St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

I visited St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church on Sunday (April 3rd) at 35 Liberty Street. (Most Petalumans just call it St. Vincent's.) It's the church for the parish for West Petaluma. (St. James for East Petaluma.)

The most fascinating aspect of this church is the art and architecture of the building itself - the first shovel was pushed On April 20, 1926, and the building completed in 1928. (The previous church building was sold to Elim Lutheran Church.) Leo J. Devlin designed it in a Spanish Romaesque style during the height of the California Mission Revival Period.

The interior almost takes your breath away with 3 rose windows, 16 art glass windowns, an alter made of bottocino classico marble (a creamy white stone), various marble throughout, pews made of solid oak, all in a spacious building that holds between 800 and 1000. I was particluarly struck by the columns in the church made of marble of a creamy color and which spiral with deeper colors. The interior bespeaks of an emphasis on art and creativity.

The pastor, Father Gary Lombardi, leads the large congregation (of about 2400 families, about half Spanish speaking) - and has done so since 1994. He is from Southern California, and served as the assistant pastor at St. Vincent's from 1973-1977. He serves as an Affiliate Member of the Community Health Foundation of Greater Petaluma.