Our story begins with our namesake, Saint Jarlath, a contemporary of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Jarlath was consecrated as a bishop without a diocese, but a prophecy revealed that he would establish a diocese where the wheel of his carriage broke. True to the prophecy, St. Jarlath founded the Diocese of Tuam in Connaught, Ireland, which became known as one of the most Catholic dioceses in the Christian community.

In the early 1900s, a native of the Tuam Diocese, Reverend Patrick McHugh, embarked on a mission to the United States and was assigned to the parish of Our Lady Star of the Sea in San Francisco. In 1910, he became the pastor of a parish in Oakland with no land or parish house. Father McHugh’s determination led him to purchase a piece of land on the corner of Fruitvale and Montana, where he began building our first church.

On Christmas Eve of 1910, we celebrated our first Mass in the newly constructed church, and on May 11, 1911, Archbishop Patrick W. Riordan consecrated our parish. Over the years, our community grew, and Father McHugh opened a branch church at the corner of High Street and Allendale Avenue, which eventually became the Parish of St. Lawrence O’Toole.

Father McHugh’s dream of establishing a school for the children of our parishioners and others came true in 1930. The school and convent were blessed by Archbishop E.J. Hanna and entrusted to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, dedicated to Catholic education.

Throughout the years, our parish has seen various pastors who have guided and nurtured our community. Each has left a lasting impact on the life of Saint Jarlath. Our parish has witnessed growth, challenges, and renovations, but through it all, our faith and commitment to serving all people have remained steadfast.