About Immaculate Conception · Jacksonville, Florida
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is the oldest Catholic congregation in Jacksonville, Florida, founded as a parish on December 8, 1854 — the very day Pope Pius IX defined the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Located in the heart of downtown at 121 East Duval Street, it is the mother church from which most of Jacksonville's first Catholic parishes were spun off, and it serves roughly 800 families today. The current limestone church was dedicated in 1910 and is one of the finest Late Gothic Revival houses of worship in Florida. On June 21, 2013 the Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome raised the church to the status of a Minor Basilica, making it one of only six basilicas in Florida and roughly 77 in the United States.
- Established
- 1854
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Jan Ligeza, S.T.L.
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine (Bishop: Most Rev. Erik T. Pohlmeier)
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is downtown Jacksonville's historic Catholic heart — a mother church for the diocese and a Minor Basilica that draws a daily Mass crowd of working neighbors, students, retirees, and Spanish-speaking faithful from across the city. Worshippers encounter a full traditional schedule with three Sunday Masses (one in Spanish, plus a Latin/English Novus Ordo on the first Sunday), daily Mass Monday through Saturday, daily Rosary, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and First Friday devotions with Benediction. The parish forms disciples through both English and Spanish OCIA tracks, prepares children for First Communion and Confirmation, and welcomes couples for marriage in one of the most beautiful Gothic Revival churches in Florida.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes prior to every daily and weekend Mass, until 10 minutes before Mass begins
- By appointment with one of the priests — call the parish office at (904) 359-0331
Adoration times
- Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after the 7:30 a.m. daily Mass
- First Friday of the month: Exposition, followed by the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Benediction
History of the Basilica
The story of Immaculate Conception begins in 1829, when Catholic families in Jacksonville hosted Mass in their homes with priests riding in from Georgia. A small wooden church at Duval and Newnan Streets was dedicated in 1847 under the title of the Immaculate Conception — seven years before Pope Pius IX formally defined that dogma on December 8, 1854, the very day the mission was elevated to a parish and Father William J. Hamilton installed as its first pastor. The parish was sacked by Union troops during the Civil War in 1863, rebuilt as a brick church in 1874, and then destroyed again in the Great Fire of 1901. The present white-Kentucky-limestone basilica was designed by M. H. Hubbard and dedicated on December 8, 1910. It received a solemn dedication in 1979, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, and was raised to a Minor Basilica by the Holy See in 2013.
- 1829–1854: Home Masses served by visiting priests from Savannah and St. Augustine
- 1847: First small wooden church built at Duval & Newnan Streets
- 1854: Parish formally established December 8; first pastor Fr. William J. Hamilton
- 1863: Union troops sack and burn the church during the Civil War
- 1868: Parish school opened under the Sisters of St. Joseph
- 1874: New red-brick church completed
- May 3, 1901: Great Fire of Jacksonville destroys the brick church
- 1907–1910: Third and present church built by Halsema-Woodcock Co.
- December 8, 1910: Church dedicated on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- 1979: Solemn dedication (cannot be demolished or repurposed)
- December 30, 1992: Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
- June 21, 2013: Holy See designates the church a Minor Basilica
Pastor and Pastoral Staff
The current pastor is Very Rev. Jan Ligeza, S.T.L., a priest of Polish origin who was ordained in 2003 and previously served parishes in Jacksonville and the western part of the Diocese of St. Augustine. He studied at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and is a passionate scholar of Sacred Music, organ performance, and Gregorian Chant. He is assisted by a parochial vicar (Rev. Carlos Lopera or, per the staff page, Rev. Cristian Cardenas, who oversees the Hispanic pastoral ministry) and Deacon Chuck Patterson, who also coordinates Baptism preparation in English.
- Pastor — Very Rev. Jan Ligeza, S.T.L.
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Carlos Lopera
- Parochial Vicar (Ministerio Pastoral Hispano) — Rev. Cristian Cardenas
- Deacon — Deacon Chuck Patterson
Parish Office & Support Staff
A small professional team supports the parish's daily operations, music program, liturgical life, and facilities in the historic downtown basilica.
- Office Administrator — Heather Allen (per diocesan directory) / Cathryn Morency (per parish bulletin)
- Office Assistant / Parish Life Facilitator — Paul Witkowski
- Facilities / Business Manager — Chris McClelland
- Director of Music & Liturgical Coordinator — Erin Gawera
- Wedding Rehearsal Coordinator — Cathryn Morency
- Housekeeper — Diana Perez
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The parish forms disciples in both English and Spanish. Adults preparing for full initiation enter the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). Children and teens prepare for First Holy Communion and Confirmation in their respective language tracks, and parents preparing a child's Baptism are walked through the requirements by a deacon or coordinator.
- OCIA (English) — George Howell
- OCIA (Spanish) — Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother
- First Communion / Confirmation (English) — Fr. Jan Ligeza
- First Communion / Confirmation (Spanish) — Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother
- Baptism Parent Preparation (English) — Deacon Chuck Patterson
- Baptism Parent Preparation (Spanish) — Noe Lopez
Marriage at the Basilica
Couples interested in being married at the Basilica are invited to contact the parish office at (904) 359-0331 or to fill out the online inquiry form published on the parish website.
- Wedding Rehearsal Coordinator — Cathryn Morency ([email protected])
Music & Liturgy
Music is central to the basilica's identity. Music Director and Liturgical Coordinator Erin Gawera oversees the music program, and the pastor's own background in Sacred Music, Gregorian Chant, and organ performance shapes the parish's reverence for the Church's liturgical heritage. The First Sunday Latin/English Novus Ordo Mass is one expression of that heritage.
- Director of Music & Liturgical Coordinator — Erin Gawera ([email protected])
- Liturgy Committee — chaired by Erin Gawera
Architecture of the Basilica
The current church is a textbook Late Gothic Revival landmark designed by Jacksonville architect M. H. Hubbard and built by Halsema-Woodcock Co. between 1907 and 1910. Its white Kentucky limestone shell, cruciform plan, pointed arches, tracery windows, buttresses, twin spires, and 178.5-foot gold-cross steeple make it one of the most celebrated Gothic Revival churches in Florida. The interior is illuminated by full-height stained-glass windows produced in Munich, Germany by the Mayer Stained Glass Company. From 1910 until 1913 it was the tallest structure in the city.
- Style: Late Gothic Revival
- Architect: M. H. Hubbard (also designed Bethel Baptist Institutional Church)
- Builder: Halsema-Woodcock Co.
- Construction: 1907–1910
- Materials: White Kentucky limestone exterior, Munich-made stained glass
- Steeple: 178.5 ft (54.4 m), topped with a gold-plated cross
- NRHP #92001695; listed December 30, 1992
Parish Leadership & Stewardship
Lay leadership and financial stewardship are organized through councils and committees that help sustain the basilica's worship, outreach, and historic-preservation projects. A special fundraising campaign is currently supporting new church flooring, roof repairs, wall-crack restoration, pew and kneeler refurbishment, and sacristy renovations.
- Parish Council Chairperson — Erin Gawera
- Finance Council Chairperson — Barry McMenamy
- Liturgy Committee — Erin Gawera
- Stewardship Committee — Leader Needed
Getting Involved & Contact
The parish welcomes new parishioners, daily-Mass regulars, tourists exploring downtown, and Spanish-speaking Catholics from across the metro area. Those interested in becoming parishioners, scheduling a Baptism or marriage, joining the music ministry, signing up as a regular adorer, or supporting the current capital campaign are encouraged to contact the parish office.
- Address: 121 East Duval Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
- Phone: (904) 359-0331
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–4 p.m. (website); bulletin lists 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Mon–Thu and 8 a.m.–11 a.m. Fri
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William J. Hamilton1854–
First pastor; Irish priest and graduate of All Hallows College, Dublin; came from the Diocese of Savannah to dedicate the church and serve as its spiritual leader.
- Fr. John Kenny
Pastor who presided at the dedication of the third church in 1910 and organized relief after the Great Fire of 1901; later became the next Bishop of St. Augustine.
- Fr. Michael Maher
Long-tenured pastor who helped lead the parish into its maturity as a downtown religious cornerstone in the early 20th century.
- Fr. James J. Meehan
Served during the 35-year period after the third church was dedicated; co-led the parish into maturity alongside Fr. Maher.
- Fr. Antonio Leon
Pastor who first requested minor-basilica designation in 2005; died before it was granted (Rest in Peace).
- Fr. Edward Murphy
Recent pastor preceding Fr. Blair Gaynes.
- Fr. Blair Gaynes
Recent pastor.
- Very Rev. Jan Ligeza, S.T.L.2024–present
Current pastor; Polish-born, ordained 2003, studied Sacred Music and Gregorian Chant at the Catholic University of America.