Star of the Sea Parish, San Francisco

Last week my husband and I visited Star of the Sea Parish, a Catholic Church located at 4420 Geary Blvd. in San Francisco.

I didn't have much history about the work that my great-grandfather did at this parish, but was thrilled when I was doing my investigative work, which I love so much, to notice a familiar carving on their altar. I rifled through loads of my old black and white photos to find an exact match to the carvings!

Before...

After...

Before...

After...

Stunning in person! You can see such dimension after they were gilded.

The following photos are of what I believe Sam carved. His workmanship has a pattern and the beautiful carved ceilings and altar walls are distinctly his work.

such intricate carving dealing on the ceiling...

The stations look undoubtedly like his work

The confessionals as well...

I'm unsure if he did the pews and altar railing, but they very well could be his work.

Martin Ford, the business manager of the parish, kindly took us to the rectory to look through various folders of old receipts to see if there were any traces of Sam Berger. Found nothing, but it was quite interesting and very generous of him to let us in private quarters.

Such a lovely visit to a lovely parish in the Richmond District of San Francisco. 

Now off to see more!

Mission Dolores Basilica: Now

Last week my photographer Kassie and I took a trip to visit Mission Dolores Basilica. It was more amazing than I could ever anticipate. When I realized that all of the carving was done by my great-grandfather, it was really surreal. He carved everything including the alter, ceiling, stations of the cross, and more. It's quite fun to compare the original carvings prior to being painted, and then to see them in their current place. 

It was a dark, rainy day, but here are some lovely shots that Kassie captured. I'll also be adding some photos later that my family took many years ago.


Enjoy this beautiful church!

images: Kassie Borreson, Haus Frau Fotografie

St. Catherine Church, Burlingame, CA

Finally catching up on my research here. It's been awhile since I've posted. My friend Sandy and I recently visited St. Catherine of Siena Church in Burlingame, California.

St. Catherine, a Catholic church, was built in 1909, and Sam Berger did most of the woodcarving in this beautiful church.

Sam did all of the carving on the altar which is quite spectacular in person..

Ambon carved by Sam

So much detailed carving on the walls and confessionals of which he carved all...

The bare wood shows the beautiful grain, color tone and detail. According to one of my cousins, my great-grandfather was quoted as saying, "painting wood is blasphemy." Obviously, he was a purist.

Up and to the left is the organ cover that Sam carved, as well as the railing.

These acorn-shaped adornments are at the base of the railing. They seem to go on forever and are spectacular in person!

This is a small chapel inside the church. It is quite beautiful and again, Sam did most of the carving in here...

St. Catherine's is not only a Catholic Church but also a school for children.

This was a wonderful day seeing yet another breathtakingly beautiful church that my great-grandfather carved. If you're in the Bay Area, you should visit St. Catherine Church. Truly a beauty.


St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
1310 Bayswater Avenue
Burlingame, CA 94010

image credit: Photography by Sandy