St. Cecilia 100 Years in the Parkside

By: Liam Reidy

St. Cecilias interior

2017 marks the 100 Year Anniversary of the Saint Cecilia Parish community - an impressive milestone and testament to the strength of local Catholic parish community in the Parkside district. While the architecturally impressive church building at 17th Avenue and Vicente was dedicated in 1956, the original church was established at 1215 Taraval Street in 1917. Down through the years the parish grew to meet the demands of its members, and through several expansions and additions, (including the addition of an elementary school in 1930), the parish remains an active gathering place for parishioners.

To commemorate our centennial, we have planned an exciting year of festivities that will bring together all of our parishioners. At this special time in our parish's history, we celebrate our past, recognize Christ's presence amongst us, and continue to look forward to our bright and faithful future together. Please visit www.stcecilia100.com for all the latest news on the centennial.

A Year of Music

St. Cecilia Parish will host a series of six concerts throughout 2016-2017. We honor St. Cecilia, Patron Saint of Music, with the program. Concerts will be held on Sundays at 4pm in the St. Cecilia Church. All are welcome. The schedule is as follow;

October 23, 2016: St. Cecilia Choral Festival, featuring the following 6 choirs from the San Francisco Archdiocese: The Cathedral of St. Mary of Assumption, Mission Dolores, St. Teresa, Mercy High School, St. Thomas More, and St. Cecilia.

November 20, 2016: A Musical Feast to St. Cecilia, featuring soloists and choirs from our parish and school music ministry.

December 18, 2016: Lessons and Carols for Advent, presented by St. Cecilia's Adult Choir

February 26, 2017: Organ Recital, featuring Katya Kolesnikova

March 19, 2017: An Evening of Irish Music

April 23, 2017: An Evening of Chamber Music

Centennial Eucharistic Celebration

Join us for the Centennial Eucharistic Celebration on the official 100th year anniversary of the Parish. Saturday, January 7, 2017: Mass, St. Cecilia Church at 5pm and Gala to follow in the Durocher Pavilion.

Parish History Chronicled

During the past year St. Cecilia alum Frank Dunnigan (Class of 1966) researched the history of the parish and has completed a wonderful book entitled "San Francisco's St. Cecilia Parish – A History" which traces 100 years of parish life from 1917 to the present. With about 200 pages of narrative and 100+ nostalgic photos, many from private collections, the book recounts the stories of the people, the buildings, and the milestone events that have led to today's vibrant community. The book will be available to all parishioners in November and locally from BookShop West Portal.

Docent Tours of St. Cecilia Church

The Knights of St. Cecilia will host docent guided tours of St. Cecilia Church during the year and will feature historical details and facts about the church. All parishioners, friends, and neighbors are welcome to attend. The tours take place each Saturday on August 20, September 17, October 15, January 21, and February 18 starting at 10 am.

September 2016