About Us
Welcome, mission, and history of the Church of the Visitacion
The Church of the Visitacion Parish has been established to carry out the Mission of Jesus. The task of the parish is to cooperate with the grace of God in developing an inclusive Community of Disciples who will proclaim the Good News by their interactions with one another, with all others and by their reaching out to those in need.
As followers of "The Way," the parish hopes to become that kind of community that is worthy of the comment, "These Christians, see how they love one another." This is called evangelization.
Mission Pillars
Word, Sacrament, and Service shape everything we do.
Word
Nourished by Scripture and the proclamation of the Good News.
Sacrament
Animated by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our celebrations.
Service
Reaching out to those in need, within and beyond our community.
Parish Boundaries
Commencing at the intersection of Bayshore Freeway and Mansell Street, west along Mansell Street to LaGrande Ave. South along LaGrande along imaginary line extended from LaGrande across McLaren Park, across Mt. San Bruno to a point where the imaginary line would meet the northern city boundaries of South San Francisco. Along this line to the east to a point at which this boundary intersects the line of San Francisco Bay. North along Bayshore Freeway to point of commencement.
Visitacion Valley
Visitacion Valley was discovered on July 2, 1777 by Franciscan Friars on their way to the Presidio in San Francisco but got lost in the fog. On the morning of the 2nd they found they were on a rocky slope. Here they said their first Mass, on the feast of the Visitacion (on the large rock on Cora St. later called Indian Rock).
Visitacion Valley takes its name from Rancho Canada de Guadalupe la Visitacion y Rodeo Viejo, a large tract of land that also included the Bayshore district of Daly City, the city of Brisbane, and San Bruno Mountain.
In 1923 the only Tourist camp in San Francisco opened here (current church location). It was called "The S.F. Auto Camp" with 40 cabins, a Grocery Store, laundry room, and recreation hall.
Church Through the Years
The First Church
In the fall of 1906, a few Catholic ladies of Visitacion Valley held a fair to start a church fund. A lot on Cora Street was donated by Mrs. Joseph Roberts. Archbishop Patrick William Riordan established the new parish, and Rev. Thomas McNaboe was appointed Pastor. The first Mass was celebrated on Passion Sunday, March 1907.
The Second Church
Four lots on the corner of Visitacion Avenue and Loehr Street were purchased. A shingled frame building about 80 feet long and 30 feet wide was constructed. This location was regarded as very inconvenient for those who came by automobile over sand lots and streets not yet paved.
The Third Church
Property on Raymond Avenue and Delta Street was acquired. The second church was torn down and the material was reused. The building was erected from a pencil sketch by Rev. Micheal Clifford and contractor P.F. McCarthy. The church was opened with a High Mass on Christmas Day 1919.
The Fourth Church
The San Francisco Auto Camp was purchased in 1945 — nearly four acres on Sunnydale Avenue. Construction began in March 1951. On April 20, 1952, Archbishop John J. Mitty dedicated the new church. The school was dedicated by Archbishop Joseph McGucken on April 1, 1965.
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