Jacksonville, Fla. – The Diocese of St. Augustine will once again celebrate the feast day of the patron saint of the diocese – St. Augustine of Hippo – and namesake of the city, during the annual Augustinian Day on Wednesday, Aug. 28, beginning with 7 a.m. Mass celebrated by Father Tom Willis, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine.
That evening, Bishop Felipe J. Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine will preside over solemn Vespers (evening prayer) at 6 p.m., at the Cathedral, followed by the Augustinian Address with guest speaker Father Michael McNally, pastor of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Fort Pierce, at 7 p.m. at the Bishop Baker Parish Center, 259 St. George Street, St. Augustine.
An author and church historian, Father McNally will discuss Three Pastors from Three Periods of Florida Catholic History during this year’s Augustinian Address.
The annual Augustinian Address invites leading Catholic scholars to speak on St. Augustine of Hippo, the 4th century bishop of the church, as well as the history of the Catholic Church in Florida.
Previous Augustinian Day speakers included: Bishop Robert Baker, former pastor of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine and current bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham; Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, and others.