Our dear friend was raised Catholic...and lived a few blocks away. So it was fitting his funeral was at this charming church. It is small...almost chapel like, and it's Spanish style architecture fits it very well. The pews however, are excruciating.... literally made for child sized people. The service was what I have come to expect, traditional. It was wonderful to share the experience with his family, and our long time friends. We had a short reception downstairs...and again it was small and convenient. read more

Visted the parish where we got married. I miss the Dominican friars, but I am relieved the parish is still here. The love that Latin is used here throughout the mass and wish I knew the responses better. Lots of familiar faces still around. Still a beautiful church. read more

I attended this church for a year when I lived in North Berkeley. It reminded me of a pretty chapel with nice older architectural details. The neighborhood outside was really pretty, too, with lots of flowers. The priests were good here (no homilies to make me mad). The music director really took his job seriously and went all out with the Hallelujah Chorus on Easter. That choir was pretty impressive. This was a very good church, but overall, I missed Newman Hall the year I went here. read more

I can't imagine that I'm about to trash a church, but "for me", Mary Magdalen in Berkeley is certainly not following in the welcoming tradition of St. Francis, or the hospitable tradition of St. Benedict-- and certainly (again, for me) in what Jesus typified in his all-inclusive approach to different people. When I attended St. MM on and off for nearly a year (2009-10) I found that the parishioners as well as the Dominican priests were unfriendly and generally unwelcoming. Maybe it was my earring and slightly long hair, or the fact that I'd sometimes arrive on a motorcycle, but I can't recall anyone ever welcoming me as a new member. That especially includes the priests. I would walk by them and not even get eye contact from them. I've gone with my wife to two, local Protestant churches from time to time and they go all out to make the new person(s) feel welcomed. Why can't the folks at St. MM do the same? read more

I lived in the bay area for 18 years and didn't know about this church until June 2009 when I moved to a new area 20 minutes away from Berkeley. I was engaged at that time which led us in search of a church near the Brazilian Room in Berkeley. My fiancee (now my husband) and I visited the parish office. I'll skip all the details but God works in wonderful and mysterious ways ... Fr. Bruno Gibson opened his doors to us and helped us in our marriage preparation which was really nice, emotional at times but very helpful and inspiring. And a year later we got married in this church. I read the negative reviews about this church but as a Catholic I regard the Church as a holy place of worship and my expectations of going to mass is to hear the word of the Lord, the sermon of the priest, to pray and to receive the Eucharist. If you want to socialize sometimes they have coffee & donuts or a pancake breakfast after mass. If you want to go out of your way to meet people or make friends you can volunteer at the Sunday dinner for the poor (the dates are announced before the end of the mass or at the parish bulletin.) They have a very good choir. I think the priests in this parish are all trying their very best to do good in their ministry. With that said lets include our priests and each other in our prayers. Amen. read more

Make that 2.5 stars--somewhere between A-OK and Meh! The truth shall set you free! In my case, I have to tell my truth. I confess that I am ambivalent about this church. I grew up in this parish church when it was pink on the outside and on the inside, it was white, pastel, and Victorian. I had my first communion and confirmation at this church. The Mother was one of the organists. I used to sing in the choir in the upstairs loft. I even had the honour of being a Eucharistic minister. I was not at all happy when it went through many remodels and makeovers outside and inside. I loved the Victorian and Andrea Della Robia interiors of the church when I came here as sprog. Regretfully, I must agree with the yelper who said that this parish "is certainly not following in the welcoming tradition of St. Francis, or the hospitable tradition of St. Benedict--and certainly (again, for me) in what Jesus typified in his all-inclusive approach to different people. " (Well, this is a Dominican parish, not a Franciscan or Benedictine parish. I have no idea what the founder, St. Dominic was like personality-wise.) After returning to the parish after many decades for a brief period of time (2006-2009), I found the environment and atmosphere to be rather cold and unfeeling. Cor, what happened to this place? This was not the parish church I grew up in. I was not the only who felt this way. A visiting Franciscan nun said those exact same words to me; I was quite shocked to hear my words echoed back. Another visitor shared some similar comments as the nun, along with she saw there was a piece of the host on the floor. What?! What made me leave again (and decided that I will go to Sts. Peter and Paul when time permits) among other reasons, are two members of this parish. They are from foreign countries, is the best description of them. They think they are so great, so above it all and all so almighty. They think they know it all and know everything! I have it on good authority (from a representative of the good Lord) that one of them is responsible for many people leaving this particular parish. This particular parishioner can be overwhelming and overzealous at times, and has quite that effect on everyone. The other one is full of herself, has a tone of voice problem, and has a look of air and attitude of superiority about her. The parish administration is aware of my hesitation and reasons for not returning because of these two particular parishioners. There is a rather rude homeless woman who shows up at the time of communion only at the morning services. Many of the parishioners have told me she was crazy. (Their descriptive adjective, not mine. I could say something worse, and this is a family website.) She would only take communion from the priest, not from a priest she did not consider real and not from a Eucharistic minister. I had the pleasure of seeing her being reprimanded by a priest (the one she considers a fake priest) when she was quite rude to an elderly parishioner during a service. She would make it a point of telling some of the church volunteers how to do their jobs. I have had to put her in her place, which freaked her out. She would run and complain to the head priest about me. The parish administration is also aware of this particular woman. Again, the truth shall set you free! I am free! Free! read more

DOMINICAN FRIARS TO LEAVE ST. MARY MAGDALEN PARISH. I've never heard of priests leaving a parish. In the last three years we've seen three head priests take over. There are a minimum of two priests at every mass, many times 3 or 4. Today there were five priests at the altar. Come on, I know that priests do other things but Sunday and holy days are the real strain on their lives to get up and lead. One or two priests can handle all the chores of their duty. In this time of mass upheaval in America when we really need them, they desert us. I'm very upset and as part of the congregation that has been supporting their lives and their retirement I will no longer contribute at the Sunday collection. read more

My boys and I have been going to St Mary Magdalen for the last 3 years, and have found the church community to be caring, friendly and honest. The preaching is thought provoking and I believe the teaching applies to our contemporary times. There is a new Parish priest and new fathers. They have been friendly and open to suggestions/changes in our faith community. Boys and I go down to Norton Hall to meet with our fellow parishioners and found them to be kind and sincere. Of course there are different personalities. and just like you might in any other social setting, learn to manage that relationship. I am rather surprised at the negative comments in 2007, 2010, 2011. I do hope people come back and give the church another try, I was a single mother raising 2 kids and recently married to a Caucasian (inter racial) but have never felt unwelcome at St Mary Mags. The Church needs people to keep it going and our church leaders need prayers to keep our community going. I doubt it is easy. read more

Good liturgy but lousy, dogmatic, snore- worthy preaching. The priests come off as rigid, dour, and cold. Some call this traditional - I call it everything that is wrong with the Church. With preaching like this - young people will continue to stray from the faith. Good if you want to just go through the motions, bad if you want a living, breathing, loving, parish environment. Liturgically solid, beautiful Church - but not worth the prejudice and inflammatory rhetoric that comes with it. read more

A lovely church, very beautiful. After about l00 years as a Dominican parish, this order has left, and it is now an Oakland Diocesan parish. The Sunday 11 am Mass is their traditional one, with a lovely choir that sings many songs in Latin. The music and choir are amazing and will stir your heart and lift your spirits. The 9:30 am Family Mass has tons of young families and children. This Mass tends to get very crowded, so plan to come a bit early. (I notice that a poster commented that the "rhetoric" at Mass was "inflammatory and prejudicial. " I've been to hundreds of Masses there, and I think this criticism is outrageous and absolutely false. I have never heard even a hint of anything like this at this church. It is sad that someone can make accusations like this with no specific examples. Frankly, I think it's uncharitable, if not un-Christian, to make unsubstantiated accusations like this against a church and against priests. ) Some reviewers have commented that this isn't a particularly friendly church. Unfortunately, I have found this to be the case as well. The parishioners tend to be more reserved, and it isn't super easy to meet people. However, in defense of the parishioners, many visitors don't want to connect with people but prefer to be alone and pray. (The Family Mass may offer a friendlier environment.) The pastor is a very nice man, and the parishioners seem to like him a great deal. He isn't for me, though. The pastor brings more of a social justice focus and also can be critical of Church dogma. I prefer a more reverential setting, one that allows for the Holy Spirit to work within people. The political and/or intellectual point of view doesn't interest me. I want a church experience to be deeply spiritual. My favorite Berkeley church is by far, St. Joseph the Worker. The Masses are extremely devotional and lovely and you can feel the Holy Spirit in people and in the priests. So to me, that's the church to be in. The bottom line is that you can't choose a church based on a rating system from Yelp. And it takes some degree of patience and discernment about whether the church is right for you. The only way to know whether a church is right for you is by attending it a few times and seeing for yourself. Most importantly, discern where God wants you to be. read more

One Christmas Eve a couple years ago, I walked by this church, and through its wide open doors, I heard a wonderful choir and baroque ensemble rehearsing before Mass. Hearing the rehearsal, I decided to stay for Mass because I admit, I appreciate liturgical music that has a certain expansiveness and sublime quality (an *a-choir-ed taste). This parish has invested in its music ministry - always appreciated when I can go to 11am Mass. read more

I have been searching for the right church for years and feel I have finally found it. St. Mary Magdalen is a small, beautiful church that truly values families, many who attend the 9:30 service. There is certainly a strong sense of community here. My girls attend Sunday school, and the children are able to return in time to receive communion or a blessing. The priests are very welcoming and approachable. The weekly sermons offer messages that are both inspiring and which serve as a reminder of why I am there. The choirs are small and their sound is amazing. Parking is very convenient because the schoolyard next to the church is utilized. If you are considering attending church, I highly recommend St. Mary Magdalen. read more