About Most Holy Redeemer · Jacksonville, Florida
Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church is a diverse Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of St. Augustine located at 8523 Normandy Boulevard on Jacksonville's Westside. Founded in 1962 as a mission to serve Catholics in the Normandy area, the parish has grown from its first Sunday Mass at a local elementary school into a multilingual worshipping community offering Mass in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Today it welcomes all people through its worship, religious education, youth ministry, RCIA, and outreach programs, in keeping with its mission 'to invite and welcome all people to our faith.'
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- Most Holy Redeemer (Jesus Christ, the Redeemer)
- Rector
- Rev. Adam Izbicki
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
Most Holy Redeemer is a multilingual Catholic home on Jacksonville's Westside where three language communities — English, Spanish, and Vietnamese — worship together at one parish campus. Whether you are raising children, joining the Church through RCIA, looking for middle or high school youth ministry, or seeking a vibrant Hispanic or Vietnamese faith community, the parish offers a real place to belong: weekly Masses, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, religious education K–8, Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, and active Visitation and Welcome ministries.
Mass times at Most Holy Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:15 PM – 4:55 PM
- Sunday: 11:15 AM – 11:55 AM (Spanish / en español)
- 1st and 3rd Sundays: 3:30 PM before Vietnamese Mass
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
- First Thursday, First Friday, and First Saturday: 8:30 AM
Parish History
Most Holy Redeemer was established in 1962 when the Diocese of St. Augustine appointed Fr. Thaddeus P. McHugh to found a mission on Jacksonville's Westside. The first Sunday Mass was offered at Normandy Elementary School on April 8, 1962. A building fund appeal launched February 17, 1963 raised support for a permanent church, which was broken ground on Palm Sunday 1964, opened for worship in August 1964, and formally dedicated on September 6, 1964. The parish's first sacraments followed in 1965, including the first First Communion (69 children on May 9) and the first Confirmation by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley (March 31). The CCD building (now the social hall) and rectory were also completed in 1965. The parish marked its 60th anniversary in 2022.
- 1962 – First Sunday Mass at Normandy Elementary School, April 8
- 1963 – Building fund appeal launched (Feb 17)
- 1964 – Ground broken on Palm Sunday; first Mass in new church Aug 9; formal dedication Sep 6 by Msgr. William J. Mullaly
- 1965 – First First Communion (May 9, 69 children); first Confirmation (Mar 31, by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley)
- 2022 – 60th Anniversary celebrated
Mass & Worship Schedule
Most Holy Redeemer celebrates Mass in three languages each week. Weekday Masses are Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 AM, with an additional Wednesday evening Mass in Spanish at 7:00 PM. The Saturday Vigil is at 5:00 PM. Sunday Masses are at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM in English, 12:00 PM in Spanish, and 4:00 PM in Vietnamese on the 1st and 3rd Sundays. Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings before the Spanish Mass, plus by appointment.
- Tuesday–Friday: 8:00 AM
- Wednesday 7:00 PM — Spanish
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM (English); 12:00 PM (Spanish); 4:00 PM (Vietnamese, 1st & 3rd Sundays)
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Adam Izbicki, with Fr. Cesar Torres-Pinzon in residence. Three deacons serve the community: Deacon Milton Vega, Deacon Emeritus Jack Baker, and Deacon Peter Can Dang, who administers the Vietnamese community. Lay staff coordinate faith formation, youth, RCIA, music, communications, and Hispanic ministry.
- Pastor: Rev. Adam Izbicki ([email protected])
- In Residence: Fr. Cesar Torres-Pinzon
- Deacons: Milton Vega, Jack Baker (emeritus), Peter Can Dang (Vietnamese)
- Director of Religious Education: Michael Fierro, MAT
- Youth Coordinator: Stacia Goral
- RCIA Coordinator: Elia Vega
- Music Director: Emma Barnard
- Parish Secretary: Carol Rowell
- Bookkeeper: Linda Rose
- Bulletin Editor: Myra Bootz
- Hispanic Community Coordinator: Maria Luna
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade is held on Tuesday evenings during the school year from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the Religious Education Building. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is offered through this program. Students preparing for Confirmation meet on Sunday afternoons, and the High School Youth group meets Sunday evenings in the Youth Room inside the social hall.
- K–8 Religious Education: Tuesdays 6:30–7:30 PM
- Confirmation prep on Sundays
- High School Youth: Sundays 6:30–8:30 PM
- Students meet in the Religious Education Building and social hall
Youth Ministry
Most Holy Redeemer's Youth Ministry offers two regular programs. 'Saints-in-Training' is the high school youth group and meets every Sunday from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, beginning at 6:30 PM with the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet. On the second Sunday of each month the group discusses the relationship between Faith and Reason. 'Youth Nite Lite' is for 6th through 8th graders and meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The Youth Coordinator is Stacia Goral ([email protected], 904-962-6860).
- Saints-in-Training (HS): Sundays 7:00–8:30 PM (Rosary at 6:30 PM)
- Youth Nite Lite (6th–8th): 3rd Wednesday 6:30–7:30 PM
- Youth Coordinator: Stacia Goral
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) at Most Holy Redeemer is a gradual process of initiation into the Catholic Faith through prayer, study, discussion and celebration. It is for adults and children over the age of 7 who have not been baptized and wish to explore the Catholic Faith, for adults baptized in another Christian community who wish to be received into the Church, and for baptized Catholics who have not yet received the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation.
- Open to unbaptized adults and children over 7
- For Christians from other denominations seeking full communion
- For baptized Catholics needing Eucharist and Confirmation
- Coordinator: Elia Vega ([email protected], ext. 225)
Multicultural Communities
Most Holy Redeemer is home to three distinct language communities that share one parish campus. The English-speaking community gathers around the Sunday morning Masses and most parish activities. The Hispanic / Spanish community gathers for the Wednesday evening and Sunday noon Masses and is supported by Hispanic Community Coordinator Maria Luna and event coordinator Nancy Serrano. The Vietnamese Community is led by Rev. Nguyen Ngoc Lam (904-434-9191) and Deacon Peter Can Dang (904-214-4356), with Mass celebrated the 1st and 3rd Sundays at 4:00 PM.
- English community — Sunday 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM
- Spanish / Hispanic community — Wed 7:00 PM & Sun 12:00 PM
- Vietnamese community — 1st & 3rd Sun 4:00 PM
- Filipino Ministry of DOSA — Shirley Slonecker
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Beyond worship and formation, Most Holy Redeemer is sustained by parish organizations and lay ministries that welcome newcomers, visit the sick, support parish governance, and lead service. The Welcome Ministry greets newcomers; the Visitation Ministry brings Communion to the homebound; the Knights of Columbus Council 17029 leads men's service and fraternity; and the Council of Catholic Women fosters spiritual and charitable works among the women of the parish. Finance and Pastoral Councils steward parish life.
- Knights of Columbus Council 17029 — Grand Knight Michael Hawthorne
- Council of Catholic Women — President Cheryl Gildner
- Pastoral Council — President Gary McManus
- Finance Council — President Bill Coleman
- Welcome Ministry and Visitation Ministry
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with extended hours on Wednesdays until 4:00 PM. The main parish email is [email protected] and the pastor can be reached at [email protected] (ext. 226). The parish publishes a weekly bulletin and posts news, schedules, and ministry registration forms on its website.
- Address: 8523 Normandy Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32221-6701
- Phone: (904) 786-1192; Fax: (904) 786-786-4224
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–1:00 PM; Wed 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- General email: [email protected]
- Website: https://mhrjax.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Thaddeus P. McHugh1962–1963
Appointed by the Diocese of St. Augustine to establish a mission on Jacksonville's Westside; celebrated the first Sunday Mass at Normandy Elementary School on April 8, 1962.
- Rev. Fr. Francis M. MouchFall 1963 – August 16, 1964
Administrator of the newly formed parish; broke ground for the church on Palm Sunday 1964 and celebrated the first Mass and first two baptisms in the new building on August 9, 1964.
- Rev. Fr. John McCallfrom August 16, 1964
Succeeded Fr. Mouch; presided in the period leading up to the formal dedication on September 6, 1964.
- Rev. Adam Izbickipresent
Current pastor; leads the parish's English, Spanish, and Vietnamese communities.