Hispanic Ministry
The Cathedral has a very prominent Hispanic community with one of San Francisco's finest Hispanic music ministries.
Music Ministry
The Music Department at the Cathedral has several choirs that provide music at Masses in the Cathedral and other churches. They also perform concerts in the Cathedral and in other locations in the Bay Area. The organ, built by Fratelli Ruffatti of Padua, Italy, has been acclaimed as one of the finest in the world. It rises impressively from its soaring pedestal platform into a magnificent art form in its own right. The technical details on the Ruffatti organ are included in this site for those who are interested in information on the pipes, ranks, and stops of the organ.
The Cathedral presents weekly recitals every Sunday at 4:00 p.m. Choirs and organists from throughout the world have performed in this sacred space.
Cathedral Choir School
St. Mary's Cathedral Choir School is a work in progress. It all started in 2009, when Christoph Tietze was asked by Msgr. John Talesfore, former rector of the cathedral, and Sr. Carmen Santiuste to build up the St. Brigid School Choir and to make a feasibility study into the possibility of establishing a choir school at St. Brigid's. The school was perfectly suited for this, being located within the cathedral's parish after the dissolution of St. Brigid parish. After one year, Dr. Tietze proposed a five stage plan, by which the school would gradually be transformed into a choir school. The project will enter Stage Five in 2017/18, with completion planned for 2020.
Ministry of the Sick & Homebound
One of the corporal acts of mercy is to visit the sick. We have a team of parishioners led by our deacon who visit our sick parishioners.
Strength for the Journey
Spiritual Care Support Group for People with Life-Threatening Illnesses and Chronic Disease
Diagnosis of a life-threatening illness is an opportunity to seek spiritual support through Word, Sacrament and Community. People dealing with Coronary Artery Disease, Stroke, Cancer, HIV, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or any other serious physical ailment are welcome to hear guidance on Catholic Teaching and the preparation of Health Care Directives for medical care.
This group generally meets on the first Friday of each month from 12 noon to 1:30 pm. See Events for location and to verify time.
Spiritual Support Group for People with Life-Threatening Illnesses
Diagnosis of a life-threatening illness is an opportunity to seek spiritual support through Word, Sacrament and Community. People dealing with Coronary Artery Disease, Stroke, Cancer, HIV, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or any other serious physical ailment are welcome to hear guidance on Catholic Teaching and the preparation of Health Care Directives for medical care.
This group generally meets on the first Friday of each month from 12 noon to 1:30 pm. See Events for location and to verify time.
Through Darkness into New Light - Grief & Bereavement Ministry
A time of sorrow can be, even with its difficulties, a unique time of grace for the grieving and for those who grieve with them. St. Paul knew this. At the beginning of his Second Letter to the Corinthians he said: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Comforting the afflicted is one of the six spiritual works of mercy rooted in the life of Jesus, a ministry perpetuated by Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of San Francisco through the gifts of trained members.
This group generally meets on the third Friday of each month from 10:30 am to 12 noon. See Events for location and to verify time.
Speaker Series
The Cathedral Speaker Series seeks to share the wealth of the Church's intellectual tradition with all who would like to learn. Speakers have included Archbishop George Niederauer, Reverend Gladstone Stevens, Harry Schlitt , Dr. Margaret Turek, William Cardinal Levada, and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Cathedral Liturgies
Catholics in good standing who wish to serve and receive formation (training) as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, primarily at Sunday and Holy Day Masses, please call the Parish Office 415-567-2020.
Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist to the Sick and Homebound: Recruitment and Training
Lay Catholics in good standing who wish to be trained and commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, contact Deacon R. Christoph Sandoval at Christophsandoval@gmail.com. Both current and prospective candidates will attend a training session to administer Communion to the sick and to give Sacrament as Viaticum to the Dying.