Jacksonville, Fla. – A Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of the elevation of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church to the status of a Minor Basilica, will take place on Monday, Dec. 9, at 5:30 p.m., at the church, 121 E. Duval Street. Bishop Felipe J. Estévez will be the chief celebrant along with priests of the diocese.

Public officials expected to attend, include Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, Representative Corinne Brown, and representatives from Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s Jacksonville office.    

The oldest Catholic Church in Jacksonville, Immaculate Conception was established on Dec. 8, 1854. A casualty of the Civil War, Union soldiers burned and pillaged the church in 1863. Undaunted, a new brick church was built 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 and namesake of Jacksonville’s Bishop Kenny High School, was instrumental in the rebuilding of both the church and downtown Jacksonville. Today, Immaculate Conception still contributes to the ongoing efforts of the city to revitalizing our downtown.

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.

In May, Bishop Estévez 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.

“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,” said Bishop Estévez.

Immaculate Conception, under the current leadership of Father Edward Murphy as pastor, becomes the 77th minor basilica in the United States, the second in the Diocese of St. Augustine and the sixth in Florida. The other minor basilicas in Florida, in order of their rank in the U.S., are: Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (26th), Basilica of St. Paul in Daytona Beach (57th), Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando (63rd), Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in Pensacola (71st) and the Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West (72nd).

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.*Please contact the Office of Communications at (904) 262-0697 or email jbfreiha@dosafl.com if you plan to cover the Mass and/or reception so arrangements can be made to assist you.