St. Patrick Church sits on King Street in the small Marin County town of Larkspur, a block or two from the train platform where commuters stream toward San Francisco. The parish traces its identity to a single gift of land in 1896 and has served the Corte Madera and Larkspur communities as a Roman Catholic congregation for more than a century. Today it is a parish of the Archdiocese of San Francisco known for its parish school, a long-running thrift shop on Magnolia Avenue, and a tight circle of ministries that look after neighbors who are homebound, hungry, or at risk of losing their housing.
A Parish Named for the Man Who Gave the Land
The story begins in 1896, when Father Lagan acquired five lots in the center of Larkspur. A portion of the land was a gift from Patrick King, who had owned much of the town site. The young parish was named St. Patrick in his honor. The community was formally established as a parish on June 5, 1915 by Archbishop Edward Hanna of San Francisco. More than a hundred years later, the parish still gathers at 114 King Street, and the parish rectory shares the address with the parish office, which is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Mass, Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration
The parish's liturgical life centers on the Eucharist. Mass is celebrated on Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. and on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. A daily Mass is offered Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 a.m. Confessions are heard on Saturday afternoons from 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., or by appointment. On the first Friday of every month, the parish hosts Eucharistic Adoration from 8:30 a.m. until noon, an opportunity for quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
The parish prays the Rosary each weekday at 7:25 a.m. before the morning Mass. The schedule follows the rhythm of the Mysteries: Joyful on Monday and Saturday, Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday, and Luminous on Thursday. Recordings of the homilies, special liturgies, and moments of parish life are kept in a video library and livestreamed through the parish's YouTube channel, so members who are traveling or homebound can follow along.
Mission and Vision
St. Patrick's Mission Statement is brief and direct: "Love God Completely, Love Others Unconditionally, Make Disciples Intentionally." The Vision Statement names what that looks like in practice: "St Patrick Church Brings People to Jesus, Forms Disciples, and Sends Them to Transform the World." Together these statements frame both the Sunday liturgy and the weekday ministries that flow out of it. The parish also tracks the Catechism of the Catholic Church's call to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and to rest from servile labor, a teaching featured on the parish's main page.
Faith Formation from Kindergarten Through High School
Faith formation at St. Patrick's is a structured journey that begins in the early years and continues through Confirmation. The parish offers three branches: a K-8 Christian Faith Formation program, a High School program, and Adult Faith Formation. Families register through the parish office or online.
Children in kindergarten through sixth grade gather for classes on Sunday mornings from 8:45 a.m. to 9:55 a.m., in time to attend the 10:00 a.m. Mass together. The early grades use an adapted Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based program where children gather in an atrium for prayer and learning, supplemented by the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies, which link each Sunday's Gospel to lessons the rest of the week. First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation uses Blessed by Dynamic Catholic. The intermediate grades and Confirmation Year 1 continue with the Gospel Weeklies, while Confirmation Year 2 candidates use Decision Point by Dynamic Catholic, along with required service hours.
For students in seventh grade and older, Confirmation is a two-year preparation, in keeping with Archdiocesan guidelines. The second year meets on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Children in second or third grade with a year of prior formation may begin First Communion Year 2; children older than third grade are placed individually with the Director of Religious Education.
The High School program, MSALT, is led by a youth ministry team. The current roster includes a President and Team Leader, a Vice President and Service Leader, a Prayer Leader, and (currently open) Social Media Manager, Content Creator, and Hospitality Coordinator roles. The team gathers teens for faith sharing, service projects, and social events, and connects with the broader parish through social media.
Becoming Catholic: OCIA and the Parish Book Clubs
Adults who wish to enter the Catholic Church, or who are baptized Catholics who have not yet received the other Sacraments, follow the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. OCIA walks inquirers through four stages: Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment, and Mystagogy. The parish also offers OCIA Adapted for Minors for children age 7 and older who wish to be baptized, confirmed, and receive First Eucharist.
Two parish book clubs give adults a steady rhythm of formation outside of class. One meets on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in Healy Hall; the other on Tuesday mornings at 9:15 a.m., also in Healy Hall. Both are open to any parishioner and read widely across Catholic literature, theology, and biography.
Helping Hands and the St. Vincent de Paul Society
The parish's outreach to its neighbors is anchored in two long-running ministries. Helping Hands brings Holy Communion to the homebound, prepares meals for families in crisis, and hosts a luncheon each month for the "over 50s" in the community. The St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Patrick has been active since 1947 and is one of roughly 4,500 parish conferences of the society in the United States. Members meet monthly and visit neighbors in their homes to provide friendship and short-term, stop-gap assistance with food, rent, medical bills, utilities, car repairs, and insurance, with the goal of keeping families housed. One hundred percent of donations to the local conference go directly to neighbors in need.
The Parish Thrift Shop on Magnolia Avenue
For more than 27 years, St. Patrick's Thrift Shop has been a familiar presence at 457 Magnolia Avenue in Larkspur. The shop raises funds for both the parish and the parish school, and it is staffed entirely by volunteers. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m. Donations are accepted by appointment on Monday and Saturday, and the shop welcomes fine and costume jewelry and religious items at any time it is open. Volunteers are welcome; hours are flexible, and the work ranges from sorting donations to greeting customers.
St. Patrick School
St. Patrick School is the parish's K-8 elementary school, located alongside the parish at 114 King Street. Its mission is to guide students to become Skilled Learners, Thoughtful Individuals, Active Christians, and Responsible Citizens, challenging them academically and encouraging them to emulate Jesus Christ in thought, word, and deed. The school is led by Principal Michael Waters. Members of recent graduating classes have moved on to Marin Catholic, St. Ignatius College Preparatory, the Branson School, Marin Academy, Redwood, San Rafael, and Terra Linda high schools.
CYO Athletics and the Upper Room
The parish fields Catholic Youth Organization teams in basketball and volleyball through Catholic Charities, drawing children from across the Corte Madera-Larkspur area. Coaches are needed each year for one or two teams at each grade level. The Upper Room, the parish's young adult group, gathers for faith and fellowship, with a separate Instagram presence and parent events. A recurring Holy Hour for young adults is part of the rhythm of the parish calendar.
Parish Life and Leadership
Liturgical ministry at St. Patrick's is carried by an Adult Choir, cantors, altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and a team of ushers and greeters, with a liturgical coordinator organizing the work. The Parish Council is chaired by Deacon Mark Scafidi and includes Hayden Perry, Francesca Previtali, and Margaret Randall, with Monsignor Padazinski serving as pastor. The Finance Committee is chaired by Patrick Loftus-Sweetland and includes Laura Bertone and Jim Lynch. Hospitality, the social arm of parish life, hosts three signature gatherings each year: the Feast of Christ the King Pancake Breakfast, the St. Patrick Dinner Social, and the Pentecost Sunday Birthday Celebration.
The parish is led by Monsignor C. Michael Padazinski, J.C.D., who serves as pastor. Deacon Mark Scafidi assists at Mass, oversees the OCIA process, and chairs the Parish Council. Deacon Jimmy Velasco serves as a transitional deacon. Francesca Previtali directs religious education for children and adults. Cathy Plocki coordinates the liturgical schedule. Barbara Cavalier coordinates hospitality.
Giving and Communication
Parishioners can give online through a recurring or one-time gift, and the parish continues to receive traditional stewardship envelopes for special collections throughout the year. The parish also participates in the annual Archdiocesan Appeal, whose 2026 theme is drawn from Isaiah 40:31: "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." A weekly bulletin is published in print and online, and the parish uses Flocknote to send updates by email and text. Visitors and newcomers are welcome to register as members of the parish family through the parish office or online.