. Vincent de Paul is a Roman Catholic parish in Petaluma, California, part of the Diocese of Santa Rosa. Founded in 1857, it is one of the oldest parishes in the North Coast region — a year older than the town of Petaluma itself — and is today one of the largest parishes in the diocese, with roughly 12,000 registered members split about evenly between English- and Spanish-speaking households. The parish sits at 35 Liberty Street in historic downtown Petaluma and is anchored by a striking 1927 church building with twin domed towers, marble altars, Italian-carved statues, sixteen stained-glass windows and three rose windows. The current pastor is Fr. Bill (William P.) Donahue, supported by an associate pastor, religious-education directors and a Hispanic ministry team.
- Established
- 1857
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Fr. William P. (Bill) Donahue
- Diocese
- Diocese of Santa Rosa in California
Why belong here
St. Vincent's describes itself as a Eucharist-centered community where, as the Body of Christ, parishioners share their time, talent and treasure to support one another and serve those in need. The parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish throughout the week, a family-style religious-education program called Generations of Faith for every age, two parish schools (elementary and high school), a Hispanic ministry, a Knights of Columbus council, a Cursillo community, the St. Vincent de Paul Society for direct service to the poor, a Respect Life group, Small Christian Communities and outreach ministries such as Birthright and COTS (food for the homeless). With bilingual liturgy, daily Mass, weekly Adoration and a long history of parish life in downtown Petaluma since 1857, there is a place here for everyone — you are not only welcomed, but needed.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM (inside the church; enter the front vestibule)
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM (per older parish profile) and by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:45 AM – 9:45 AM (Blessed Adoration, after morning Mass)
- Wednesday 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM, ending with Benediction (per older parish profile)
About St. Vincent de Paul Parish
St. Vincent de Paul is a historic Roman Catholic parish in downtown Petaluma, California, founded in 1857 — a year before the town itself. It belongs to the Diocese of Santa Rosa in California and today numbers roughly 12,000 registered parishioners, making it the largest Catholic parish in Petaluma. The community is approximately half English-speaking and half Spanish-speaking, with bilingual Masses every weekend and a strong Hispanic Ministry. The parish identifies itself as a Eucharist-centered people who, as the Body of Christ, live their faith in word and deed by sharing time, talent and treasure to support one another and serve those in need.
- Founded 1857 (older than the town of Petaluma)
- Approximately 12,000 registered parishioners
- Diocese of Santa Rosa
- About 50% English-speaking / 50% Spanish-speaking
- Eucharist-centered parish mission
History and Architecture
The parish was founded in 1857 by Father Lucovicus Alphonsus Auger, its first resident pastor, who simultaneously ran the St. Vincent Orphanage in Marin County and traveled to Petaluma by pack-horse and boat. The current (third) church building was completed in 1926–1927 and is Petaluma's largest church. Its exterior features tile-covered domes and twin towers — one housing a bell, the other an organ. Inside, the central and side altars are marble, with a crucifixion mosaic behind the main altar. The sanctuary is lit by sixteen stained-glass windows depicting the evangelists and apostles and three rose windows, and is decorated with ten statues, all carved in Italy. According to Pastor Fr. Bill Donahue, the only image added since the 1926 construction is the permanent image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the front wall.
- First pastor: Father Lucovicus Alphonsus Auger (1857–1859)
- Current church built 1926–1927 (third on the site)
- Twin towers: one for bell, one for organ
- Marble central and side altars with crucifixion mosaic
- 16 stained-glass windows + 3 rose windows
- 10 statues carved in Italy
Pastoral Team and Parish Staff
St. Vincent's is pastored by Fr. William P. (Bill) Donahue, a priest ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa in the mid-1980s by Bishop Mark Hurley and long associated with the parish and its schools before being appointed pastor. He is assisted by Associate Pastor Fr. Mauricio Rodriguez and a lay staff including directors of religious education, a Hispanic ministry coordinator, a business manager, an office secretary and a finance assistant. Msgr. Daniel Whelton, who shares Fr. Donahue's June 7 ordination anniversary, occasionally celebrates Mass here as well.
- Fr. Bill Donahue — Pastor
- Fr. Mauricio Rodriguez — Associate Pastor
- Msgr. Daniel Whelton — occasional celebrant
- Abraham Solar — Director Religious Ed. (Spanish) / Confirmation (English & Spanish)
- Carmen Aanenson — Director Religious Education (English)
- Noelia Gonzalez — Business Manager
- Cristina Ruiz — Office Secretary
- Sally Doolittle — Finance Assistant
Mass and Sacraments
St. Vincent's offers a robust weekly Mass schedule in both English and Spanish, with a Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings, four Sunday Masses (three in English and one in Spanish at noon), and daily Mass Monday through Saturday at 8:00 AM. A recording of the Saturday Vigil Mass is posted online by 10:00 AM Sunday morning for those who cannot attend in person. Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons inside the church, and the parish exposes the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration on Thursdays after the morning Mass and (historically) on Wednesdays from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, ending with Benediction. Sacramental certificates (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) are kept on file at the parish office.
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM (English) and 7:00 PM Spanish
- Sunday: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 AM (English) and 12:00 PM (Spanish)
- Daily Mass Monday–Saturday at 8:00 AM
- Daily Rosary at 8:30 AM Monday–Saturday
- Confessions Saturday at 3:30 PM
- Adoration Thursdays 8:45–9:45 AM
- Online recorded Mass posted by 10:00 AM
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education at St. Vincent's is built around Generations of Faith (the Family Program), a parish-wide catechetical model that gathers the whole parish — preschoolers through seniors — once a month to learn, pray, celebrate and share the Catholic faith together. Each family receives a home kit to continue learning between sessions, with lessons to complete and return. The model takes the place of traditional afternoon CCD classes and includes dedicated classes for preschool, junior high and senior high students as well as adult sessions. Confirmation is a separate two-year program for teens, and preschool-age children (3–6) gather during the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass for their own class with parental involvement. High-school students are welcomed as volunteer catechist assistants.
- Generations of Faith / Family Program — meets monthly, all ages
- Preschool class (ages 3–6) during 9:00 AM Sunday Mass
- Junior and senior high faith formation sessions
- Adult sessions
- Teen Confirmation — two-year program
- Contact: parish rectory 762-4278 ext. 14
Parish Schools
St. Vincent de Paul is one of a handful of parishes in the Diocese of Santa Rosa that operates both an elementary school and a high school. St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School, located at Union and Howard Streets in Petaluma, is pastored by Fr. Donahue and currently led by Principal Mr. Joseph Clapp. The parish also maintains St. Vincent de Paul High School as a separate institution. Together the schools are a major part of the parish's Catholic identity and outreach to local families.
- St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School (PreK–8) — Union and Howard Streets
- Pastor/President of school: Rev. William P. Donohue
- Principal: Mr. Joseph Clapp
- Parochial Vicar to school: Rev. Mauricio Rodriguez
- St. Vincent de Paul High School — separate campus
- Elementary school phone: (707) 762-6426
Parish Ministries and Outreach
The parish runs a wide range of ministries for men, women, youth and families, rooted in stewardship of time and talent. The Knights of Columbus Council #11431 is a Catholic men's fraternity of about 35 active members focused on liturgy, charity, civic service and parish social events (including a popular annual Crab Feed). Cursillo offers once-in-a-lifetime three-day weekend experiences — women's, men's and co-ed — for parishioners 25 and older. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, Birthright (for pregnant women in need), COTS (food for the homeless), Respect Life, Small Christian Communities, and the Young Ladies and Young Men's Institutes round out the parish's outreach and formation life. A dedicated Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano (707-769-4195) coordinates Spanish-language faith formation and parish life.
- Knights of Columbus Council #11431 (~35 active members; motto: 'In service to all, in service to One')
- Cursillo — Redwood Empire (May/Oct women's, Apr/Sep men's, occasional co-ed)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Birthright — support for pregnant women in need
- COTS — food for the homeless
- Respect Life
- Small Christian Communities
- Young Ladies Institute / Young Men's Institute
- Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano (707-769-4195)
- Parish choirs and music ministry
Devotions and Special Feasts
St. Vincent's maintains a strong Marian devotion, particularly to Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose image is honored with a temporary shrine in the church and a permanent image on the front wall — the only image added since the 1926 construction of the building. The annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12 is a major parish celebration tied to the parish's large Spanish-speaking community. Daily Rosary is prayed Monday through Saturday at 8:30 AM, and Thursday Adoration after the 8:00 AM Mass gives parishioners a weekly hour of Eucharistic devotion. Wednesday afternoons have historically been a longer Adoration period ending with Benediction.
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe — celebrated December 12 each year
- Permanent image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on front wall of church
- Daily Rosary, Monday–Saturday at 8:30 AM
- Blessed Adoration Thursdays 8:45–9:45 AM (after morning Mass)
- Wednesday Adoration 1:00–6:00 PM with Benediction (per older parish profile)
Visiting St. Vincent de Paul
The parish is located in historic downtown Petaluma at 35 Liberty Street. There is no church parking lot, so visitors park on the surrounding streets. Parishioners are reminded not to park in the restricted city parking lot on the corner of Howard and Bassett Streets Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM; it is reserved for the Petaluma Fire Department and other city employees and cars there will be ticketed. The parish office can be reached at (707) 762-4278, the Hispanic Ministry at (707) 769-4195, and the elementary school at (707) 762-6426. Recorded Masses are available on the parish website for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 35 Liberty St., Petaluma, CA 94952
- Parish Office: (707) 762-4278
- Hispanic Ministry: (707) 769-4195
- Fax: (707) 763-8188
- Elementary School: (707) 762-6426
- No on-site church parking lot — street parking only
- Do NOT park in Howard/Bassett city lot M–F 7 AM–6 PM (Fire Department use only)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Lucovicus Alphonsus Auger1857–1859
First resident pastor; also headed the St. Vincent Orphanage in Marin County and traveled by pack-horse and boat to Petaluma.
- Fr. Gary Lombardi
Pastor prior to current pastor (per 2012 parish profile).
- Fr. Bill (William P.) Donahuepresent
Current pastor; ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa by Bishop Mark Hurley in the mid-1980s, long associated with St. Vincent's and its schools before being appointed pastor.