Church History

Holy Name Church and School HISTORY

Parish History

In 1925, Archbishop Edward J. Hanna sent Father Richard Ryan (originally from Bartlemy, County Cork, Ireland) from his struggling Guerneville parish to San Francisco’s Sunset District. What awaited him was a vast expanse of sand dunes and the challenge of forming a parish community among 125 local families. Father Ryan became the first pastor of Holy Name of Jesus and personally chose its name. The first Mass was celebrated on October 26, 1925, in a rented community hall at Kirkham Street and 45th Avenue.

A year later, a church was erected on 38th Avenue between Irving and Judah Streets, with the first Mass celebrated there on Easter Sunday, 1926.

By 1938, the growing number of parishioners required a larger church. Construction of a new church at 40th Avenue and Lawton Street began in 1940, and on the Second Sunday of Easter in 1941, Archbishop John J. Mitty dedicated the new Holy Name of Jesus Church.

In September 1941, Father Ryan and eight Sisters of Mercy welcomed 304 students to Holy Name of Jesus School, which initially served Kindergarten through Seventh Grade. In 1942, the Rectory was built, followed by the completion of the Convent on March 17, 1949.

The parish grew steadily but was profoundly impacted by World War II. Five hundred sixty men from Holy Name Parish left to serve, and nine parish families received Gold Stars in their honor.

By the 1950s, Holy Name School’s enrollment had grown to 900 students, prompting another expansion. In 1954, the parish launched a fundraising drive to eliminate debt and begin planning for a larger church.

Amid this effort, Father Ryan fell seriously ill and passed away on November 5, 1956. Father Bill McGuire, then Assistant Pastor, stepped in until a new pastor was appointed.

Later that year, Msgr. William J. Flanagan was named the second pastor of Holy Name. With his extensive experience in Catholic Charities, he was known for his warmth and strong leadership. By February 1960, the parish was debt-free, and fundraising for a new church began in earnest.

In 1962, the rectory was relocated to make way for a new church. On September 30, 1962, Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken presided over the groundbreaking ceremony. At the time, the Second Vatican Council had just opened, and Holy Name became the first church in San Francisco designed with these new liturgical changes in mind. The church was completed and dedicated on April 5, 1964.

Growth and Change

Through the years, Holy Name Parish continued to evolve. The Sisters of Mercy, who had faithfully served the school since 1941, retired to Mercy Burlingame in 2005, and the Canossian Sisters, who had served for two decades, moved to a new residence the same year. With the convent now vacant, Fr. Don D’Angelo, Holy Name’s fifth pastor, transformed it into the Holy Name Pastoral Center, where parish staff relocated in December 2005.

In 2010, Fr. Arnold E. Zamora became the parish’s sixth pastor. He led Holy Name through a triple celebration on October 10, 2010 (10-10-10), marking his installation, the unveiling of the Tree of Life, and the parish’s 85th anniversary.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought new challenges, deeply impacting the parish, as it did many others. Slowly, through the dedicated efforts of Fr. Dan Nascimento and Fr. Roy Remo, who each served as parish administrators for a time, the parish saw both returning and new parishioners coming back to Mass, rekindling the spirit of Holy Name.

A New Chapter

On September 22, 2024, in a solemn and joyous celebration, Holy Name of Jesus Parish welcomed Fr. Cameron Faller as its new pastor in an Installation Mass presided over by The Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco. As we step into our second century, Fr. Cameron was charged with guiding the parish into a new era of faith, renewal, and community growth.

One of his first major undertakings was overseeing the refurbishment and remodeling of the Flanagan Center, an essential space for parish gatherings, events, and fellowship. While plans for the renovation were already in place, the heavy February 2025 rains caused damage that required an accelerated timeline for restoration.  Thanks to the time, talent, and treasure of our faithful parishoners and parents of Holy Name of Jesus,  Father Cameron Faller blessed the newly refurbished Flanagan Center on April 27th 2025 and reopened the doors to the parish.  

Looking Ahead

As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2025, we look forward to a renewed spirit of faith and fellowship.  With dedication and a shared commitment to our parish community, Holy Name of Jesus continues to grow, welcoming both longtime parishioners and new families. As we embark on the next century of Catholic Faith, we remain steadfast in living the Holy Name of Jesus in the heart of the Sunset.

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