Name of Church St. Francis of Assisi
Address 1425 Bay Rd., East Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone number 650-322-2152
Website www.sfofassisi.org
Mass times Saturday vigil, 6 p.m. (Spanish) Sunday, 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. (Spanish), 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. (Spanish). Weekdays, 8 a.m., 6 p.m. (with Latin Tridentine Mass on Fridays).
Confession Saturdays, 4:30 – 6 p.m. or call for an appointment
Names of priests Fr. Lawrence Goode (pronounced “GOOD-IE”), pastor. Msgr. John Coleman, a 90-year-old retired priest, is in residence. Some may remember Fr. Goode once served at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Santa Clara alongside its pious and orthodox pastor, Msgr. John Sweeny, who built the well known 32-foot statue of the Blessed Mother in front of the parish. Msgr. Sweeny spent his final years (he died in 2006) in residence with Fr. Goode at St. Francis of Assisi.
School No school, but the parish offers religious education classes for children and adults.
Special groups There is a Youth Club (visit https://catholiccharitiessf.org/our-programs/youth-club/). It was established by Fr. Goode after his arrival in 2003. The area is high crime (Msgr. Coleman was injured in an assault on the street in 2015); the idea originally was to provide boys with safe, positive activities to occupy their time after school. Today, it provides a variety of services and activities for young people and their families. There is a Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver group, as well as many prayer groups for Spanish speakers.
Homilies Fr. Goode is orthodox and devoted to his parish community. His homilies are short and to the point; since his congregations are often a mix of English and Spanish speakers, you might have him deliver his homily in English and repeat it in Spanish. Fr. Goode also serves as chaplain to a local chapter of Courage, a group which helps people with same-sex attraction live in accordance with the teachings of the Church.
Music Depends on the Mass; choirs in English and Spanish
Fellow parishioners Primarily Latino; many are Mexican immigrant families who work in the Silicon Valley service economy
Parking Plenty
Acoustics Fine
Cry room No
Additional observations This is a poor parish in the southeastern end of the San Francisco Archdiocese. Although previously it had been a violent area with gangs and a high murder rate, the area has improved somewhat. No doubt the good work of the parish has been a factor. The staff and parishioners have made an effort to bring the Faith to the community; for example, in Lent you’ll see the Stations of the Cross being held in the streets.
Nice to have “one” TLM how about offering it on Sunday? Alas I see the tacky banners hanging on the altar not necessary those are so Novus Ordo 70;s to have those, and please put the creche and Christmas trees in a proper area to the side of the altar one must focus on the altar of of sacrifice. And yes I know I will be attacked here for giving my opinion. And install a communion rail.
Romulus— We have disagreed in the past, but this time I’m with you one hundred percent. You hit the ball out of the park.
A happy, holy and peaceful Christmas to you, your family and all who are close to you.
No criticsm here, “Romulus Augustus,” all you said is true and valuable.
Romulus, not all NO Masses have to be tacky. I urge you to watch the Christmas Eve Mass from the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington with the new Nuncio as celebrant. I’ m sure it is on Utube by now. Also, did you watch the Mass from St. Peters Sunday night. Very well don NO by the Pope.
Let’s see, “Bob One,” the Vatican could merely say that, starting JAN 1st, all Masses will now be said with music only by the Beach Boys, with readings — done reverently — from Mad Magazine. The Gospels would still be used here and there, but only with new translations, eliminating any mention of gender, or anything that might be hurtful, such as talking about sin and other icky stuff.
And, of course, there will be a special offering to the “Eucharistic Assembly” of the “gifts of homosexuality, and of sexual expression, in all its forms, as all are from God and therefore good.” Anything inconsistent in the scriptures and Church teachings are now void, ipse dixit.
MERRY CHRISTMAS dear CCDers
May Msgr. John Sweeney, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, and may he pray for us if he has reached that heavenly abode.
Father Goode was recently one of the basketball players on the REVS team as they played the SEMS in the annual competition between diocesan priests and seminary students from St. Patrick’s seminary. (If I recall correctly his parish also has a student becoming a priest at the seminary).