In the church's monthly newsletter, Father Tom Verber muses on the generous deeds of his church and school staff, noting that the new principal of Our Lady of Grace School, Ryan Brusco, helped "repaint the walls around the lunch area." Students of the school, writes Father Tom, spent time preparing background scenery for a summer school stage play.
It's this level of community involvement that defines Our Lady of Grace Church, making it the ideal place to come for answers about tying the knot, starting a Christ-centered family, baptisms and many other spiritual needs.
The Presbyterian Church of Novato dates to 1896 and can take credit for Novato's most recognized building, the former church at 901 Sherman Avenue that has been Novato City Hall since 1962. A year later, PCN held its first service at Trevitt Hall, the current home of the church on Wilson Avenue, about two miles west of the downtown area. The sanctuary where services are held today was constructed in 1977.
There are more than 400 members of PCN, where the Rev. Kent Webber has presided for 15 years. There are Sunday school programs for kids and teens as well as many outreach and study programs.
Standing on the perimeter of Lake Merritt, Cathedral of Christ the Light serves as the home of the Diocese of Oakland as well as members of the St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, which was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Since its dedication in 2008, the visually stunning cathedral offers weekday and weekend masses, as well as concerts and guided and self-guided tours.
Parking and Public Transportation at Cathedral of Christ the Light
$5 parking for tour participants; free for Mass attendees. The 19th Street BART is about six blocks from the cathedral. AC Transit lines 11 and 12 stop at the corner of Grand and Harrison.
Best time to go to Cathedral of Christ the Light
On the second and fourth Tuesday Cathedral organist Dr. Rudy de Vos gives a demonstration of the Conroy Memorial Organ as part of the docent-led tour. If inspired, attend Sunday Mass to hear music and a message.
Admission to Cathedral of Christ the Light
Free. The Cathedral offers guided tours daily at 1 p.m. There are no walk-in guided tours on Saturdays or Sundays. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to tour departure.
Must see/do at Cathedral of Christ the Light
Attend one of the evening concerts, held several times a month. Recent guests include the Pacific Boychoir Academy and organists Ryan Enright and Bryan Dunnewald,
Other places to visit near Cathedral of Christ the Light
Take a stroll around Lake Merritt, or explore some of the many shops and restaurants around bustling Uptown Oakland.
Insider tip for visitors to Cathedral of Christ the Light
During the week, stop by for a quick bite or an espresso from Verve coffee at City Lights Café, located outside the cathedral. Its outdoor seating offers sunny views of Lake Merritt.
Author's bio: Heather Johnson is a freelance writer based in Oakland, California.
Located in historic Filipinotown, Our Lady of Loretto is a part of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. It serves the very large Philipino area residents and are very involved in the community. It offers many programs for not only the congregation, but the community as well. The doors are always open to help the poor and suffering.
Newman Hall-Holy Spirit Parish began 1908 and caters to the Roman Catholic community at the University of California, Berkeley. It was founded by the Paulist religious community who wanted to present Catholicism to Americans in a language they could understand. The parish has a variety of groups and activities including a volunteer group, a non-violence group, a LGBT Student group and hosts a weekly student meal. For more information on its history or how to participate, refer to its website.
This school is part of the St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Visit the Web site for courses and schedules.
The oldest Catholic church in Novato and the city's largest church in terms of membership was established in 1892 under the auspices of the Rev. Charles E. O'Neale. The first parish building was located on modern-day South Novato Boulevard and destroyed by fire in 1935. A new parish was opened in 1937 at 1200 Grant Ave., where today sits the Muscio's Italian Restaurant. The current parish, opened in 1963, is at the corner of Grant Avenue and Novato Boulevard.
The Rev. William McCain's congregation is more than 1,800 families strong. The parish is host to numerous organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, the Italian Catholic Federation and the St. Vincent de Paul Society as well as the parish's Helping Hands group. It also has an affiliated elementary school withan extended care program before and after school.
St. Denis Catholic Church cuts a fine figure on its corner lot. Set back from the road and surrounded by well-manicured grounds, St. Denis welcomes parishioners via a stately front entrance that's located off of the main driveway. To the right, a courtyard and fountain add to the visual appeal. Inside, there's main floor and balcony seating. The friendly and approachable staff help to create a lasting sense of community. This church is a popular spot for weddings, too.
Our Lady of The Assumption is located on Berkeley Avenue at the corner of West Bonita Avenue. This beautiful red-brick Roman Catholic church has Sunday services as well as Saturday cigils and weekday masses. It also sponsors an Adult Bible Study group on Wednesday evenings at 7pm and a Centering Prayer group on Tuesday evenings at 7pm.
Our Lady's Rosary Prayer Group meets on Tuesdays at 9am, and the Women's Bible Sharing Group meets on Thursdays at 9am. There is a Pax Christi group that meets twice monthly from 8:15am to 10am on alternate Saturdays to pray, study and act for peace through justice.
Pastor Rev. Charles Ramirez presides over Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, which includes the educational ministry of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Elementary School.
The mission of Santa Maria Catholic Church is to "know Jesus better and make Him better known". The distinctive bells of the church, which rings in song, welcome parishioners and visitors to the well-shaded grounds. Parish programs include faith formation, administration of the Sacraments/RCIA, a youth ministry and a Catholic Youth Organization program. The pastor of the church is Rev. Msgr. Theodore W. Kraus.
For more information, visit the Web site.
St. Monica's Catholic Church originated in Santa Monica as a small parish church in 1886, and has grown to be one of the largest–and most active–faith communities in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. It is a vibrant Catholic community, known locally for the strength of their ministries. They have a variety of outreach programs, including a parish, high school, and elementary school. Weekly newsletters are provided free to the community as a way to keep track of all the many events, services, and programs available. Visit the church's website for more information.
St. Mary Magdalen Parish is located in north Berkeley on Berryman Street just west of Henry Street. A part of the Dominican Order, they are headed by Father David Farrugia. Sunday Euchurist is at 8am, 9:30am, and 11am and they have Bible study at 7pm on Tuesdays. They have an extensive list of activities for children, teens, and adults, so to learn more about these including their educational classes, work for social justice, St. Vincent de Paul Society and their work with Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action(BOCA), visit them on a Sunday morning, give them a call, or refer to their website. They also run the School of the Madeleine, which is for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade and is on the same property.
St. Martha Catholic Church is an excellent resource to Catholics in the community. Providing plenty of youth programs, as well as communion and confirmation programs, the congregation donates time, money and food to the community. Wednesday and Sunday service is available, and the large building provides classrooms, halls for prayer, as well as facilities to celebrate larger events, like weddings and wakes.
St. Matthew's Parish School is part of The Parish of Saint Matthew Episcopal Church, providing co-ed education for children in preschool through eighth grade. The school has grown over the years from its small preschool class on Swarthmore to its present day 30-acre site accommodating more than 300 students in contemporary state of the art facilities. The academic program covers all standard subject areas, along with many enrichment programs for students to explore special interests. Preschool through fourth grade students learn in self-contained classrooms, while fifth through eighth grade classes are departmentalized for more in-depth study. Boys, girls, and co-ed sports are offered throughout the academic year, using the school's expansive fields, modern indoor gym and swimming pool. The school's philosophy encourages each student to serve others, develop leadership skills and flourish in a fulfilling life. The Head of St. Matthew's Parish School, Les W. Frost, has served in his position since 1984.
St Bartholomew Church provides a Catholic community of faith. Several Mass services are available throughout the week, as well as Vigil ceremonies. In addition, the church offers several small groups, Bible classes and prayer groups. It boasts several music programs, including an active contemporary choir, a children's choir and a festival choir.
St. Lorenzo Catholic Church is located just off Meadow Pass Road, directly across Brookside Equestrian. This Catholic community celebrates in Christ Jesus and believes in receiving God's gifts, cultivating them responsibly and sharing and returning them with increase to the Lord. Services are held throughout the week.
St. Paul's Lutheran Church offers 11:00am Sunday services and 9:30am junior church services. The church offers a range of ministries and activities for adults and children.
The iconic church at the intersection of Main Street and Freedom Boulevard is home to the city's largest congregation. The church was founded in 1869 and its current brick building was built in 1901.
The multicultural church hold mass twice on Saturday evening and six times Sunday. The services are split evenly between English and Spanish and morning billingual mass is offered daily. The church also has education programs and raises money to support community groups.
