About Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel · Pensacola, Florida
The Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel is a historic Roman Catholic minor basilica in downtown Pensacola, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee. Its parish traces its roots to the very first Catholic Mass celebrated in what is now the continental United States — offered by Dominican friars on August 15, 1559, the feast of the Assumption, with Don Tristán de Luna's Spanish expedition. The parish was canonically established on May 10, 1781, and the present Gothic Revival church on North Palafox Street was dedicated on June 6, 1886. On December 28, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI elevated the church to the status of a minor basilica, honoring both its architectural beauty and its exceptional historical significance to the Catholic Church in northwest Florida.
- Established
- 1781
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Raymond Herard (Rector/Pastor)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
Why belong here
St. Michael's is a small but unusually active basilica parish where the faithful can attend Mass and Confession Monday through Friday, spend quiet time in Eucharistic Adoration, and participate in long-standing devotional and service traditions such as the Veronica Guild (outreach to the poor, bereavement, prison, military, parish-at-home and honoring-life ministries), the Our Lady's Sodality (parish women's organization since 1877), the Men of St. Michael, and a faithful choir, lectors and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion. It is also a working heritage site — visitors are warmly welcomed to the open basilica, its Emil Frei stained glass, the nearby eight-acre St. Michael's Cemetery (a designated Florida state park) and a 3-D virtual tour — making it both a place of worship and a living museum of more than 460 years of Catholic presence in Pensacola.
Mass times at Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM (some sources show 11:15–11:45 AM; see Usher for directions)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Monday–Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (follows Confession; some sources note 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM with confessions until 11:45 AM)
History of the Parish
The story of St. Michael's is the story of Catholicism in Pensacola itself: the 1559 De Luna expedition and the first Mass on August 15, the 1781 canonical founding by Father Cyril de Barcelona after the Galvez siege, and the cycle of churches lost to hurricanes (1831), Civil War evacuation fire (1862), and the 1882 Yellow Fever blaze that finally moved the parish to its present Palafox Street site.
- First Mass in present-day U.S.: August 15, 1559 (Dominican friars of the De Luna expedition)
- Canonical founding of parish: May 10, 1781 (Father Cyril de Barcelona, OFM Cap.)
- Cornerstone of current church: laid 1883; dedicated June 6, 1886 by Bishop Jeremiah O'Sullivan of Mobile
- Elevated to Minor Basilica by Pope Benedict XVI: December 28, 2011
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP 79000671)
The Current Church Building
The Gothic Revival basilica was designed by architect Charles Overman and built by contractor John F. Kehoe for $27,000, using red brick from Kehoe's own brickyard (later stuccoed). The interior is entirely Florida pine — vaulted ceiling of arches on support columns, the unique bowed altar rail, and 23 Emil Frei stained glass windows installed under Father Robert Fullerton in the early 1920s.
- 55 ft × 121 ft simple rectangular plan
- Asymmetrical corner towers (42 ft west, 72 ft east) with finials and incipient machicolations
- Brick buttresses with corbelled caps
- Seven original windows survive from 1886; 23 Emil Frei windows installed in the 1920s
- 2020 Conrad Schmitt Studios interior restoration: blue star-studded ceiling, Holy Spirit mural, faux-stone column accents
St. Michael's Cemetery
Adjoining the Basilica, the eight-acre St. Michael's Cemetery has been in use since 1781, was officially designated a burial ground by the King of Spain in 1807, was the only cemetery in the city until 1876, and was dedicated as a Florida state park in 1949. It is now managed by the St. Michael's Cemetery Foundation of Pensacola, Inc., in partnership with the Florida Park Service and the University of West Florida. The oldest documented tomb is that of José Roig (Catalonia, b. 1727, d. 1812).
- Eight acres in the heart of downtown Pensacola
- Designated by the King of Spain in 1807
- Oldest documented tomb: José Roig (d. 1812)
- Managed by the St. Michael's Cemetery Foundation, Inc.
St. Michael's School
Catholic education at the parish dates to 1860; it was interrupted by the Civil War, restarted by the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1871, and reorganized in 1877 when seven Sisters of Mercy from the Motherhouse in New Orleans sailed to Pensacola at Bishop Quinlan's request. Saint Michael School opened that year in a large two-story, sixteen-room house that served as both convent and school.
- First parish school: 1860
- Sisters of the Holy Cross: from 1871
- Sisters of Mercy (New Orleans): from 1877
Liturgical Schedule
Mass is celebrated in English in the basilica on Sundays at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM, and Monday through Friday at 12:10 PM. (There is no Mass on Saturdays.) Confessions are heard Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 11:45 AM (see an Usher), with appointments available on request. Eucharistic Adoration follows from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on weekdays. Holy Days of Obligation are typically observed at 12:10 PM and 6:00 PM; Christmas includes a 4:00 PM Mass on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass with Carols, and a 10:00 AM Mass on Christmas Day.
- Sunday Mass: 9 AM and 11 AM
- Daily Mass: Mon–Fri 12:10 PM
- Confessions: Mon–Fri 11:00–11:45 AM (or by appointment)
- Eucharistic Adoration: Mon–Fri 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Holy Days: 12:10 PM and 6:00 PM (verify with bulletin)
- Christmas: 4 PM Christmas Eve, Midnight, 10 AM Christmas Day
Livestream and Media
The Basilica runs an in-house Media Ministry that publishes the bulletin, maintains the website, produces original short films ('Basilica Films'), and livestreams Mass. Daily Mass (Mon–Fri 12:10 PM) and Sunday Masses (9 AM and 11 AM) are streamed live on the Basilica's YouTube channel; replays are available when the cameras are off.
- Daily livestream Mon–Fri at 12:10 PM
- Sunday livestream at 9 AM and 11 AM
- Original 'Basilica Films' series (e.g., 'From Ashes', '96 Days', 'The True Stories of the Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel')
- Sponsor credits available for film productions
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The parish's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly RCIA) welcomes inquirers through four stages — Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification and Preparation (during Lent), and Initiation at the Easter Vigil — followed by a period of Mystagogy. Baptized Catholics may also complete their initiation through Confirmation and First Eucharist in this process.
- Inquiry (no commitment)
- Catechumenate
- Purification & Preparation (Lent)
- Initiation at Easter Vigil
- Mystagogy
- Contact: Deborah Clipper — [email protected]
Faith Formation & Family Catechesis
St. Michael's hybrid Family Catechesis program empowers parents as the primary educators of their children. Preschool through high-school families gather monthly in the Parish Hall (after the 11:00 AM Mass) for shared meals, communal prayer, hands-on activities, and parent teaching sessions, paired with at-home lessons covering the pillars of Catholic faith and the liturgical calendar.
- Monthly parish family gatherings in Parish Hall after 11 AM Mass
- Weekly at-home lessons for the family
- Parent empowerment and free parish resources
- Contact: Justin Hartwell — [email protected]
Liturgical Ministries
A full range of liturgical roles is filled by trained parishioners, coordinated in part through Deacon Steve Wulf as sacristan-overseer. Lectors must be at least 16 years old, baptized and confirmed.
- Altar Servers (boys and girls, age 10+, baptized and First Communicants)
- Altar Guild — church upkeep, votive candles, holy water
- Altar Linen Angels
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (mandated by the Bishop)
- Lectors (age 16+, baptized and confirmed)
- Sacristans (under Deacon Wulf)
- Ushers and Security Committee
- Offertory Counters
- Choir (Wednesday 7 PM rehearsal; sings 11 AM Sunday Mass)
Parish Life & Organizations
Parishioners gather in a number of long-standing groups. The Veronica Guild coordinates outreach to the poor, the bereaved, the homebound, prisoners, local military, and the unborn (Fridays for Life). Our Lady's Sodality unites the women of the parish; the Men of St. Michael focuses on men's spiritual growth; and the Women's Study Group meets Wednesday mornings in the Parish Hall.
- Veronica Guild — Outreach to the Poor, Bereavement, Parishioners at Home, Prison, Military, Honoring Life ('Fridays for Life')
- Our Lady's Sodality — meets 2nd Monday, 4:30 PM social / 5:00 PM business (no June–August)
- Men of Saint Michael
- Women's Study Group (Wednesdays 9–11 AM, Parish Hall)
- Palafox Market Guardians — Saturdays during the Palafox Open Air Market
Visiting the Basilica
The parish welcomes visitors to experience both its spiritual life and its architectural heritage. A self-guided 3-D virtual tour and a narrated video tour are available on the website; an in-person guided tour inside the basilica can also be arranged. The basilica's interior doors are open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Adjoining St. Michael's Cemetery (a Florida state park) offers a walkable open-air museum of Pensacola's multicultural history.
- 3-D self-guided virtual tour on parish website
- Narrated video tour ('Finding God in St Michael's Basilica')
- In-person guided tours available
- Open for visits Tue–Fri 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Adjoining St. Michael's Cemetery (Florida state park since 1949)
Staff & Governance
The Basilica is staffed by a small team of clergy and lay professionals, under the pastoral care of the Rector and the oversight of the Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee (Bishop William 'Bill' Wack).
- Rev. Raymond Herard — Rector/Pastor
- Msgr. Stephen Bosso — Pastor Emeritus
- Deacon Stephen (Steve) Wulf
- Maureen Menton — Office Manager
- Kevin Maiberger — Finance Manager
- Jimmy Andrews — Media Specialist
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Cyril de Barcelona, OFM Cap.1781 (founding chaplain)
Capuchin missionary; chaplain to the Galvez armada; blessed the original warehouse church May 8, 1781; later Auxiliary Bishop of Louisiana and the Floridas (1787).
- Father Pedro de Velezafter 1781
First resident pastor of the parish after its canonical founding.
- Father John Symphorian Guinandfrom c. 1833
French priest; assigned as permanent pastor after the Jefferson/Church streets church was finally completed in 1833.
- Father Patrick CoyleCivil War era (c. 1861–1862)
Commissioned a Confederate chaplain during the Civil War.
- Father John Baptist Baasen1882–
Prussian-born missionary; the 1882 Yellow Fever fire victim; purchased the current Palafox Street site for $3,500; oversaw construction of the present church.
- Father J. P. McCafferty1900–1903
Installed a new organ and the life-like Stations of the Cross memorials.
- Father Robert Fullerton1904–1926
Replaced original windows with the Emil Frei stained glass windows still treasured today.
- Rev. Joseph Calliparec. 2020
Rector during the 2020 Conrad Schmitt Studios interior restoration; drew inspiration from Notre Dame's Sacred Heart Basilica ceiling.
- Very Rev. Joseph Fowler II, JCLlisted 2024 diocesan directory
Listed as Rector in the 2024 diocesan directory.
- Rev. Raymond Herardinstalled by Bishop William Wack (per parish site)
Current Rector/Pastor; installation officiated by Bishop William 'Bill' Wack.