Jacksonville, Fla. – At the invitation of Bishop Felipe J. Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine, the papal ambassador to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, will be the chief celebrant during a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrating the 90th anniversary of St. Paul Catholic Church in Riverside. The celebration is Sunday, Sept. 15, at 11 a.m., 2609 Park Street.
A Jacksonville landmark, Father William Barry served as the church’s first pastor and celebrated the first Mass on Sept. 16, 1923, on the ground floor of a three-story building now used as part of the parish school.
“The first floor was the church, second floor housed classrooms for school children, and the third floor was used as living quarters for the Sisters of St. Joseph who came to teach,” said 86-year-old, longtime parishioner Catherine Heaney Burns. “It all worked out.”
During the 1930s and 1940s, St. Paul Parish served as a refuge – a place for comfort and relief – during the Depression and World War II.
The present church, a Mediterranean Revival-style, was built and dedicated by the church’s second pastor, Msgr. Dennis Lyons on Easter Sunday, March 24, 1940.
“We’re proud of our history and our strong standing in the community,” said Father Sal Di Fazio, the seventh and current pastor. “St. Paul Parish stands as a true testament to the work and teachings of St. Paul himself. He was and still is the greatest evangelizer of all time.”
Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò to be the new nuncio to the United States on Oct. 19, 2011. He succeeds the late Archbishop Pietro Sambi in Washington. Prior to his appointment, Archbishop Viganò served for two years as secretary-general of the commission governing Vatican City.
A reception will follow at the Parish Hall. A gala dinner/dance is planned for later that evening. For tickets to the dinner and information, call (904) 387-2554.
The Diocese of St. Augustine encompasses 17 counties of North Florida. It serves more than 182,000 registered Catholics and provides outreach services to members of the community through more than 50 ministries and agencies.