About Naval Air Station Jacksonville (Saint Edward) · Jacksonville, Florida
St. Edward Chapel is the Roman Catholic chapel serving Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville in Florida. Located on Birmingham Avenue at the corner of Mustin Road, the historic chapel was dedicated on January 17, 1943, by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Francis J. Spellman during the World War II buildup of the base. It operates under the Military Ordinariate of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, and is geographically within the Roman Diocese of Saint Augustine. Together with the neighboring All Saints Protestant Chapel and the Religious Ministries Department offices, St. Edward's coordinates Catholic worship, religious education, marriage preparation, and pastoral care for active-duty service members, their families, and civilian employees at the installation.
- Established
- 1943
- Patron
- St. Edward (the Confessor)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Simon Peter Ignacio, S.T.L. (Contract Priest; CDR, CHC, USN)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (Military Ordinariate); located geographically within the Diocese of Saint Augustine
Why belong here
St. Edward Chapel exists specifically to bring Catholic worship and pastoral care to the men and women of NAS Jacksonville — active-duty Sailors, Marines, service members from other branches, their families, retirees, and DoD civilians. A daily Mass Monday through Thursday, a Sunday Mass, First Friday Mass, Saturday confessions, and a year-round CCD/religious education program (September through May, with a summer session) make Catholic life practical for transient military schedules. The chapel also hosts Catholic wedding preparation (four months of formation required) and is part of a multi-faith Chapel Center that coordinates religious, social, and educational events for more than 5,000 people on the base each month. Both chapels are open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for personal prayer and meditation.
Mass times at Naval Air Station Jacksonville (Saint Edward)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
- Upon request
About St. Edward Catholic Chapel at NAS Jacksonville
St. Edward Catholic Chapel is the Roman Catholic worship site serving Naval Air Station Jacksonville, a major U.S. Navy aviation installation in northeastern Florida. Located on Birmingham Avenue at the corner of Mustin Road, the chapel operates as a contract parish of the Diocese of Saint Augustine under the canonical umbrella of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. It ministers to active-duty service members, their families, retirees, and DoD civilians assigned to the base.
- Jurisdiction: Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (Military Ordinariate)
- Geographic diocese: Diocese of Saint Augustine
- Phone: (904) 542-3051 / (904) 542-3052
- Fax: (904) 542-4014
- Email: [email protected]
History
The chapel dates to the massive World War II build-up of NAS Jacksonville. On January 17, 1943, Archbishop Francis J. Spellman of New York (later Cardinal Spellman) traveled to the base to formally dedicate St. Edward's Catholic Chapel. It was built alongside the Protestant All Saints Chapel as part of more than 700 wartime structures on the installation. Although those buildings were only intended to last about 20 years, the historic chapel remains in continuous use, joined today to a modern wing of offices, meeting rooms, and a social hall, with religious education held in Building 749 behind the chapels.
- Dedicated January 17, 1943, by Archbishop (later Cardinal) Francis J. Spellman
- One of 700+ buildings constructed at NAS Jacksonville before V-J Day
- Originally designed for a 20-year service life — still in active use
- Founding date listed variously as 1942 (Diocesan Directory) and 1943 (dedication year)
Clergy and Staff
St. Edward's is currently served as a contract parish by a priest detailed from the Diocese of Saint Augustine. A secretary and a coordinator of religious education staff the office alongside the priest, supporting the sacramental and formation work of the chapel.
- Rev. Msgr. Simon Peter Ignacio, S.T.L. — Contract Priest (CDR, CHC, USN)
- Karen A. Downey — Secretary
- Alline Zwarycz — Coordinator of Religious Education
Religious Education (CCD) and Faith Formation
The chapel runs a year-round Catholic religious education program for the children of military and DoD families stationed at NAS Jacksonville. Classes meet on Sundays during the school year and continue through a summer CCD session so that children who move on Permanent Change of Station (PCS) transfers mid-year can still receive formation.
- Sunday CCD — 11:00 a.m. (September through May)
- Summer CCD — 11:00 a.m. (July and August)
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Alline Zwarycz
Music and Liturgy
Lay faithful support the liturgy through a Catholic choir that rehearses weekly. The combination of a historic chapel and a modern social hall/wing allows the parish to celebrate feast days, First Friday Masses, weddings, and special events for the base community.
- Choir practice — 6:00 p.m. Wednesday (also listed Thursday in one source)
- First Friday Mass offered in addition to the regular weekly schedule
Marriage and Other Sacraments
Because the chapel serves a transient military population, marriage preparation is intentionally front-loaded. Roman Catholic couples must complete four months of formation before their wedding at St. Edward's, twice the minimum lead time for other faith traditions on base. The base duty chaplain is on call 24 hours a day for sacramental emergencies.
- Roman Catholic weddings — four months of preparation required
- All other weddings — at least two months of preparation required
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:30 p.m. or by appointment
- NAS Duty Chaplain — 24-hour line (904) 614-7385
The Chapel Center and Base Religious Ministries
St. Edward's is one half of the multi-faith Chapel Center at NAS Jacksonville. The historic All Saints (Protestant) and St. Edward (Roman Catholic) chapels are physically linked by a wing of offices, meeting rooms, and a social hall, with Building 749 behind them serving as a modern religious education complex. The Religious Ministries Department coordinates worship, formation, counseling, and social events for more than 5,000 people each month on the base.
- Two historic chapels: All Saints (Protestant) and St. Edward (Catholic)
- Connected by a wing of offices, meeting rooms, and a social hall
- Religious education complex in Building 749 (behind the chapels)
- Coordinates religious, social, and educational events for 5,000+ people monthly
- Counseling available by appointment through the Chapel Center
Visiting and Contact
Because the chapel sits inside an active military installation, visitors must clear base access procedures before attending Mass or programs. The main parish office can be reached by phone during business hours, and the NAS Duty Chaplain is on call around the clock for pastoral emergencies affecting service members and their families.
- Address: 751 Birmingham Ave. (Birmingham & Mustin Aves.), NAS Jacksonville, FL 32212
- Mailing: Box 6, NAS Jacksonville, FL 32212
- Office phone: (904) 542-3051 or (904) 542-3052
- Fax: (904) 542-4014
- NAS Duty Chaplain (24 hours): (904) 614-7385