San Francisco

San Antonios Church San Francisco CA San Antonios Church San Francisco CA San Antonios Church San Francisco CA San Antonios Church San Francisco CA San Antonios Church San Francisco CA San Antonios Church San Francisco CA San Antonios Church San Francisco CA

St. Antonios Church

Driving towards (SFO), trip is getting close to final destination. We are now few miles away from (SFO) in the heart of Silicon Valley. We planned to stay in Hayward (a suburb about 30 miles north of (SFO), where our Coptic Orthodox Church is located. That was a good choice; because 2 families incidentally visited (SFO) in similar period of time we visited, and they stayed downtown SFO, which is relatively more expensive.

Reaching (SFO) downtown around 3:00 PM and cross it to bay area around 4:00 PM. How to go to St. Antonius Coptic Church from Hayward was a challenge. I printed map area to the church from Internet, combined with Fr. Metthias directions, but without success. Circling Jackson St. West many times without seeing E St. or East St. to get to Hansen St.

We drove back and forth wasted 2 hours without reaching the church. Luckily we found a nice new Motel called (Discovery), so we got a room to relax. This motel is roughly 2-3 miles away from the Coptic Church. Continued our search to our church with my son. The real confusion that prevented us to reach the church was; as we proceed the end of Jackson St., we saw sing of beginning of 3 Highways (580, 680,..), so I turned right or left , and no trace of E St. We asked many persons many of them cannot recognize church address , and few described to me how to reach E St..One common thread is to stay on right lane. Still no way. During these futile trials , my son saw a church that has staples and dome close to Coptic art and he told "I see the church here it is" pointed to that direction I saw a church. I could not believe that a Coptic Church may have such a nice location and large enough to be seen from a distance.

Driving Jackson St. West, the right lane continues to be Main St, middle and left lanes continue to Highways. I drove a lot but I did not see such a mix and confusion. Last intersection does not mention anything that Jackson St. is branching out into Main St. and Jackson St. That is why we all our attempts were aborted. Getting to the Church even for native person of San Francisco or Hayward is a real challenge.

Well that church turned to be a Greek Orthodox Church, and nice member who knows Coptic Orthodox Church gave clear directions to reach our long waited church.

There was large number of congregation on Saturday evening!! This was because of graduation party. I met Fr. Metthias who welcomed us heartily and showed main church. My son and I excused him so that we can change and bring my wife to see the church....it was a long searching day.

St. Antonios Church is very nice, best thing that church size is large compared to lot size. The church was built over 10 years ago.Church building was extended once before to accommodate for congregation growth. During this visit every church member is so excited because they are about to start 2-story building for Sunday School.

Priest residence is in same lot that, about 10 feet away from church building. St. Antonios Coptic Church is advanced in publishing and printing, I think that every one knows about St. Antonios Books that enriched Coptic Church in USA.

The church as a building from inside is very simplified, walls are covered by wood which is matching ceiling woods. You cannot see any sign of church extension. Icons that decorate church are done by a nice female artist who brought Coptic art in a very nice way. A good team works by night preparing (holy bread) Qorban. Many members are participating into different activities.

Saturday evening we spent Bible Study the three of us,later on together with Abouna we had a lovely tour in the church and different activities. Abouna welcomed my family and introduced tasony Nadia to us, it was a very warm reception.

Sunday we attended the Mass, there is something, I would like to point to. Sunday readings are printed in English and in Arabic and available for congregation to read with deacon. The Mass has 2 preaching, one in English after Gospel reading and one in Arabic after Mass is done. Fr. Metthias is an active priest, that every now and then has what is called (Open House) inviting those who do not speak or understand Arabic, he explains our Church and Faith in a simplified and interactive way.

After Mass we met with a group of people who welcomed us gave some generalized non-specific information about (SFO) downtown.