St Patrick Church

Great place to take in mass while in Downtown or just take a moment of quiet in the middle of the city. St. Patrick’s has always been the old church that’s been there forever since I was growing up. It’s beautiful inside as it is outside. It’s towering brick façade and cavernous inside. There is a gift shop near the entrance to the left. It gets many visitors throughout the day so if you’re looking for some quiet prayer, you may wanna walk in towards the front more. Located on Mission Street in the shadows of the San Francisco Marriott Marquis hotel.
Personally, I like having the church nearby whenever I’m staying in SoMa. Its more than a luxury, it’s a saving grace to have it amidst the craziness that is going on just outside its doors. It’s a worthwhile visit. You dont have to be Catholic to appreciate the beauty and peace it brings.

Very Filipino church. Takes me back to my year on Mindanao. Priests give some very thought provoking homilies. Tremendous following, especially for 5:30
Mass. Gorgeous marble interior.

I have been attending this church since 1978. This church is so Beautiful inside. Once you come inside you feel at PEACE. I make it a point to come on the weekdays after work to distress and meditate :)
Candles– sale for $ 5.00 and the church worker’s are friendly.

My fiancé and I came here one afternoon just to sit and have a moment. I find that sacred places such as this beautiful church can bring you back home to yourself if you are lost.
The church is breathtaking, and makes you realize how precious this life is. I sat in awe of the beauty, and I left with a renewed appreciation for my gift of being alive.
Thank you.

Very devoted and involved congregation and staff. You definitely feel the presence of the Lord at this church. I love that they ring the church bell regularly and use the organ during the services. Definitely a gem in the San Francisco Archdiocese.

Beautiful church! Hard to find parking since its downtown and you have to pay for parking everywhere… The people were very welcoming once we arrived and the place is very clean and put together. The only bad part and maybe it’s because it was our first time was that we didn’t get to hear the priest say a sermon at all… They instead played a video during church to talk about donating through out their community. Don’t get me wrong we donated and wanted to help! But we wanted also to hear mass… I mean we went to San Fran to tour and stopped our day to attend mass… But oh well I’m sure they have great services, just the day we went all we heard was pls donate money… Other wise the community and church looks great! Very beautiful church

FIDI’s CATHOLIC CHURCH
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday. Let’s just say nearly everybody Catholic working in the Financial District will come here for service.
I’ve seen this church and walked by it all the time but never went in. I know people who use to go to this church when they were young and have heard how nice it is inside. I attended Ash Wednesday 5:15 mass and it was SO PACKED. Arriving early to get a seat is necessary.
Stunning pillars with statues. Not every seat gives a view of the front… Pillars do block views. And so do people. Mass went by fairly quickly, it was done in exactly an hour. Kind if felt rushed but in a good way — it was a fast pace mass session. Receiving bread and the distribution of ashes was like a maze and looked disorganized but I was surprise how fast it was done.
Will I be back? I love my cathedral near Fillmore but will attend here when unable to reach services on the other side of town.
JABA APPROVED. Until the next review…

What a wonderful church! I stopped in for mass while in town visiting and found it such a warm, welcoming place. The 7:30 am Sunday mass was surprisingly full and the homily was thoughtful. The priest was very engaged with the congregation; he walked around giving the sign of peace and also walked up the aisle some while giving his homily, which I really liked.

A perfect example of why the church is dying.
I called here to ask if they can help with marriage preparation for my wedding ceremony in Ireland in 4 months time after we were just civilly married in City Hall. The lady on the phone almost started laughing at me and I was told in a very condescending tone that «you can’t just walk off the street and get married, you need 6 months notice and preparation!». Riiiight so how did it happen that the next 2 churches I called were more than willing to help me?
I get it that there’s preparation/​classes/​paperwork but from what I’ve gathered from other churches, is the 6 month rule exists to make sure that you give enough time to get things done. If she told me simply and politely that they don’t have space/​time at the moment and she’s sorry but wishes me the best in my marriage anyway, I’d have understood. But telling two people who want to get married under your church a plain and straight «NO YOU CAN’T DO THAT BECAUSE DA RUUULES» was one of the most unChristian things I’ve ever witnessed.
I’m glad I found a church and an amazing priest afterwards who really went out of his way to help me and restored a little my faith in Christianity. Spirituality and love are more important then ever and it really angered me that St. Patrick’s Church seems to prefer to close it’s doors rather than help people.

I’ve been going to this church for as long as I remember. Although, once I moved to Daly City, that all changed. My family and I migrated to a church more closer to home. Regardless of the distance, I still managed to make moderate trips out to SF just to attend mass here. I even would come out this way during lunch at work to light a candle and say a prayer or two. I never realized how important this church was to me as a child, but growing up I now grasp the faith and comfort I confide in whenever I come here.
Candles are $ 5. Well worth it in my opinion. I find myself lighting one almost once a month.

I decided to check St. Patrick’s out while visiting SF and fell in love. I went to the Saturday night mass and loved the atmosphere. The high arch ceilings and stain glass windows take me back home to the churches I attended there. I am a lapsed Catholic after a long run of bad mass experiences here in Austin. Thank you St. Patrick’s for reminding me what it is I am searching for in a church.

A beautiful and inviting church. The congregation was very welcoming and the service was beautiful. I’ve still yet to be disappointed with a Catholic church in the city and I’m very happy by that fact.

I had been going to St. Patrick’s since I was a teenager with my grandfather that the church had given the whole family sentimental value in coming here.
Now, I come visit with my children and wife for special occasions.
I long for traditional, classic Roman Catholic Church settings and mass, you’ll find it here.
My children love to have lunch/​dinner after hearing mass at Metreon, Bucca di Beppo or any restaurant around the area.
It is located in the heart of DTSF surrounded by restaurants, hotels, businesses and public transportation.

This place is gorgeous. I love the old doors with the old doorknobs… I go koo koo for that kind of stuff. Old antique keys, doorknobs doors, etc.
I was in SF on a Saturday afternoon (to see Curren$y). I was sitting at the benches outside, talking on the cell phone. When I was done with my call, I decided to walk inside. It was so quiet and peaceful… I’m Christian, not Catholic, but I’ve been to Catholic churches before. This one truly is amazing. I read the bulletin and I really liked what it said about having survived the fires and earthquakes of SF and how it is «unchanged in the face of change». So true… the streets are so noisy outside, but when you come in, all the noise is muted. The city Target and all these shops are right outside but when you go inside the church, it’s pristine. Squeaky pews and all, it was nice to sit there and take a break from the outside world. I almost fell asleep but I don’t think it would’ve been proper. If you need to take a break from walking, or just need a quiet moment, this is the place to go.

Tons of people. Large.
The plan was to meet up with some friends for mass but when I arrived, I realized what an endeavor that was. There were so many people! Luckily, we eventually all found each other but I was incredibly overwhelmed by how crowded it was and how it made the altar feel that much further away.
If it weren’t for my friends, I probably would have felt a little more lost here, but really, when you’re Catholic and you’re at mass just about anywhere, you can’t ever really feel that «lost.» — or at least I hope not.
Easily walkable from the many downtown hotels and shopping areas. Tons of little places nearby to meet up with people post-​mass.

A lovely little 19^th-​century Gothic Irish Catholic church with Latin Mass, Eucharistic Celebrations, Marriage Sacraments and Filipino Breakfasts w/​Bangsilog + Longsilog served up.
The congregation, as I’ve witnessed, is largely Filipino, and it feels like a lot more intimate & traditional a setting than one might experience @ Grace Cathedral. There are many other activities hosted, mainly geared towards families.
Sacrament /​Eucharistic Celebrations are Sundays 7:30, 9:00, 10:30a (in Latin) & 12:15p and 5:15p. Family Mass is on the 2^nd Sunday. First Sundays are Mass in Tagalog. Third Sundays of the month are Charismatic Mass & Healing Services. Monday through Saturday, Mass is 7:30, 12:10, 5:15p.
*St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, Nigeria, Montserrat, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, Boston, Loíza, Murcia in Spain, engineers, paralegals, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and is also invoked against snakes, sins & witchcraft.

10:30am Latin Mass
I’ve attended many Tridentine Latin Masses (the «Traditional Latin Mass») but never a Novus Ordo Mass in Latin. I was curious and so came up this week to celebrate Mass in the City.
This church was built in the 19^th Century for the city’s Irish immigrants and is a classic Gothic-​style building. The high altar is impressive and the stained glass represents the patron saint of each county of Ireland. Today it is home to a small Filipino congregation. I attended the Latin Mass on Gaudete Sunday in Advent.
The priest gave an orthodox and modest sermon on following Christ’s example in providing comfort to all in spite of their societal position or perceived sinfullness. He chanted many parts in Latin but also read in a clear voice as well. The readings were in English and there was a Lector who read from both the Old and New Testament.
The music was traditional Gregorian chant. The music-​as composed-​is lovely, but the voices were fairly amature. Because they could not stay completely in harmony, the dissonance reminded me of Kurt Weil: I can’t say that I hated it, but they should work on harmony. Not everyone else is so avant-​garde.
The congregation however probably needed more coffee. Even at the various Tridentine Latin Masses I’ve attended, the congregation chanted their responses and made the appropriate gestures and movements. However, even though this congregation rose, sat and knelt, they were mute on their mouths and hands. Perhaps they were not looking at the Latin-​English Missals provided at the door.
Ladies, feel free to leave your mantillas at home: no one here was wearing one.

Old vs. New.
Archival-​designed place of worship,
nestled in post-​modern steel and glass of the revived SOMA.
I’ve seen this place several times, but never walked around /​inside, until recently…
The interior is beautiful and the exterior is old-​school rustic.

«I’m Trouble,» he warned.
«No sir, you have just met trouble,» I responded.
Oh, what a night!
So how do Trouble and trouble end up at mass on Ash Wedesday? While at the bar, ordering another round of shots, we discussed Lent and how we would both be giving up alcohol. Then we celebrated Fat Tuesday. Oh, what a (nother) night!
He told me that he only goes to mass on Ash Wednesday. Then called to tell me that our revelry caused him to miss the morning mass, a meeting coincided with the noon time mass and then asked if I would join him for the early evening mass. I couldn’t believe it when I heard myself say Yes.
I used to work on Market right behind St. Patrick’s. Never once did I think to go. We entered and there was standing room only. We stood in the back and watched as the denizens crowded in. I was oddly surprised at the diversity. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to mass (please don’t tell my parents), and it was strangely comforting. Not to say that I’ll make it a habit though.
Not much a fan of the newer churches, I found the older architecture, marble floors, and stain glass quite embracing. We went to the five o’clock mass and left at twilight. Exiting from the front, I was rewarded with the most amazing view of the fountains at the Yerba Buena. I would have shot a photo but did not think I could do it justice.
Such a nice way to start off Lent. From there, we left, with ashened foreheads, to do what we do best… cause trouble.

wow!!!