Jacksonville, Fla. – Pope Francis recently designated Immaculate Conception Catholic Church a “Minor Basilica.” The oldest Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Immaculate Conception was established on Dec. 8, 1854.

“In May, I made the request and submitted the necessary documentation for this honor through the Holy See’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments,” said Bishop Felipe J. Estévez of St. Augustine. “Immaculate Conception was granted this designation because of its historical and spiritual significance to the Diocese of St. Augustine and its worthiness of art and architecture.”

To receive the designation of a minor basilica, a church must be a center of active and pastoral liturgy with a vibrant Catholic community and have unique historical, artistic or religious importance.

Immaculate Conception, under the current leadership of Father Edward Murphy as pastor, becomes the 77^th minor basilica in the United States, the second in our diocese and the sixth in Florida.

The diocese will commemorate the raising of Immaculate Conception to the status of a minor basilica at a Mass on Monday, Dec. 9 at 5:30 p.m. at the church, 121 E. Duval Street, with Bishop Estévez as the chief celebrant. More information will follow.

A historical landmark in Jacksonville since 1854 as a small wooden building on the corner of Ocean and Duval streets, Immaculate Conception was burned to the ground by pillaging Union soldiers in 1863. A new brick church was built on the same site and dedicated in 1873.

In 1901, along with most of the city of Jacksonville, the entire parish complex was destroyed by the Great Fire. Bishop William J. Kenny, a former pastor of Immaculate Conception, was instrumental in not only the rebuilding of Immaculate Conception but downtown Jacksonville as well. Today, Immaculate Conception still contributes to the ongoing efforts of the city to revitalizing our downtown.

The other minor basilicas in Florida, in order of their rank in the U.S., are: Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (26^th), Basilica of St. Paul in Daytona Beach (57th), Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando (63^rd), Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in Pensacola (71^st) and the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West (72^nd).  

A basilica is a church granted special privileges by the Vatican. Most are minor basilicas, but a few of special importance are called major basilicas. There are four major basilicas in the Catholic Church and they are located in Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls.