About Holy Spirit · Pensacola, Florida
The Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit is a parish in the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee serving the western end of Pensacola and the Perdido Key area on Florida's Gulf Coast. Located at 10650 Gulf Beach Highway, the parish is a community of more than 500 households who gather for English-language Masses throughout the week. Father Thomas S. Collins has served as pastor since July 2013, and the parish is supported by a Family Life Center, a playground and pavilion, and a long tradition of faith formation that includes Vacation Bible School and baptism preparation classes.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- Holy Spirit
- Rector
- Father Thomas S. Collins
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
Why belong here
Holy Spirit is a close-knit parish of more than 500 households on Pensacola's western Gulf Beach Highway, where families worship together in a 500-seat church rebuilt after a 1997 fire. The parish lives out its mission of evangelization, worship and stewardship through daily and weekend Masses in English, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Friday and Saturday confession times, and faith-formation programs including baptism classes and Vacation Bible School. With a Family Life Center, playground and pavilion supporting community life, Holy Spirit is a welcoming parish Fully Alive, where old and young alike meet to praise and worship the Lord.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is available in the parish chapel; contact the office for schedule and access details.
Mission and Identity
Holy Spirit Parish states its identity clearly: 'We, the Holy Spirit Catholic Family, celebrate the love of God in our communities by engaging in Evangelization, Worship and Stewardship.' The parish describes itself as 'Fully Alive,' a place where old and young alike meet to praise and worship the Lord. As of the latest parish history update, Holy Spirit is a community of more than 500 households.
- Mission: celebrate God's love through Evangelization, Worship and Stewardship
- Over 500 households in the parish family
- Located on the western edge of Pensacola near Perdido Key
Parish History
Holy Spirit traces its origins to a 1955 meeting called by Father Roland Inkel of St. John Parish for Catholic families between Pleasant Grove and Innerarity Point. Within months, Mass was being said in a dance hall donated by Ignatius Quina. In 1956 Bishop Thomas J. Toolen purchased the 12-acre site on Gulf Beach Highway for $11,000, and on April 16, 1967 Bishop Joseph G. Vath blessed and dedicated the new mission church (220 seats, $50,000). Holy Spirit became an independent parish in June 1976 when Bishop Rene Gracida appointed Father James Smith as its first pastor.
- 1955: organizational meeting called by Father Roland Inkel
- 1956: Bishop Toolen purchases the 12-acre site for $11,000
- April 16, 1967: Bishop Joseph G. Vath blesses the new mission church
- June 1976: Holy Spirit becomes an independent parish under Bishop Rene Gracida
Fire, Rebuilding and Hurricane Ivan
On February 15, 1997, fire destroyed 80% of the church. Weekend Masses and Religious Education classes moved to Jim Bailey Middle School, while a chapel, meeting room and office were fitted into the surviving portion of the old building. Because plans to rebuild were already underway, construction went forward and the first Mass in the new 500-seat church was celebrated on April 23, 1998. The Family Life Center was built in 1999 and dedicated on August 8 of that year. On September 16, 2004, Category 3 Hurricane Ivan pushed gulf water across Gulf Beach Highway into the parking lot, damaging parish buildings and most parishioners' homes.
- February 15, 1997: fire destroys 80% of the church
- April 23, 1998: first Mass in the rebuilt 500-seat church
- August 8, 1999: Family Life Center dedicated
- September 16, 2004: Hurricane Ivan damages parish buildings
Architecture and the Chancel Window
The 1998 church was designed for 500 worshippers. Its defining artistic feature is the chancel window, designed around the theme of the Holy Spirit with the inclusion of the other Persons of the Trinity and evoking the descent of the Holy Spirit into the Church. The imagery depicts the sacrifice of Christ and references to the Eucharist — bread and wine. The window is rendered in an abstract style using all German mouth-blown glass: some Opak (which captures and disperses light while controlling glare) and some transparent, giving the piece visual depth so the design can be read from outside the church at night when the interior is lit.
- 500-seat worship space rebuilt in 1998
- Abstract-style chancel window depicting Holy Spirit and Trinity
- German mouth-blown Opak and transparent glass
- Imagery of Christ's sacrifice, bread and wine (Eucharist)
Faith Formation and Sacraments
Holy Spirit offers religious education and sacrament preparation throughout the year. Parents preparing for the Baptism of a child under the age of 7 attend formation classes held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM in the Macon Room; advance registration is required and classes with no registrants may be cancelled. The parish also runs an annual Vacation Bible School, with the 2025 'True North' program meeting each day in the Family Life Center from 9:00 AM to noon. Couples and families should contact the parish office for marriage preparation, anointing of the sick, and other sacramental needs.
- Baptism preparation — 2nd Wednesday, 6:30 PM, Macon Room
- Religious Education classes (historically held at Jim Bailey Middle School after the 1997 fire)
- Vacation Bible School (annual, in the Family Life Center)
- Marriage, Anointing and other sacraments via the parish office
Parish Facilities and Grounds
The 12-acre Gulf Beach Highway campus includes the 500-seat church (1998), the Family Life Center dedicated in 1999, the rectory built in the late 1970s, a parish hall added in 1986, and a playground and pavilion area added in Father Collins's first year. The Family Life Center is used extensively for educational classes, recreation and social gatherings throughout the year.
- 500-seat church (rebuilt 1998)
- Family Life Center (dedicated 1999)
- Rectory (built 1978–1981)
- Parish hall (added 1986)
- Playground and pavilion (added 2013–2014)
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach Holy Spirit at 10650 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, FL 32507, by phone at (850) 492-0837 (fax 850-492-4968), or by email at [email protected]. From Blue Angel Parkway and Gulf Beach Highway (at the Navy Base back gate), travel 1.5 miles west on Old Gulf Beach Highway; the church is on the right. The parish also maintains an active presence on Facebook.
- Address: 10650 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, FL 32507
- Office: (850) 492-0837 | Fax: (850) 492-4968
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: holyspiritperdido.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/holyspiritperdido/
- Directions: 1.5 miles west on Old Gulf Beach Highway from Blue Angel Parkway
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James Smith1976–1978
First pastor when the mission became an independent parish under Bishop Rene Gracida.
- Monsignor James Amos1978–1981
Built the rectory at a cost of $49,500.
- Monsignor James Gallagher1981–1989
January 1981–August 1, 1989; three deacons ordained in 1981; parish hall added in 1986. Remained as Pastor Emeritus until his death on February 8, 2000.
- Monsignor James Amosafter 2000–2002
Returned until his death on April 14, 2002.
- Monsignor James Flaherty2002–2012
Led the parish through the 1997 fire and rebuilding, the 1998 new church, the 1999 Family Life Center, and the 2004 Hurricane Ivan damage; reassigned January 2012.
- Father James Valenzuela2012–2013
Parish Administrator from January 2012.
- Father Thomas S. Collins2013–present
Assigned July 2013; oversaw the addition of the playground, pavilion area, and improved drainage.