Carmelite Monastery of Cristo Rey

721 Parker Avenue
San Francisco

The Discalced Carmelite Nuns came to Puebla, Mexico from Caravaca, Spain in 1604.  In 1695, they founded the Carmel of San José y Santa Teresa in Guadalajara.  In 1914, they were briefly dispersed into the community by secular military during the Revolution of Carranza.  They returned, but the monastery was seized once again by soldiers in the Cristero Revolution of 1924 for which the battle cry was “Cristo Rey”.  The sisters fled to Los Angeles.  They were discovered there by Fr. Denis Kavanaugh, S. J., who arranged for them to move to several small cottages on Parker Street in San Francisco.

In 1956, the estate of Marie Rita Shomo provided the funds for the present monastery and chapel.

The Carmelite Monastery of Cristo Rey was designed by Paul A. Ryan of Ryan and Lee, Architects, and was built by Carrico Construction.

The unique windows in the chapel were created in 1957 and 1958 by Carl Huneke, Century Stained Glass Studio, San Francisco.  The designs specified by the sisters represent events in the life of Christ through symbols in black and white.  The statues are in the Spanish style. Paul Ryan designed the main altar in the style of Bernini.