Deacon Simon Tsui of Holy Family Chinese Mission, reads the Gospel in Cantonese and English during Mass Aug. 30 at Old St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Carol Cheung, a parishioner of Holy Family Chinese Mission, reads the second reading in Cantonese during a joint Mass with Old St. Mary’s Cathedral Aug. 30.

It was a chilly, windy Sunday in San Francisco’s Chinatown, but the hundreds of parishioners of Old St. Mary’s Cathedral and Holy Family Chinese Mission were warmed with faith as they celebrated Mass together Aug. 30.

With the music, readings, Gospel and homily alternating between English and Cantonese, and sometimes offered in both languages, the liturgy was a true celebration of both cultures.

Old St. Mary’s and Holy Family, both served by the Paulists for many years, worship together several times a year.

“We gather from many cultures, places and languages, but there is only one God,” said Holy Family pastor Father Daniel McCotter, CSP, during the Mass.

Holy Family’s Deacon Simon Tsui said there is definitely a cultural exchange between the two congregations.

“It is a gathering in Christ,” said Deacon Tsui, who was ordained in 2008 after being baptized in 1991. “For [the Holy Family parishioners] who don’t speak English, it is a chance for them to experience the English Mass so they are familiar with it when they travel, for example.”

Deacon Simon Tsui (left) and Father Daniel McCotter, CSP, pastor of Holy Family Chinese Mission in San Francisco, greet the congregation gathered at Old St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco Aug. 30 for a joint Chinese-English Mass.

In turn, Old St. Mary’s parishioners get a glimpse of the values of the Chinese culture, said pastoral council president Jim Foster

“[Old St. Mary’s parishioners] pick up a tremendous understanding and respect for family and tradition,” said the parishioner of 32 years. “The value of family has degraded in our society, but to a large extent it has not among the Chinese.”

Old St. Mary’s was built as California’s first cathedral in 1854, and was placed in the pastoral care of the Paulist Fathers in 1894. The building was untouched by the famous earthquake of 1906, when the resulting fire destroyed much of San Francisco.

During World War II, the parish became a much-needed place for service personnel coming through San Francisco to gather, relax, write letters home and socialize.

Today, Old St. Mary’s has some 200 registered families, with many visitors and downtown workers taking advantage of the church’s location near the Financial District for daily and weekend Mass.

“We are both Paulist ministries and both worship the same, but we have two very different kinds of families,” said Old St. Mary’s pastor Father Charles Kullmann, CSP. “We have a common history and share outreach ministries.”

Those outreach ministries include the Advent Giving Tree, St. Vincent de Paul Society, social service and justice initiatives and a homeless shelter.

Father Charles Kullmann, CSP, pastor of Old St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco, says a few words to the congregation after a joint Mass with Holy Family Chinese Mission Aug. 30.

True to the Paulist missionary spirit, Holy Family was established as St. Mary’s Chinese Mission in 1903, an innovation of ministry at the time. The mission began with a group of Sisters from Hong Kong teaching English and sewing. The faith community became Holy Family in 1927.

Holy Family now has approximately 300 registered families, with close ties to St. Mary’s Chinese School and Center.

“The mission would be nothing without the school,” said Father McCotter, who noted a new building for the school and center is in the works and its alumni have gone on to attend Harvard, West Point and the Naval Academy. The center not only teaches English and U.S. citizenship, but has programs to raise awareness and assist victims of domestic violence, gambling and human trafficking.

With their shared faith and intertwined history, the people of Old St. Mary’s and Holy Family will certainly continue to grow together.

“No matter what language you speak, when you walk in to God’s house, you are welcome,” said Deacon Tsui.