About San Francisco de Asis Church Location · Flagstaff, Arizona
San Francisco de Asís Catholic Parish is the consolidated Roman Catholic community serving Flagstaff, Arizona, in the Diocese of Phoenix. The parish was formed in 1997 by merging three historic Flagstaff parishes, and today its mission — 'Inspired by the life of St. Francis, we witness the grace and love of Jesus Christ through Evangelization, Religious Education, Celebration of the Sacraments, and Service to others' — is lived out from a modern church-and-school campus on McMillan Mesa with sweeping views of the San Francisco Peaks. The parish cares for two beloved historic chapels, Our Lady of Guadalupe (1926) and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1930), now reserved for weddings, funerals, and special liturgical events.
- Established
- 1997
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi (San Francisco de Asís)
- Rector
- Fr. Dan Connealy
- Diocese
- Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
San Francisco de Asís offers the full sacramental and pastoral life of a large, active parish in both English and Spanish, with daily and Sunday Masses, Saturday Vigil and Wednesday/Saturday confessions, a perpetual-adoration chapel, First Friday Holy Hour and First Saturday devotional prayer, plus OCIA (adult initiation), Marriage Prep, Quinceañera preparation, and Annulment ministry. Families are served by a Catholic K-8 school, Religious Education for K-5 (English and Spanish), and youth ministry — EDGE (middle school), Quo Vadis (high school), and The 99 young adult group (ages 21-35) — along with a Hispanic Ministry, an annual Mission Trip to Mexico, and an Intercessory Prayer Ministry. The parish is also a steward of two beloved historic chapels, Our Lady of Guadalupe (1926) and Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1930), keeping more than a century of Flagstaff Catholic heritage alive.
Mass times at San Francisco de Asis Church Location
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:00pm
- Saturday: 9:00am
Adoration times
- Adoration Chapel (perpetual/devotional hours posted by parish — see parish bulletin)
Our Story & Heritage
San Francisco de Asís is the unified Catholic community of Flagstaff, formed in 1997 by consolidating three historic parishes under the Diocese of Phoenix. The parish carries forward more than 135 years of Catholic life in the region — from the original 1888 Church of the Nativity on Brannen Street, to the 1926 Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel and the 1930 Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel — and now gathers around a modern church and school on McMillan Mesa with commanding views of the San Francisco Peaks.
- 1888 — Flagstaff's first Catholic church, Church of the Nativity, built on Brannen & Elden
- 1926 — Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel built in south Flagstaff (now National Register of Historic Places)
- 1930 — Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel built in Chapel-Gothic style, designed by Emmet G. Martin
- 1997 — Three Flagstaff parishes consolidated into San Francisco de Asís Parish
- 2004 — $5 million capital campaign launched for new McMillan Mesa campus
- 2016 — New church and administrative buildings completed (early 2016); K-8 school opens in phases
- 2017 — Full school/parish center completed (Jan 2017); ICF Builder Award first runner-up
- May 16, 2026 — Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel Centennial Mass & Fiesta
Parish Mission
The parish mission statement, displayed across the parish website: 'We, the Roman Catholic community of Flagstaff proclaim God's love. Inspired by the life of St. Francis, we witness the grace and love of Jesus Christ through Evangelization, Religious Education, Celebration of the Sacraments, and Service to others.'
Historic Chapels
San Francisco de Asís Parish lovingly maintains two historic chapels that anchor the Catholic heritage of Flagstaff's Southside and downtown communities. Both chapels are reserved for weddings, funerals, and special parish liturgical events — there are no regularly scheduled Sunday Masses at either.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel — 224 S Kendrick, Flagstaff, AZ 86001; built 1926 by Mexican immigrant and Indigenous families; bungalow style with Gothic-inspired steeple, locally sourced volcanic rock masonry, donated stained-glass windows; National Register of Historic Places.
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel — 16 W Cherry, Flagstaff; built 1929–1930 to designs by architect Emmet G. Martin (Los Angeles); Chapel-Gothic style of native lichen-covered volcanic stone with Munich-style stained glass; home to the 1889 'Star of Bethlehem' bell (McShane Bell Foundry, ~1,100 lbs).
- Nativity of BVM — currently undergoing preservation efforts (see savenativitybvm.com).
San Francisco de Asís School
San Francisco de Asís School is a parish-affiliated Catholic school serving Preschool through 8th grade on the McMillan Mesa campus. 'Through the life and example of Saint Francis, [the school] provides a culture where all can encounter the living Christ. We become faithful disciples by Following Christ and His Church, Acquiring knowledge, Inspiring daily conversion, Taking responsibility, and helping others.' The new school facility opened in phases in 2016–2017 and includes a large gym, library, art room, computer room, science lab, and music room.
- Principal: Thomas C. Sorci — [email protected]
- School Admin: Brittany Garcia — [email protected]
- Phone: 928-779-1337
- Connected to the church by a covered walkway
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at SFdA covers children, youth, and adults — in both English and Spanish — and prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Initiation and beyond.
- Religious Education K-5 — English Mon 4:15-5:45pm & 6:00-7:30pm; Spanish Tue 5:30-7:00pm at the Parish Center
- Sacrament Preparation: Baptism (incl. infant/parent & godparent), 1st Reconciliation, 1st Eucharist, Confirmation (Grades 2–5 and Grades 6–12)
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — adult Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation, year-round
- Adult Formation — Adult Small Groups, Bible Study, Annulments
- Director of Religious Education K-5: Cathy Carlsen — [email protected]
- Director of Adult Formation & OCIA: Michael Vollmer — [email protected]
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
A full continuum of discipleship for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and young adults.
- EDGE — middle school youth ministry
- Quo Vadis — high school youth ministry, including Bible Study
- The 99 — young adult ministry for ages 21–35
- Quinceañera Preparation (Grades 6–12)
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry: Skyler Wilkie (and Katherine Buckley, per 2021 catalog)
Hispanic Ministry
San Francisco de Asís ministers to its Spanish-speaking community through a dedicated Sunday Mass, Spanish Religious Education, Marriage Preparation in Spanish, Quinceañera preparation, and bilingual pastoral staff.
- Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry: Lorena Vera-Trejo
- Spanish Sunday Mass: 12:15pm
- Spanish Religious Education: Tuesdays 5:30–7:00pm
Worship & Pastoral Care
The Director of Liturgy and Pastoral Care coordinates liturgical ministries, funeral planning, and volunteers who serve the Mass — all rooted in the parish's bilingual, multicultural worship life.
- Liturgical volunteers: Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Sacristans, Art & Environment
- Funeral planning and Pastoral Care
- Director of Liturgy & Pastoral Care: Dcn. Jim Myers
Outreach & Service
Beyond the parish walls, San Francisco de Asís sustains an annual Mission Trip to Mexico, an Intercessory Prayer Ministry, and a Marriage Preparation program — all part of the parish's commitment to 'Service to others.'
- Annual Parish Mission Trip to Mexico
- Intercessory Prayer Ministry / Healing Prayer (J.J. Ashley, Barbra Cliffton)
- Marriage Preparation
- Safe Environment Office (Diocese of Phoenix compliance)
- Parishioner Engagement (Sandy Frate)
Parish Staff & Office
The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday, with bilingual receptionists ready to help in English and Spanish. The parish also maintains a Facility Use Application process for reserving meeting space.
- Pastor: Fr. Dan Connealy (ext 115)
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Michael Gilbert (ext 117)
- Deacons: Dcn. Greg Blanchard, Dcn. Jim Myers, Dcn. Buck Olberding, Dcn. Jeff Hartin
- Director of Finance & Parish Administration: Anna Hoffman (ext 119)
- Director of Parishioner Engagement: Sandy Frate
- Director of Religious Education K-5: Cathy Carlsen (ext 113)
- Director of Adult Formation & OCIA: Michael Vollmer (ext 118)
- Coordinator of Youth Ministry: Skyler Wilkie
- Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry: Lorena Vera-Trejo
- Director of Liturgy & Pastoral Care: Dcn. Jim Myers (ext 121)
- Administrative Assistant: Marti Moran (ext 111)
- Receptionists: Gloria Chavez, Sylvia Bucina
Office Hours & Contact
Parish Office: 1600 E Route 66, Flagstaff AZ 86001 — Phone 928-779-1341, Fax 928-779-5124, Email [email protected].
- Monday: 9:00am–6:30pm
- Tuesday: 9:00am–6:30pm
- Wednesday: 1:00pm–6:30pm
- Thursday: 9:00am–6:30pm
- Friday: 9:00am–12:00pm
- Saturday & Sunday: Closed
Visit, Give & Get Involved
New parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed. Online giving is available through Pushpay, sacramental records can be requested online, and the bulletin and announcements are posted on the parish events page.
- Online giving via Pushpay — pushpay.com/g/sfdaparish
- Sacramental Record Request (Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Order)
- Bulletin & Events — sfdaparish.org/event
- Facility Use Application & Indemnity Agreement for meeting space
- Facebook: facebook.com/sanfranciscodeasisparish
- Instagram: @sfda_parish (parish), @sfda_teens (youth)
- YouTube: live-stream Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick Mowrer
Pastor during the 2013–2017 construction of the new McMillan Mesa church and school campus; quoted in ICF Builder Magazine coverage of the build.
- Fr. Will Schmidthrough ~2021
Listed as Pastor in the parish bulletin dated September 5, 2021.
- Fr. Dan Connealy
Current Pastor (per sfdaparish.org staff page).