Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine - St. Augustine, Florida

(Photos courtesy of the
Diocese of Saint Augustine)

Destination: The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, “America’s First Parish,” is the oldest Catholic parish in the United States.
Masses at the cathedral are at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday; 5 p.m. Saturday; 7, 9, 11 a.m. and  5 p.m. Sunday.
Why to go: Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés’ expedition from Spain landed in what would become Florida on Aug. 28, 1565. The day he spotted that first land, which is now Cape Canaveral, was the feast of St. Augustine. He decided to name his first settlement after the saint.
Menéndez and his crew sailed further along the coast, eventually stopping in early September at a site called Mission Nombre de Dios (above, left), which is where Father López de Mendoza Grajales celebrated the first Mass of the new settlement. Today’s Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine (above, right) is down the street from the site of the first Mass.
In 1586, the English, led by Sir Francis Drake, burned the settlement and the church. By 1786, the Spanish again controlled the area, and the crown ordered a new parish church for St. Augustine be built. The cornerstone was laid in 1793 and the church completed in August 1797.
After an 1887 fire, started in a nearby hotel, damaged the church, the pastor made a nationwide appeal for help in rebuilding. At that time, the church was enlarged and a bell tower added.
A nearby chapel, the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, is the oldest Marian shrine in the U.S.
Special events: At 5:30 p.m. on the Fridays of Lent, the parish hosts a soup supper at the Bishop Baker Center. Stations of the Cross follow.
On March 5 at 6 p.m., the cathedral’s First Friday Art Walk Concert series will feature sopranos Cara and Catie Hutson and Ellen Marini.
Amenities: The Cathedral Bell Tower Gift Shop is located inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine and to the left. It is closed during any liturgy, but is otherwise open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10-11 a.m. and noon-5 p.m.
Access: Parking is restricted in several areas around the parish. Check the Web site for details.
(Grand) Kid friendly: The cathedral is a working parish with a school attached, so children are more than welcome.
Info: Address: Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, 35 Treasury St., St. Augustine, FL 32084. Phone: 904/824-2806. Web: www.thefirstparish.org

- Compiled by Sharon Boehlefeld
Send your Catholic destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org