St Francis By The Sea American Catholic Church

Wow, I love this little church! Saint Francis by the Sea Catholic Church is a beautiful little spiritual sanctuary. This charming little church combines the beauty of its oceanside location with a warm, welcoming community that truly embodies the Franciscan spirit. Walking through the doors, there's a palpable sense of peace and reverence. The intimate size of the church creates a close-knit atmosphere where you don't feel lost in the crowd. The stained glass windows cast beautiful colored light throughout the space, and on clear days, you can hear the gentle sounds of the ocean nearby—a perfect complement to moments of prayer and reflection. I will also note that the church has these interesting beams painted with quotes that are very unusual for a Catholic Church (almost make me think the church itself may have been appropriated) but I found them intriguing and have left some photos here. Father Brian’s homily was thoughtful and relevant, and I have absolutely loved the way he gave historical context before each of the readings. Successfully connecting scripture to everyday life in ways that resonate, especially with the youth. If you're seeking a Catholic parish that combines beautiful liturgy, thoughtful preaching, impactful community service, and a friendly atmosphere, Saint Francis by the Sea is a true blessing. Whether you're a local resident or just visiting Laguna, this church offers a spiritual home where faith, community, and natural beauty converge perfectly.

I was fortunate to visit St. Francis By the Sea on Palm Sunday. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 30, 1988, the 1934 chapel-sized Church offers a strong spiritual presence. Clear partitions separate the pews providing parishioners with the greatest precautions against germ transmission. The building is a combination of Arts and Craftsman style with thick, dark wooden beams, plus an influence of Romanesque and Mediterranean Revival is & contrasted by white crisp plaster. I had the pleasure to chat briefly with Pastor, Bishop Brian Delvaux. An upbeat, friendly Bishop who shared his good fortune to be the priest of this parish as well as having the center alter red glass light remain illuminated since his arrival. Having yet to locate the power source we were pleased to believe this is a sign ~ perhaps it signifies faith in God and the Good Word is alive and well in St. Francis by the Sea!

Don't be deceived: this is not a Catholic Church (that is, it isn't Roman Catholic in union with the pope). It's an independent church with invalid sacraments.

Small Church. Beautiful stained glass. Has a middle-of-the-road Catholic worship but more flexible. All faiths may make use of the building for weddings with 65 guests or less. Pews outfitted with plexiglass.

Very small church. Would be okay for a 10-15 person wedding or funeral. The bathroom is more cramped than an airplane bathroom.

Was there to celebrate a life no longer with us This is a very small but ornate cathedral (smallest in the country) The priest gave a lovely service and was helping Shepard the service. I also appreciate we were not rushed along, and that they did have parking

It's a small church, in fact, a cathedral. The smallest cathedral in the world according to Google search. So nice attending a church service without the crowd, very personal and serene. The bishop usually comes to celebrate and it's always special. Parking could be an issue, park at any place where you can find an opening and just walk to the church.

This church is misleading to followers visiting from other areas, making them believe that it is a Roman Catholic Church without explicitly informing them of their lack of association With the Roman Catholic Church. They say they are “independent” but do not explicitly inform you that they do not practice the fullness of the Roman Catholic faith. They should make this more clear for those of us who happen to be visiting from other areas. I believe it to be intentional that they mislead people from other areas visiting to increase their census and contributions from visitors.

The building is charming but it's Father Brian that makes this church so incredibly special. We had my Mother's Memorial service here and Father Brian's homily was inspiring, sensitive, uplifting and warm. My Mother would have loved him. The week before the service, he was available and supportive and helpful. We had many conversations about my Mom. He asked many questions and really got to know her and her energy. He captured her perfectly and many people came up to me after the service and said "It was like he knew her." We felt like we were his priority. He was an incredible comfort during this most difficult time. The building has an interesting history as it was built from the ruins of a church in Long Beach that was destroyed in an earthquake in the 1930's. The spirit here is joyful and welcoming.

We enjoyed an intimate, beautiful, service this past Sunday morning. A very small church, you could also call it a very small chapel. We spent time chatting with the priest before. Not your traditional Roman Catholic doctrine, actually some of there beliefs are far from it And it is not recognized by the Vatican. But we felt comfortable at mass which was said exactly like those in the Roman Catholic Church. I have heard by some that attending mass here is not valid. I'm going to let God be the judge of that. We found one in Las Vegas and it was a very freaky inital experience to say the least, just speaking with them on the phone to find out where they were located. Not at all like we experienced in Laguna. Interesting and concerning. Will stick with ours. Ciao.

We drove by and felt we needed to attend mass. We were welcomed with open arms by the priest and members. The mass was intimate and personal but most importantly we were able to celebrate the 1st Sunday of Advent away from home.

Stopped by on a Flavors of Laguna Tour and discovered it's the second smallest cathedral in the world. The decor is a mishmash masterpiece that's a little ornate, a little bohemian, and a little quirky (those walls in the back are from a bank! are these lamps from a Shakey's?). It's a very liberal "American Catholic" church that basically welcomes divorced people, gays, birth control, and marriage for priests and bishops. I don't know much about church stuff. I've only been talked into going to church a few times for free cookies. But this place is pretty and worth a quick visit.

This church, however charming, is NOT Roman Catholic. As such, it does not fulfill Sunday Mass obligation. Other sacraments (except Baptism) are invalid. Call the Diocese of Orange for verification of this.

Returned for our 25th anniversary to renew our vows. Bishop Simon was very helpful in arranging this landmark event for us, and it was good to see him these many years later. (We regularly attended, but moved to Northern California about 15 years ago.) Our daughter also got to see where she was baptized. You'll read about the physical beauty of this tiny cathedral, which is definitely true. However, what deserves equal attention is how welcoming the church is. In the same spirit as the Episcopalians next door, St. Francis welcomes all to participate in their services, regardless of their original background, or where they are on their spiritual journey. The American Catholic Church split with Rome over Vatican I. For cultural Catholics especially, St. Francis offers the familiarity of the Catholic rites, without the dogma and hierarchy. If you're in Laguna, and you've never visited this landmark Church, you really should take the time to attend the Sunday mass at 9 AM.

I really felt at ease in this small homy church. I appreciate how the pastor made every incoming stranger feel like family. It doesn't matter where your home church is. You can always stop by here. If given the chance I would like to revisit this place. The smell of the salt air isn't faraway and you can always hit up the sea right after church. The parking lot is either small or nonexistent because we had to find parking. There was a parking garage where you pay around the corner.

This is very welcoming church. It's quaint but because it's small, everyone is friendly and welcoming. Father Brian meets the parishioners outside after mass for complimentary coffee and donut. If you happen to be in the area, make sure you stop by and visit.

Small and beautiful. Wonderful energy. Come here if you are looking for a little church with big heart!!

Such a quaint and welcoming church. Bishop Brian is a wonderful lecturer. I encourage not only visitors to Long Beach to come by bit all locals. Your truly missing out if you haven't made it a point on Sunday.

We just got married here this past weekend in an intimate ceremony with very close friends and immediate family. Just like Laguna Beach itself, this chapel is beautiful, quaint, and full of charm. Father Jack performed our ceremony and he was amazing - kind and patient. We loved him and he was really funny. He knew we were nervous but he always said something witty at the right time to make us laugh and help us relax a bit. We are so happy we chose this church to have our ceremony and bless our marriage. It was very important that we did have a church ceremony as we are both Catholic. What I immediately noticed is that this church is so open to all different types of people from different walks of life. The chapel cathedral was truly perfect for our small ceremony. Located very close to the beach, our photographer took us down there to take some photos after our ceremony right before the sunset. It was perfect. If you are looking to have an intimate wedding ceremony in a beautiful location, make sure to visit this chapel:)

Highly recommend for visitors or local people looking for a friendly Christian experience. We were visiting and were fortunate to find this Sunday service. All denominations welcome (I was raised Lutheran). We appreciated the unique intimate setting. The priest gave excellent sermon. We will go back anytime we visit Laguna on a Sunday.