Building bridges in the Bay Area

Sonnino Mission House is at the center of the Precious Blood mission in California 

In Berkeley, California, years of outreach, making connections, and building relationships have formed the groundwork for the evolution of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood U.S. Province’s newest mission.  

The site is not new: Sonnino Mission House in Berkeley was established by Missionaries of the Precious Blood in the early 1990s as a sanctuary for individuals affected by AIDS, who were often shunned by society and the Church. The location is named for the town in Italy that St. Gaspar del Bufalo saved from destruction through his ministry. The property later became a formation house, then served as a residence and place of prayer and retreat.  

Now the space is evolving to become a spirituality center, a hub from which the charism of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood can be seeded, nourished, and sown into Berkeley and the wider San Francisco Bay Area. Fr. Dave Matz, C.PP.S., is heading up efforts at Sonnino Mission House, aided by Fr. Joe Nassal, C.PP.S. “We offer a safe space for healing and hope, especially for all who find themselves on the fringe of faith,” he says. The outreach centers around marginalized groups, for example, two that have a high population in this area of the country: immigrants and LGBTQ+ people. 

The region is a fertile ground. “In the Bay Area, only 6% of the population affiliates with a religious community,” says Fr. Dave. “I want people to know that they’re children of God, come experience the space, and then move out and be able to use their spiritual empowerment to create a new world.” 

In addition to small group gatherings, Sonnino Mission House has recently held days of reflection, directed retreats, Mass, group suppers, and directed spiritual guidance. However, the specific programming is secondary to the mission’s goal of providing a safe space for accompaniment of those on the margins. In a general audience address in 2023, Pope Francis said, “We discover we are children of God at the moment that we discover we are brothers and sisters, children of the same Father. This is why it is essential to be part of a journeying community. We are not alone, we belong to a people, a nation, a city that is on the move, a Church, a parish, this group … a community on the move.” 

“It’s really about working with the poor, the marginalized, walking with people, and accompanying them on the journey, because we’re all baptized into Christ’s body,” says Fr. Dave. “We’re creating the safe spaces where people can come rejuvenate, renew their spirits and find their voice, and go use that voice out in the world. It’s going to the fringes and bringing those people in. They need a sense of hope, now more than ever.” 

The demographics of the area contribute to the diverse and vibrant community forming at Sonnino Mission House. The Bay Area enjoys a strong academic culture underpinned by various institutes of higher learning, draws workers in the technology sector, has deep roots in the LGBTQ+ community, and is also home to a high population of refugees and immigrants, many of whom fled violence in their native countries. Fr. Dave mentors a group of young adults who are in formation to become Companions, lay associates of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. All the members of this group are involved in ministry. A long-established group of more senior Companions in the area provides wisdom and experience, while benefiting from the fresh perspectives and the energy of the younger group.  

Additionally, the area benefits from a strong presence of the Catholic Church, and Fr. Dave’s foundational work has included making connections with many working in the region. “St. Gaspar’s initial ministry when he returned to Rome after his exile was to offer spiritual renewal to the diocesan clergy,” says Fr. Joe. In the spirit of St. Gaspar’s charism, Sonnino Mission House will also host days of refreshment for diocesan and religious priests.  

With this varied group of people comes a need for support at different places of a spiritual journey — one-size programming does not fit all. “It’s ‘both/and,’” says Fr. Dave. “It’s a mix between a spirituality center and a space where people can find their empowerment and then move out and do their thing. I really think it’s a new way of understanding mission.”