What would become Old St. Mary’s-Holy Family Chinese Mission in San Francisco grew up with the State of California itself, the parish being founded only a few years after California achieved statehood.

Old St. Mary’s is California’s first cathedral, dedicated during the Christmas Midnight Mass of 1854. Forty years later, the cathedral was placed under the pastoral care of the Paulist Fathers, who have shepherded this flock ever since.

Also in its early years was Holy Family Chinese Mission, originally called St. Mary’s Chinese Mission upon its founding in 1903. These future of these two faith communities would entwine with the Paulists’ recognizing the need for social support and formal education to help the Chinese immigrants find better jobs, integrate into society, and protect their future. St. Mary’s Chinese School was founded in 1921 to aid these endeavors.

Old St. Mary’s stood undamaged after the historic earthquake of 1906 ravaged the city. A fire resulting from the cataclysm, however, raced toward the old cathedral. When the smoke cleared, the entire area had been destroyed, except for Old St. Mary’s which stood gutted but otherwise undaunted amidst the surrounding ruin.

With the United States involvement in World War II, and the increased number of military personnel coming in to San Francisco, there was a need for some place for them to gather, relax, write a letter home or socialize. Many of the servicemen and women asked the Paulists if there was such a place. Rather than have them wander the streets aimlessly, Paulist Father John Diamond created the Old St. Mary’s Service Center. Some 50,000 servicemen came through the center during between 1944-46.

Old St. Mary’s and Holy Family were both being served by the Paulists, and officially became one parish on Sept. 9, 2013.

A new St. Mary’s Chinese School and Chinese Catholic Center was dedicated in 2011. The new campus includes 49,500 square feet of space that will include a library and resource center, a gymnasium, commercial kitchen and chapel – all located at the intersection of Jackson and Kearny streets in the heart of Chinatown.

In addition to the state-of-the-art international STEM academy facilities for grades K-8, the facilities also host Teahouse, a social outreach program that offers English language classes, naturalization and acculturation for Chinese immigrants and counseling for domestic abuse and gambling addiction. There is also a variety of bilingual and bicultural spiritual support programs offered at the center.