About St. Vincent de Paul · San Francisco, California
St. Vincent de Paul is a Roman Catholic parish in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco, sitting on the prominent corner of Green and Steiner Streets between Pacific Heights and the Marina. The parish was formed by Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan in 1901 and the current church — nicknamed the 'Exposition Church' for its proximity to the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition — was designed by architects Shea & Lofquist and opened with a celebration Mass on October 26, 1913. With roughly 2,400 families and individual members, the parish is known for an energetic congregation, an active school (St. Vincent de Paul School, founded 1924) and a distinctive Swiss-inspired wood-and-brick building with a soaring tower and bracketed gambrel roof.
- Established
- 1901
- Patron
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Rector
- Fr. Arturo Albano
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Francisco
Why belong here
St. Vincent de Paul is a large, active parish of about 2,400 families in one of San Francisco's most classic neighborhoods, with four Sunday Masses and a daily Mass schedule that fits working and school calendars. It offers the full sacramental life of a Catholic parish — including a restarted RCIA program — alongside a wide range of liturgical ministries (lectors, ushers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, technical assistants for livestreamed Mass), the SVdP Adult Choir and Golden Gate Boys Choir & Bellringers, parish Men's Club and Women's Club, and a Young Adult group for ages 21–35. The historic church (a San Francisco landmark known as the 'Exposition Church') sits next door to St. Vincent de Paul School, a K–8 parish school celebrating its centennial in 2024, making it an especially strong fit for families seeking both a worship home and a Catholic education in Cow Hollow.
Mass times at St. Vincent de Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM (and by appointment — contact the Rectory Office)
About St. Vincent de Paul Parish
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving roughly 2,400 families and individual members in San Francisco's Cow Hollow neighborhood. The parish sits at the corner of Green and Steiner Streets, between Pacific Heights and the Marina, and shares its block with the parish's K–8 school. According to the parish website, the congregation 'works hard, prays with vigor, and generously shares and celebrates God's goodness,' and welcomes newcomers to join for personal prayer, parish activities, and communal celebrations.
- Parish of approximately 2,400 families and individual members
- Located in Cow Hollow, between Pacific Heights and the Marina
- Includes St. Vincent de Paul School (K–8) on the same block
History of the Parish
The parish was officially formed on August 24, 1901 by Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan, and the first Mass was celebrated on September 22, 1901 by Father Martin P. Ryan in a storefront hall on Fillmore Street. A rectory and one-story church were built at the present Green and Steiner site in 1902, on land purchased for the parish by Henry Hoffman; both structures survived the 1906 earthquake. Construction of the present (much larger) church began in 1911 under the direction of architects Frank T. Shea and John O. Lofquist, and the completed church was opened with a celebration Mass on October 26, 1913 — sixteen months before the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition.
- Parish formed: August 24, 1901 by Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan
- First pastor: Father Martin P. Ryan
- First Mass: September 22, 1901 in a Fillmore Street storefront hall
- 1902 rectory and one-story church built at Green and Steiner; both survived 1906
- Construction of present church: 1911–1913
- Opened October 26, 1913; nicknamed the 'Exposition Church'
Architecture of the Church
Designed by architects Frank T. Shea and John O. Lofquist — best known in San Francisco for their work on Mission Dolores Basilica, St. Patrick's, and Saints Peter and Paul — St. Vincent de Paul departs from their other ecclesiastical buildings. Father Ryan, fresh from a trip to Switzerland, asked the architects to look to Swiss Alpine architecture for inspiration. The result is a sturdy brick-base, wood-superstructure building with a soaring tower, heavily bracketed gambrel roofs (originally tile), arched stained-glass windows capped by rose windows, and forceful wooden detailing that historian Rand Richards described as looking 'like a lodge in the Swiss Alps.'
- Architects: Frank T. Shea and John O. Lofquist
- Style: Swiss-Alpine inspired; blends several stylistic vocabularies
- Brick base, wood-frame superstructure, gambrel roof, stained glass with rose windows
- Restoration work by conservation architect Neila 'Hank' Meinecke
Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
In an emergency, the sacrament can be requested any time. If not an emergency and the sick person is at home, parishioners are asked to call one of the parish priests; if in a hospital, the hospital chaplain should be called. There is also a communal celebration of Anointing the third Sunday of each month, immediately after the 12:00 PM (Noon) Mass.
- Anytime in emergencies (call a parish priest)
- Communal Anointing: third Sunday of each month, after the 12:00 PM Mass
St. Vincent de Paul School
St. Vincent de Paul School is the parish's K–8 Catholic elementary school at 2350 Green Street, sharing the block with the church. Founded in 1924 and celebrating its centennial in 2024, it serves approximately 210–230 students in single-grade classrooms. The original 1924 building houses K–4 classrooms, the development office, the business office, the principal's office, the extended care room, and the cafeteria; a second building erected in 1947 houses grades 5–8 and the parish gym, home of the 'SVdP Vikings.' Students can participate in choir, Academic Chess, Community Service, Student Council, Yearbook Club, Journalism, altar serving, and assisting in extended care.
- Founded 1924; centennial celebrated in 2024
- Grades K–8; single-grade classrooms; about 210–230 students
- Second building added 1947 (middle grades + parish gym)
- Athletic teams known as the SVdP Vikings
- Phone: (415) 346-5505; website: svdpsf.com
Liturgical Ministries
The parish invites parishioners to share their time and talent in liturgical celebrations. Volunteer roles include proclaiming the readings (Lectors), greeting and assisting the congregation and taking up the collection (Ushers), assisting with the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass and to the sick, homebound, and prisoners (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion), and helping livestream Mass (Technical Assistants). Eucharistic Minister candidates must be confirmed and in good standing with the Catholic faith; the Archdiocese requires proper training.
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers)
- Technical Assistants (livestream)
Music Ministry
The parish is home to both an adult choir and a boys' choir. The SVdP Adult Choir sings at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass and rehearses at 9:15 AM on Sunday mornings in the parish hall 'Donors Room'; new members are always welcome. The Golden Gate Boys Choir & Bellringers is open to boys ages 6–12 and sings at the Saturday 5:15 PM Vigil Mass. Choir Director and parish organist Steven Meyer can be reached at [email protected].
- SVdP Adult Choir — 10:00 AM Sunday Mass; rehearsal Sundays 9:15 AM
- Golden Gate Boys Choir & Bellringers — boys ages 6–12; Saturday 5:15 PM Mass
- Director/Organist: Steven Meyer ([email protected])
Faith Formation and RCIA
The parish RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program prepares adults to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Classes meet on Wednesdays and are coordinated by Fr. Mike Healy and Fr. Stephen at the rectory. The parish also offers pre-sacramental preparation for children.
- RCIA for adults (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) — Wednesdays
- Contact: Fr. Mike Healy or Fr. Stephen at the rectory
Parish Organizations and Community Life
Beyond the liturgy, the parish supports an active social and service life. The SVdP Men's Club and SVdP Women's Club host parish socials and service projects (the Women's Club has led a revitalization of the parish garden). A Young Adult Group serves parishioners ages 21–35 with spiritual, social, and service activities. The parish also encourages parishioners interested in a priestly, religious, or diaconal vocation to contact the Archdiocesan Vocations Office.
- SVdP Men's Club
- SVdP Women's Club
- Young Adult Group (ages 21–35)
- Vocations referrals to the Archdiocese of San Francisco
Giving and the Annual Appeal
The parish uses Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) online giving for recurring Sunday offertory gifts, second collections, and contributions to the Archdiocesan Annual Appeal. The parish also accepts traditional offering envelopes and helps parishioners explore tax-advantaged gifts such as IRA distributions, gifts of stock, and bequests under its 'Building on Our Past — Securing Our Future' program.
- Online giving: www.osvhub.com/svdp/funds
- Offering envelopes and mail-in gifts
- IRA distributions, gifts of stock, planned giving/bequests
Office and Church Hours
The church is open for personal prayer from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Rectory Office is open 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, and is closed on weekends. The parish calendar (linked from the website) lists any special holiday closures or schedule changes.
- Church open for prayer: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Rectory Office: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM; closed weekends
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Martin P. Ryan1901 – c.1911+
First pastor; celebrated the parish's first Mass on September 22, 1901 in a Fillmore Street hall; commissioned Shea & Lofquist to design the current church after time spent in Switzerland.