Every family has its legends. Mine involves St. Brendan's, a hulking bit of Romanesque beauty tucked into the heart of Los Angeles, all stone and stained glass, built in 1927 back when the neighborhood was still stretching out of its adolescence. The story goes like this: in 1982, the church initially balked at baptizing me--because I was born out of wedlock. Rules are rules, after all. But my grandfather, never one to be defeated by a little Catholic bureaucracy, brought two bottles of wine to the priest. Suddenly, the waters of salvation opened up. I was dunked, splashed, sanctified--whatever you want to call it--and the family got their sacrament. And here's the thing: decades later, they were kind enough to provide me a copy of my baptism certificate when the original was lost. No questions, no raised eyebrows. Just a helpful, human touch from a church that could have easily buried itself in dogma. The building itself? Gorgeous. A classic Romanesque Revival design, a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, with its vaulted ceilings and cool hush that makes you forget you're a few blocks from Wilshire. It's the kind of place that feels eternal, like a set piece in a noir film--you half expect to see Chandler's detective light a cigarette in the shadows. For me, St. Brendan's will always be part of the family story--equal parts holy ritual and a wink-and-a-nod deal brokered with bottles of red. Funny, flawed, and very human. read more

St. Brendan is a truly beautiful church--both in spirit and in structure. The building itself is a stunning example of Gothic Revival architecture, with its stone façade and soaring interior lined with intricate Gothic details. One of the most breathtaking features is the wooden vaulted ceiling, designed to resemble the interior of a ship--an homage to St. Brendan the Navigator, the patron saint of sailors. It gives the sanctuary a warm, reverent atmosphere that feels both timeless and intimate. The parish community is vibrant and diverse, and Mass is always well attended. Sundays are especially full--each service draws a strong crowd, and the parking lots are often packed, a testament to the church's popularity. Fortunately, there are two lots flanking Wilton at 3rd Street and ample street parking on Wilton and Van Ness. Just be prepared to walk a little if you arrive close to start time. The current pastor, Fr. Brian Castaneda, is a deeply kind, warm, and holy presence. His homilies are consistently uplifting, grounded in Scripture, and delivered with genuine love. You can feel his faith, and it's contagious in the best way--encouraging and heartfelt without being heavy-handed. My only personal reservation is the music. While the choir is skilled and the performances are polished, the musical selections lean heavily toward contemporary Christian songs set to piano. Occasionally there's accompaniment from a violin or flute, but I do wish the church made more regular use of its organ and included traditional hymns more often--especially outside of the major holidays. That said, many parishioners enjoy the current music ministry, and it's clearly prepared with care and reverence. Sunday Mass times are: * 8:00 AM * 9:45 AM (Children's Mass) * 11:30 AM (High Mass with full choir) St. Brendan is my parish and I truly love being a part of this community. It's a church that honors its patron with beauty and purpose, and one where you can feel both the presence of God and the warmth of a faithful congregation. read more

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Very beautiful and the priest was great. I truly am a fan of how he speaks to the church. Will be attending from now on. read more

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It's beautiful! Excellent service! Say hello to Yeshua Hamashiac for me! A few prayers wouldn't hurt either! J Anthony M read more

i love St. Brendan! the church is absolutely beautiful, and the Sunday 11am Mass is always meaningful. parking can be a bit stressful around that time, but getting there about 10 minutes early definitely helps. It's such a peaceful and welcoming place! read more

St Brendan Church - church - Churches Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I was in the area and I came to Saturday 5:00 pm service. In my opinion, St. Brendan Catholic church is one of the most beautiful churches in Los Angeles It's Gothic style makes it attractive to many to get married at this church and the church has been used for many Hollywood film locations including the fight club movie Beautiful service and Choir. If you're a local may I suggest that you get involved in the church Regular Mass Schedule: Mon. Wed. and Fri. 6:30 am Monday and -Friday: 8:00 am Saturday: 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Sunday: 8:00 am, 9:45 am, 11:30 am, 5:00 pm Holy days: 6:30 am and 8:00 am Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday 4:00-4:30 pm or by appointment Our Mother Of Perpetual Help Novena Wednesday at 6:00pm read more

St Brendan Church - St. Brendan feast is May 16th - Churches Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Wow, who knew I'd be reviewing a church. . . I've been going to St. Brendan's practically all of my life, sans college years. It's always been very welcoming and warm. Back in the day, the masses weren't as energizing as they are now, but the priests always make you feel at peace. The congregation is extremely diverse, you see people from all walks of life here from the rich Hancock Park-ers to the early morning nurses getting their blessing in their scrubs. For a few years, I would even be sitting next to Mayor Villaragosa's wife/kid during Sunday mass and not know it until my mom would greet them before communion... then the mayor scandal broke out and we never saw her there again. Sad. The music director, Chris De Silva, always gets the entire church singing. Father Joe loves including sports prayers and will usually bring up games at the beginning of his sermon or at the end of the service (i.e. "the Mariners are playing this week," "Jesus must love the Trojans right now," "let's not forget the importance of next Sunday... it's the Super Bowl."). Monsignor Murphy is very sweet and a pleasure to see after mass. Like everyone says, the church is beautiful. It's ornate and classic, but not cold architecture at all. The stained glass windows are simply dazzling. The alter is gorgeous as well. And Hollywood knows all this, too. A couple of holiday specials have been filmed here. Oh, and y'know that church scene in Spiderman 3-- yep, filmed on the left side of the church. The best time, however, is during "C&E" as one of the priests once said-- Christmas and Easter . Christmas the church is decked out with trees, lights, and poinsettias. There are also the 3 wise man who inch closer to the nativity scene as Christmas draws near (the wise man used to start their journey outside, but then one year one of the wise man was almost stolen, so they moved it inside). Easter is similar, with lilys everywhere. Palm Sunday real palms are used outside as part of the procession before mass. You don't have to be a hardcore Catholic/Christian to enjoy the beauty of this place. It's nice to just sit there and take in everything, especially from my usual vantage point-- the choir loft. read more

St Brendan Church - During Midnight Mass, before the lights are turned on - Churches Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I have been going to church since 1979 and honestly i have been to other churches but i keep coming back St Brendan. There is just something with this parish that makes me feel welcome! Monsignor and the other priest gives great sermons! I don't even have time to yawn. The choir is the best! Mr. DeSilva sings so well and if you know Gary Valenciano, he has his voice! I was shocked when i first heard him! He makes my church experience different. You can park around the church and also across the street. If you are a catholic and live in the LA area, you should try St Brendan Church! God Bless! read more

St Brendan Church - Churches Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is a very solemn church and open on most days. they also have a catechism class every wednesday for children who are not enrolled on st. brendan school. Monsignor Terry and Fr. Ken gave very good wisdom on there homily so are the rest of the priest. If you plan to attend mass just come early coz the parking is minimal BUT there's a big parking lot across though. read more

St Brendan Church - sunday mass for lenten season - Churches Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I was looking for a new church to call home after leaving my previous parish, and after reading some reviews on here I decided to attend mass at St. Brendan, and let me tell you -- it did not disappoint! Like many have said, the church is absolutely stunning both inside and out. I got to the church about 10-15 minutes before mass in order to find parking (which was readily available in the parking lot off of W 3rd St) and find a seat in one of the pews. Before mass started and even throughout the service, I found myself gaping at the beautiful architecture and sculptural details. The service was great, and I appreciated the priest's preaching style. It seemed like he was speaking from the heart. What really moves me throughout this service even to the point of TEARS was the choir. What an amazing choir! Overall, everyone was so friendly and welcoming, it really made me feel like I was home. I'm glad the Spirit brought me to St Brendan, and I will definitely be attending mass here moving forward. read more

I wanted to give this place a more auspicious rating but... It gets a two because it's beautiful (genuinely) and clean. Otherwise, it disappoints. Supremely. I attended the 11:30 mass last Sunday because I was in the area and wanted to check it out. I stepped foot in there and was immediately reminded of how small I am compared to the divine. It was good for me. I prayed and asked for forgiveness. Then the priest started up. Here's my assessment of the priest: I think he's very likely good-hearted and has also very likely done a lot of good work in his life; I admire him for it. But I also think he's the type who has to be liked for starters. The number of times he referred to himself and tried to get everyone to laugh was excessive. It's a sermon. In a church. It's not supposed to be totally informal. It shouldn't be uptight, but it shouldn't be like going to a friend's house for a BBQ. He spoke often (very often) of the work he's done on behalf of the disenfranchised and went out of his way to appear cool. I don't think there's anything wrong with loosening up a bit as a clergy figure, but there's no need to go on and on about having drinks and relaxing like that. You can communicate the need to be happy and express gratitude in a more measured way. I don't know if he simply didn't think before he spoke or did, in fact, think, but thought that that sort of thing was acceptable. Also, I was disturbed by his introduction of politics into the sermon. If it persists, the I.R.S. should consider revoking the church's 501 (c) (3) status. It's inappropriate. I don't want to hear about (even if I agree with it) how greed took people's homes away. Perhaps people mismanaged their budgets. And perhaps government doesn't owe the citizen a safety net from cradle to grave. And I don't want to hear about how he "doesn't care" about it being against the law to "help" illegal aliens. I know he feels he has a higher calling to God; that is respectable. Many of us do. And he can do his best to help those who have come illegally, but it must be done properly. While he may not see it this way, he also has an obligation to uphold the laws of the country in which he resides. If he disfavors those laws, like many good, rational people do, he should work to eliminate them, not work in open defiance of them. It made me respect him and the church less. He diminished his and its credibility. And again, I think it goes to his need to be liked by everyone. The whole maverick "I'll do what I want even though it's illegal which makes me courageous" nonsense didn't exactly appeal to me. His behavior doesn't pass the smell test. If everyone did what he did, worked in open defiance of the law and encouraged others to do the same, there'd be mass chaos. I think he thinks myopically. But I'm sure it did appeal to the masses (who they're losing like crazy) who don't contemplate these things, so this complaint probably won't have any significance whatsoever. All in all, I'm glad I waited till the end to donate. I gave only the minimum for having been able to walk in there and take advantage of the sanctuary. It's not getting a dime other than the minimum I gave it that day, and I'm not returning. I'd rather support an institution which respects its non-profit status, leaves politics out of my precious little time with God and employs a priest who behaves more in keeping with his position. Like I said, disappointing. read more

This is my new parish. I was trying to find a more welcoming church and I'm sure this is it. I had often passed by St. Brendan's on my way to my old job, and its beautiful facade always caught my eye. And I found out that it catches lots of people's eyes because it has been used in many Hollywood productions. After I registered online, I came to attend mass. I noticed that after mass the people remained very quiet inside the church. One of the things that I disliked about my former parish is that everyone would talk and carry on as soon as the priest left, as if it were a reunion party. Some parishioners stayed to pray the rosary together. I walked around trying to get acquainted with the surroundings, and I met two ladies who showed me around, and welcomed me to the parish. Unfortunately, there are no "poor boxes" inside the church anymore, as I was told they were removed because they were getting stolen. Sadly, this is not the first time I have heard that. Overall, I'm happy here. read more

St Brendan Church - Morning mass. - Churches Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I would like to give a shout out to Father Ken Deasy! My wife knew of this place before we met and was her place of worship when she lived in Los Angeles at the time. A few years ago this church was part of the itinerary of LA significant places before the moment I popped the big question and went my knees to propose to my now wife. Father Ken Deasy has been the priest since day one when I first step foot in here. I like his charisma during mass and speeches, which made me a true believer and an open ear. Another thing that I love about this church is that it feels homier. Parking is easy access across the street. Make sure your there in the lot early because it can pack up. Overall this church to me is the best! That's why I commute from OC to get here. read more

Very beautiful church. Love the classic look with the stained glass art. Lots of seating and additional seating upstairs. The priest is very easy and interesting to listen and relate to. I'm so happy I found a church near my place that I love :) read more

A beautiful church inside & out. I grew up just blocks away and often walked to church with my mother, enjoying Sunday service together. The parish staff are very welcoming and the community is close. It was the perfect place for my nuptials, very personal and beautiful. The church is blocks away from Paramount Studios and little did I know that some great movies filmed here like Armageddon, Spider-man 3, Fight Club & Our Gang "The Little Rascals". The altar is very distinct with a golden back panel and crown on top. read more

I love this church! It is fairly close by and has a very welcoming atmosphere inside. The church is rather beautiful with stained glass windows and balcony seating which offers a breathtaking view of the altar. I love the church choirs! The free donut on Sunday mornings is always good, too! read more

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Beautiful church inside and out! Great liturgy and the Pastor shared a moving homily. Will definitely be back!

Absolutely breathtaking. My immediate reaction? Wow. I saw the ornate decor, marble floor, and huge altar when I walked in. It reminds me of a mission but a little bit more modern. it is such a pretty church to get married in and attend for Sunday mass. I can't wait to hear the choir (I recently visited for a rehearsal). Only downside is the parking lot. It is tiny and the streets are super busy since it's close to 3rd street. read more

This church is absolutely beautiful! I love the very detailed stained glass, to the chairs that are aligned so uniform, oh and the chandeliers! You must visit if you are able to. It was founded in 1915, so looks very old but well kept. read more

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Beautiful church designed by a famous architect. I've been a member here for many years and really enjoy the Saturday 5pm and Sunday morning traditional Roman Catholic masses. The choir is great and confessions on Saturday are good too. read more

Interesting feeling I have about this place...I'mg going to rate it in two ways. Firstly, I give it 4 out of 4 stars on it's beauty. The church is absolutely beautiful. I love it. Whenever I'm in this building I feel a sense of "epic" run through my body, and that's a feeling I always hold in junction with God. I give it a 0 out of 1 star on the other side of it due to the priest. For whatever reason he doesn't really seem to care about certain things. I don't like half of the stuff that he says and the other stuff that he DOESN'T say kind of scares me. The thing is, most people will NEVER see it this way at this church because it is just a gorgeous place and many folks follow the masses. Now will I continue to come here? Probably, and I pray that things pick up on the sermon front, because honestly, what he said offended me. Now, it only offended me because of HOW he said it, but regardless, this man is supposed to be a spiritual leader in the community. I'm also going to say that MOST folks wouldn't have caught what he said or the sleight that came with it, and as such, I feel like this church is a safe bet if you are just a catholic on Yelp in an unfamiliar neighborhood and wondering if this church will work for you...yes, it probably will. Also, there was a piece of stained glass broken upstairs next to where the children like to play during service, and the kids were going over and touching it and I had to keep telling them not to, and afterwards when the priest was talking with people, I politely intruded to ask him who should I talk to about the stained glass issue and he literally waved me off and said "don't worry about it" and kept on about getting praised by the people that were shaking his hand and talking with him. I'm sorry but when I have children I DEFINITELY don't want them around adults who respond to a child hazard with a wave off and a "don't worry about it" half smile. Anyway, I am a deeply connected person and will get fed by the love of God no matter WHAT CHURCH IM IN, and so I will still come to this ridiculously beautiful church every now and then...but I must say, he needs to change up a bit of both his sermon and attitude if I'm to continue going. Not my favorite church in LA obviously, but too gorgeous to ignore nevertheless. I give St Brendan Catholic Church, a hesitant 4 out of 5 stars. read more

This church in my opinion is one of the most beautiful churches in Los Angeles! From the stained glass windows, to the altar and baptismal font, everything is truly beautiful and detailed! I would love to attend mass here one Sunday. read more

Call me biased, but St. Brendan is off the Jesus chain. This church has gone thru very many-a facelifts throughout the years. I think it has been mainly because of how it rents out its facilities to movie studios (ie, the church scene in Spider-Man 3). Well, regardless of how it makes its bank, this place is one of the most quaint and comfiest churches this side of the Vatican. The congregation is friendly, the choir is always crackin', and the sermons always leave me with that "hmm..." pondering feeling. Not much else I can say about the place. read more

My husband and I have been coming here for Sunday Masses for years. Love the sermons here. Different Fathers have different styles but they are mostly very insightful, open/liberal, and welcoming. Monsignor Father Terry Flemings is so nice. He presided over our wedding at St. Brendan's which was a beautiful blessed event. Linda at the Parish office is very kind and helpful. It's a big family here. They make you feel that everyone is welcome here in the house of God. I especially like its Engaged Encounter program for the engaged couples. It brought my husband and I even closer together. I love this church and it's atmosphere/teaching of serving the community, bring peace to anyone you can , and love one another but don't judge philosophy. read more

A beautiful church. So peaceful and clean. I love to come and listen to the choir. Although I'm not catholic, I come every now and then to hear the messages the priest has. It's uplifting and relaxing. read more

A small, crowded and very beautiful church located at Hancock Park/Koreatown. I love to hear mass here every Sunday especially when Father Ken Deasy is the Priest. They have a very good choir too =) read more

Very beautiful church. Attended Sunday mass. Too much singing of new songs written in this century. Lots of distractions like crying babies. Couldn't concentrate with all the music. I would have preferred mass in Latin for an authentic experience. More passages from the bible. More preaching from the father of translation from the bible. read more

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Just gorgeous church. Lovely 5 pm mass. Wonder priests, Fr Patrick so peaceful and friendly blessing an laying hands on all who pass by. You feel so welcome here. It's history is as enchanting as it beauty. Music is fabulous as well. If looking a must see. read more

Such a beautiful church! Beautiful mass. Love coming here on Sunday mornings especially being away from home this really makes me feel at home. read more

The most beautiful church in LA. The song arrangements are truly what keeps me coming back again and again.

A beautiful church. It's well kept. Mass is nice. Parking is not so nice.

This church has beautiful stained glass windows and a lovely architecture. This church has been in several TV shows and movies for this reason. The parking is small but you can park across the street. read more

Dude. They filmed the Guns n' Roses video for "November Rain" in this church. Awesome!

We love this church! As a visitor, here are some thing you might care to know: The three main priests rotate between the many masses. You may need to visit a few times to hear all the priests. The SATURDAY 5 pm mass has more traditional music with organ. The SUNDAY masses have contemporary songs with piano and usually a small ensemble and/or choir. Sunday 9:45 am is the family mass - lots and lots of small children. Masses are said every weekday at 6:30 am and 8:00 am. You can show up in a suit/dress or sweats, no one will care either way. Like all Catholic churches, St. Brendan is also open during the day for private prayer and reflection. (No, they do not check your Catholic card at the door. Anyone can go in.) There is really no "dress code." At any given mass you might see someone in a suit or "Sunday dress" and someone else in shorts, tshirt, and sandals. The masses are usually standing room only -- filled with families, couples, and individuals of Korean, Filipino, European, African, Hispanic, and other ancestries. You'll fit right in and still get to be "you." Show up a little early if you want to make sure you get a seat. read more

i came here on the urging of regina c. well she told me she would go with me and i'm glad i did. this is such a beautiful pretty church, the mass runs on time and doesn't run long, the choir is almost perfect, and its a great mixture of races. all i need now is to see God's divine hand or some hot angels. wait i might have seen a few. read more

it's funny churches are on yelp (well, they are businesses, so ok)....but this place calms me down in the midst of my hectic hustle&bustle of running around midtown....you don't have to be catholic to come in here- you just have to come in (the doors are open (but at the side of the building- the front ones are locked now) &you'll kno what i mean. read more

I was married at this church in 2003. It was a beautiful experience in a beautiful church. I went to mass here for a few years on and off because I lived far away. However I have very fond memories of the mass. I'm hoping to visit soon with my husband and my two little boys. read more