Mary Kimmel did what many folks still do – make the commute from the outlying areas to her job in San Francisco’s Financial District – when she found a place that would soon become her true spiritual home. That was 37 years ago, and the place was Old St. Mary’s Cathedral-Holy Family Chinese Mission.

Ms. Kimmel was one of the hundreds gathered the weekend of Dec. 6-7 to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the founding of the parish and the 120 years of spiritual care by the Paulists.

“I was struck immediately by the Paulists,” said Ms. Kimmel, who began attending daily Mass during the week at Old St. Mary’s and is now a lector, eucharistic minister and former pastoral council member. “They have created such an open, welcoming environment here. We are a family here, and this is our home.”

And this family of faith’s celebration began with a 160th Anniversary Mass the evening of Dec. 6 celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop William J. Justice of San Francisco.

“I am delighted to be with you for this celebration,” Bishop Justice said at the beginning of Mass. “It is always a joy to come to Old St. Mary’s, to this building and this community of faith.”

Bishop Justice was joined on the altar by pastor Father Bartholomew Landry, CSP; pastor emeritus Father Daniel McCotter, CSP; associate pastor Father Tom Tavella, CSP; and Father John Behnke, CSP, vice president of the Paulist Fathers.

During the homily, Father Landry noted the historical link of the city and the parish, both of which “came into their own” at about the same time.

“In the beginning, just as now, both [the city and the parish] struggled,” he said. “There is a lot of history here, a lot we celebrate.” (To read about the history of Old St. Mary’s and the Paulist ministry in San Francisco, click here.)

Over the years, Old St. Mary’s has been challenged by the same issues facing many urban parishes, including a decrease in the congregation’s numbers. A small faith community, the parish continues to welcome a number of visitors and tourists each weekend, as well as continuing the tradition of serving those commuters who come to Old St. Mary’s for daily Mass and other activities during the week. (The parish’s Noontime Concert Series is a popular tradition.)

“Old St. Mary’s itself bears witness as a symbol for us to believe in a changeless God in the midst of changing times,” said Father Landry. “This speaks to the character of the people who are here.”

Whether it is tending to the physical needs of the church building or the spiritual needs of two unique faith communities that have melded into one family of faith, there is no shortage of struggles at Old St. Mary’s, but no shortage of possibilities either.

Those possibilities include more opportunities for the English- and Mandarin-speaking communities to minister, worship and share fellowship together, such as the parish unity Masses. Father Landry celebrated a unity Mass on Dec. 7, with a joint choir and musicians, and readings and music in both English and Mandarin.

“The life of Old St. Mary’s is you and me; we are the life of the Church,” Father Landry said. “Old St. Mary’s gives true testimony that God has brought is this far, and God will continue to be our guide and our light.”

Like his father and uncles before him, Keenan Ng, grew up in Old St. Mary’s-Holy Family Chinese Mission.

“An effort is really made here to combine the two communities instead of having them segregated,” said Mr. Ng, 24. “This is a place where all people are welcomed.”

Mary Kimmel did what many folks still do – make the commute from the outlying areas to her job in San Francisco’s Financial District – when she found a place that would soon become her true spiritual home. That was 37 years ago, and the place was Old St. Mary’s Cathedral-Holy Family Chinese Mission.

Ms. Kimmel was one of the hundreds gathered the weekend of Dec. 6-7 to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the founding of the parish and the 120 years of spiritual care by the Paulists.

“I was struck immediately by the Paulists,” said Ms. Kimmel, who began attending daily Mass during the week at Old St. Mary’s and is now a lector, eucharistic minister and former pastoral council member. “They have created such an open, welcoming environment here. We are a family here, and this is our home.”

And this family of faith’s celebration began with a 160th Anniversary Mass the evening of Dec. 6 celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop William J. Justice of San Francisco.

“I am delighted to be with you for this celebration,” Bishop Justice said at the beginning of Mass. “It is always a joy to come to Old St. Mary’s, to this building and this community of faith.”

Bishop Justice was joined on the altar by pastor Father Bartholomew Landry, CSP; pastor emeritus Father Daniel McCotter, CSP; associate pastor Father Tom Tavella, CSP; and Father John Behnke, CSP, vice president of the Paulist Fathers.

During the homily, Father Landry noted the historical link of the city and the parish, both of which “came into their own” at about the same time.

“In the beginning, just as now, both [the city and the parish] struggled,” he said. “There is a lot of history here, a lot we celebrate.” (To read about the history of Old St. Mary’s and the Paulist ministry in San Francisco, click here.)

Over the years, Old St. Mary’s has been challenged by the same issues facing many urban parishes, including a decrease in the congregation’s numbers. A small faith community, the parish continues to welcome a number of visitors and tourists each weekend, as well as continuing the tradition of serving those commuters who come to Old St. Mary’s for daily Mass and other activities during the week. (The parish’s Noontime Concert Series is a popular tradition.)

“Old St. Mary’s itself bears witness as a symbol for us to believe in a changeless God in the midst of changing times,” said Father Landry. “This speaks to the character of the people who are here.”

Whether it is tending to the physical needs of the church building or the spiritual needs of two unique faith communities that have melded into one family of faith, there is no shortage of struggles at Old St. Mary’s, but no shortage of possibilities either.

Those possibilities include more opportunities for the English- and Mandarin-speaking communities to minister, worship and share fellowship together, such as the parish unity Masses. Father Landry celebrated a unity Mass on Dec. 7, with a joint choir and musicians, and readings and music in both English and Mandarin.

“The life of Old St. Mary’s is you and me; we are the life of the Church,” Father Landry said. “Old St. Mary’s gives true testimony that God has brought is this far, and God will continue to be our guide and our light.”

Like his father and uncles before him, Keenan Ng, grew up in Old St. Mary’s-Holy Family Chinese Mission.

“An effort is really made here to combine the two communities instead of having them segregated,” said Mr. Ng, 24. “This is a place where all people are welcomed.”