The parish was formed by Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan on August 24, 1901. The first Mass was offered in a storefront hall on Fillmore Street on September 22, 1901 by Father Martin Ryan, the first Pastor. In 1902 the rectory and a one-story church over a hall was built at the present site at Green and Steiner. Both structures survived the earthquake of 1906. In 1911, work began on the superstructure, which is the present church.