New pastor installed at French national parish
Augustinian priest and professor assumes pastoral role at Notre Dame des Victoires after 138-year Marist legacy
By Christina Gray
Father Gregory Heidenblut, O.S.A., formally began his role as pastor of Notre Dame des Victoires Parish at an Installation Mass celebrated by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone on March 30.
The Augustinian priest appointed by Archbishop Cordileone earlier this year has been parish administrator since September 2024. The Marist Fathers, who have served French-speaking Catholics and others at the parish since 1885, returned pastoral leadership to the Archdiocese of San Francisco in 2023 due to a lack of local priests and a paucity of new vocations.
“There is a twinge of sadness as we have to say goodbye to our beloved Marist priests who have served this parish so well for the past 138 years,” said Archbishop Cordileone in his homily. “I personally wanted to express my gratitude to our Marist priests for all the fine ministry they have carried out here. And I see that myself. I still remember my first introduction to your parish. It was my pastoral visit nine years ago. I was struck by the strong sense of community. It really felt like a family, which is significant.”
Among the concelebrating priests at the Installation Mass were Marist Father Rene Iturbe, pastor of Notre Dame des Victoires from 2004-2017; the Archdiocese’s Vicar for Clergy Father Andrew Spyrow, who served as parish administrator in the early part of 2024 before the placement of Father Heidenblut; and Father Barnaby Rowett-Johns, O.S.A., Provincial of the Order of St. Augustine in the West..
“As you take on this new service for the Archdiocese, I pray again that you will grow in increasing holiness,” said the Archbishop to Father Heidenblut in his letter of appointment, which was read at the Mass by Sts. Peter and Paul pastor Father Tho Bui, SDB. “I will also ask that you take a personal and special interest in promoting and praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the Archdiocese.”
This is certain. Father Heidenblut is a special staff member for the Archbishop, doing double duty as director of ongoing formation and continuing education for priests and serving as pastor of Notre Dame des Victoires, and its school, École Notre Dame des Victoires. Father Heidenblut will continue as a professor at St. Patrick’s Seminary & University in Menlo Park.
As part of the Rite of Installation, Archbishop Cordileone asked the parish council and staff to stand as Father Heidenblut greeted them as their new pastor. He then made a personal profession of faith and promise of obedience to the bishops and the Magisterium.
“I am very grateful to Father Greg,” said Archbishop Cordileone in his homily, “and to the Augustinian Province and Father Barnaby, the Provincial with us here, for their commitment to assuming now the pastoral care of this parish.”
Pastoral promise
Father Heidenblut entered religious life in June 1968 with the Verona Fathers (FSCJ), today the Comboni Missionaries (MCC). He later became a priest and religious in the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA). As a CPA and with advanced degrees in pastoral ministry, Father Heidenblut has served in pastoral, educational and administrative roles, including as president of Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai, California. He was most recently chaplain of Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco.
Father Heidenblut spoke to the congregation prior to the final blessing.
“I promise you all this day that I will only give you the truth of Jesus Christ, no matter how hard it is to hear or follow,” he said. There were two reasons for this. “One is that I refuse to stand before my beloved Lord at my particular judgment and have to tell Him I failed Him. Worse, is to have you tell me I failed to share that truth with you.”
The French National Church
Despite a change in pastoral leadership, Notre Dame des Victoires will remain grounded in the Marist charism and French tradition, according to its website ndvsf.org with a mission to “be the presence of Mary in the world.”
Notre Dame des Victoires was founded in 1856 by the French government to serve the needs of French immigrants during the Gold Rush. French Catholics had gone to St. Francis Church (now the National Shrine of St. Francis Parish) but eventually desired a church of their own. One was built on “Frenchmen’s Hill”, as the pioneers called it, a part of the city was where French immigrants had pitched their tents in 1850.
In 1885, Archbishop Patrick Riordan entrusted the pastoral care of Notre Dame des Victoires to the Marist Fathers (Society of Mary), an order founded in Lyon, France. The 1906 earthquake destroyed the original church, and the existing church was built in 1913. The Marists founded École Notre Dame des Victoires across the street in 1924 supported by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange.
Today, Notre Dame des Victoires Parish remains the French National Church steeped in national pride and tradition, with French and English-language Masses. At the same time, it is a cross cultural, international faith community attended by the faithful from French-speaking countries such as Belgium, Switzerland, Africa, Monaco and French Polynesia.
Archbishop meets French community
The French Mass at 10:30 a.m. preceded the Installation Mass, giving Archbishop Cordileone an opportunity to greet the French community in Marist Hall below the church.
“I wish I could preach in French,” admitted the Archbishop, who said he had studied it years ago. “I want to assure you of my great pleasure to know that you’re still thriving, still very much present here. I want you to know we are keeping the French presence alive at Notre Dame des Victories.”
A moderator who asked questions of the Archbishop on behalf of the French community expressed collective gratitude.
“It’s very important to us to be able to practice our faith in French,” said the moderator. “Although we always feel welcome when we go into an English-speaking church, when we can practice our faith in French there is something very profound.”
The Archbishop credited the French for the spread of faith throughout so many cultures, calling it a “great gift France has given to our world.”
He called the parish and school, “a great cultural enrichment for our archdiocese.”
“That’s why I’m glad the French community can still be alive and thriving here. It’s such a precious heritage. We need to hand it on to successive generations. I’m happy to see that happening here.”
Christina Gray is the lead writer for Catholic San Francisco.
Photos: Mary Powers
