St. Raphael Parish

 &

Mission San Rafael Arcángel

Saint Raphael Church Parish is a multi-lingual and multicultural Catholic parish located in downtown San Rafael. Our members include long-time residents, as well as newcomers from around the country and around the world. Saint Raphael Parish includes the main church, Mission San Rafael Arcange, St. Sylvester’s Chapel, as well as a St. Raphael Elementary and PreSchool.

As you explore our website you will see that Saint Raphael Parish strives to meet the present needs of Catholics, while building on the rich history and heritage that we have inherited from those who have gone before us. Our parish site can provide you with a glimpse into our parish life, which includes Sunday Masses in four languages, celebration of the sacraments, educational opportunities for children and adults, as well as opportunities to serve those in the parish and the larger community.

Mission San Rafael Arcangel was founded on December 14, 1817 by Father Vicente de Sarria. It was the 20th mission in the 21 mission chain in Alta California. It was named for Saint Raphael, the angel of healing, and was an asistencia or helper of Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission Dolores). It was established as a hospital to treat the sick neophytes (Christianized Native Americans). Asistencia San Rafael became an active farm and ranch on the northern edge of New Spain. The simple buildings, orchards, farmlands and herds of livestock were the work of the Coast Miwok who were part of Mission San Rafael over the years.

The mission grew and was granted full mission status on October 19, 1822. Mission San Rafael Arcangel was a mission for only 17 years, but converted 1,873 Indians, raised 2,210 cattle, 4,000 sheep and 454 horses.

After Mexico won its independence from Spain, they found that it could no longer afford to keep the missions running. In 1834, Mexico decided to end the mission system and sell all of the lands. The lands were divided into smaller Ranchos and sold to Mexican citizens who were helpful during the war for independence.

In 1840, there were 150 Indians still at the mission. By 1844, Mission San Rafael Arcangel was left abandoned. The mission was used by General John C. Fremont as his headquarters during the Bear Flag Revolt, the battle to make California a United States territory. In 1847, a priest was once again living at the mission. A new parish church was built near the old chapel ruins in 1861. In 1870, the rest of the ruins were removed to make room for the city of San Rafael. All that was left of the mission was a single pear tree from the old mission orchard.

In 1949, Msgr. Thomas Kennedy and a group of supporters, including the Hearst family, rebuilt a replica of the Mission Chapel, which sits next to the larger parish church of Saint Raphael.