Father Ivan Tou installed as pastor of Old St. Mary’s Cathedral and Chinese Mission

By Catholic San Francsico

Paulist Father Ivan Tou was installed as the pastor of Old St. Mary’s Cathedral and Chinese Mission by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone on Sunday, November 3. Father Tou comes to the parish after serving for many years as the pastor of Newman Hall-Holy Spirit Parish at the University of California, Berkley. 

The Paulist Fathers have served at Old St. Mary’s since 1894. Last year, St. Mary’s Chinese Mission School marked 100 years of serving the Chinese community.  The parish dates back to the early 1850s and was the original cathedral built by Archbishop Joseph Sadok Alemany, the first Archbishop of San Francisco.

The liturgy was unique to the parish in that it was bilingual with readings and songs in English and Chinese. It also included a special rite of installation and the reading of Father Tou’s appointment letter by Salesian Father Tho Bui, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in San Francisco. Archbishop Cordileone presented Father Tou to the parish leadership, including the pastoral council and parish staff, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in ministry.

As part of the installation rite, Father Tou made an oath of fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church, affirming his commitment to lead the parish according to the Church’s teachings. He also led the congregation in the Creed.

In his homily, Archbishop Cordileone thanked Father Tou for his leadership and for taking on the role as pastor of the parish, handing on the Catholic faith as the parish has done for 170 years.

“It’s an honor for me to be here with you today to oversee the continuance of this legacy, with Father Ivan taking over as the 25th pastor of this parish,” said Archbishop Cordileone.

Following Mass, there was a vibrant reception in the parish hall where parishioners from Old St. Mary’s and Father Tou’s former parishioners from Berkley gathered to celebrate his installation.