About San Juan · Branford, Florida
San Juan Mission (also known as San Juan de la Cruz Mission) is a Roman Catholic mission church located at 304 Plant Avenue SE in Branford, Florida, part of the Diocese of St. Augustine. The mission was established in 1976 and takes its name from the historic 17th-century Spanish Franciscan mission of San Juan de Guacara, founded between 1609 and 1612 on the banks of the Suwannee River at a site called Baptizing Spring. Today the parish is administered as a mission church of Epiphany Parish in Lake City and serves a bilingual community, offering Mass in both English and Spanish. The church building itself was created in 1981 from a converted grocery store, a transformation members call "a miracle of faith and perseverance."
- Established
- 1976
- Patron
- San Juan (St. John the Baptist) — historically named after the 1609–1612 Franciscan mission San Juan de Guacara on the Suwannee River, dedicated to St. John
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Hoffman (pastor of San Juan Mission in addition to his role as pastor of Epiphany Parish, Lake City; appointed July 1, 2024)
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
San Juan Mission is a small, close-knit bilingual Catholic community that openly blends the deep historical memory of North Florida's Spanish-mission roots with everyday parish life in Branford. Families looking for a parish where English- and Spanish-speaking worshippers pray together — Sunday Mass is offered in both languages — and where an active Director of Religious Education, youth ministers, a Knights of Columbus roundtable, and a music/choir ministry tend to a congregation that has literally built its own church out of a former grocery store will find a distinctive and welcoming home here.
Mass times at San Juan
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 45 minutes prior to Mass until 15 minutes prior to Mass
- 30 minutes before Mass or by appointment (per diocese listing)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month at 2:00 p.m. — currently suspended while church renovations are underway
History & Heritage of San Juan Mission
The parish's story stretches back to 1573, when Franciscan missionaries arrived in Florida and founded up to 140 missions across the territory — converting roughly 16,000 native people where Jesuits before them had failed. San Juan itself was one of those missions: founded between 1609 and 1612 at Baptizing Spring on the Suwannee River and known as San Juan de Guacara (Guacara being the Timucuan name for the Suwannee), it moved seven miles west to Charles Spring in 1657 and was destroyed by Apalachicola Indians in 1691. The Branford parish consciously keeps this heritage alive in its name and identity.
- 1573 — Franciscan missions launch across Florida.
- 1609–1612 — San Juan de Guacara founded at Baptizing Spring on the Suwannee.
- 1657 — Mission relocated to Charles Spring, near the Camino Real crossing of the Suwannee.
- 1691 — Mission destroyed by Apalachicola Indians after ~80 years.
- 1905 — Fr. P.J. Bresnahan visits Branford on horseback; says Mass at a local school; writes "Seeing Florida with a Priest."
Founding of the Modern Branford Mission (1976)
In 1976, twelve Branford-area families, alongside Fr. William Kelly of Epiphany Church (Lake City) and Fr. Roland Julien of St. Madeleine's (High Springs), began a new Catholic mission in Branford. With no Catholic building available, Rev. Bruce Williams of the Branford United Methodist Church graciously allowed Masses to be celebrated in his sanctuary, beginning February 14, 1976. The congregation grew from 25 in 1976 to 125 by 1981.
- Fr. Roland Julien — first pastor of the makeshift mission (1976–1977).
- Transferred in October 1977 to Epiphany Church, Lake City, under Fr. Thomas Gordon and assistant Fr. Patrick Carroll.
Building the Church: From Grocery Store to Mission Church
In January 1980 Bishop John J. Snyder promised diocesan support for a permanent church, and a five-member building committee was elected. In October 1981 the committee bought the G & H Grocery on Plant Street; contractor Scott Johnson handled structural renovations while parish volunteers did carpentry, electrical, and plumbing work. Other diocesan parishes donated furnishings and vestments, and Florida Missions provided a grant. Bishop Snyder dedicated the new church on December 6, 1981, before 236 people.
- Building Committee: Rudy Smith (chairman), Winston Huff, Muriel Boyd, Charles Shirley, John Siedner.
- Renovations led by local contractor Scott Johnson.
- Funded by barbecue dinners, parish fundraisers, a Florida Missions grant, and diocesan support.
- First Mass in the new building: December 6, 1981 — about 236 people attended.
- Bishop Snyder's homily: "What we are witnessing today is something of a miracle."
Staff
The current staff team is small and largely shared with Epiphany Parish in Lake City. The parish secretary handles day-to-day office work and records; a Director of Religious Education oversees faith formation; youth ministers coordinate with teens and families; a music/choir director leads liturgical music; and a Knights of Columbus roundtable chair directs that council's work.
- Rev. Robert Hoffman — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Diego Vasquez — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Paul Pettie — Deacon / Business Manager
- Kathy McCarty — Secretary & Administrative Assistant ([email protected])
- Janet M. Samson — Director of Religious Education & Faith Formation ([email protected]; 386-365-4049)
- Michelle Lord — Youth Minister ([email protected])
- Angie Fennell — Youth Minister ([email protected])
- Margaret Riordan — Music & Choir Director ([email protected])
- Leo Blouin — Knights of Columbus Roundtable Chair ([email protected])
- Terry Smith — Building & Grounds Maintenance
Sacraments
The parish website lays out preparation requirements for each sacrament. Baptisms are scheduled through the parish office; parents must be practicing Catholics and provide a letter from their own pastor. First Communion flows from the parish Religious Education program. Confirmation is celebrated by the diocesan bishop (roughly every two years), with candidates in 7th grade or higher and sponsors who are confirmed Catholics. Marriage preparation is offered through Jacksonville's Diocesan Family Life Office. Adults preparing to become Catholic (or to complete initiation) join the parish RCIA.
- Baptism — contact the parish office.
- First Communion — via parish Religious Education program.
- Confirmation — by the diocesan bishop; candidates 7th grade or higher; sponsors must have received the Sacraments of Initiation and be at least 16.
- Marriage — couples must contact the parish; coaching through the Diocesan Family Life Office in Jacksonville.
- Anointing of the Sick — by request through the parish.
- RCIA — weekly classes for catechumens, candidates, and baptized but uncatechized Catholics; sacraments at the Easter Vigil.
Faith Formation, Youth & Music
San Juan Mission runs a Director of Religious Education–led faith formation program, with Janet M. Samson coordinating instruction that prepares children for sacraments and supports ongoing learning. A separate youth ministry team engages middle- and high-school students. Music ministry is led by a choir director; the parish's bilingual Sunday schedule means music and liturgy serve both English and Spanish-speaking congregations.
- Director of Religious Education: Janet M. Samson ([email protected], 386-365-4049).
- Youth Ministers: Michelle Lord; Angie Fennell.
- Music & Choir Director: Margaret Riordan ([email protected]).
- RCIA — weekly adult formation, with sacraments at Easter Vigil.
Parish Life, Outreach & Organizations
Beyond liturgy and formation, the parish is shaped by a handful of long-running lay organizations and digital outreach. A Knights of Columbus roundtable carries out the parish's fraternity and charitable work; parishioners have access to FORMED, the Augustine Institute's online Catholic study and media platform, through the parish subscription. The Ladies' Guild played a formative role in the parish's history — it was their request to Bishop Snyder in 1980 that led directly to the parish's permanent church building.
- Knights of Columbus Roundtable — Leo Blouin, chair.
- Ladies' Guild — historically active; prompted Bishop Snyder to support a new church in 1980.
- FORMED — parish subscription (sign-up via sanjuanmission.formed.org; use parish code 32008).
- Renovation Project — ongoing improvements to the church building.
Practical Information
San Juan Mission sits on Plant Avenue SE in the small town of Branford in Suwannee County, Florida. The phone line reaches the parish secretary during Tuesday/Thursday office hours; outside those hours, an after-hours line routes urgent pastoral calls to a priest at Epiphany Parish.
- Address — 304 Plant Ave, SW, Branford, FL 32008.
- Phone — (386) 935-2632 (office); emergency priest line 386-752-4470, option 1.
- Email — [email protected].
- Office Hours — Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
- Website — https://sanjuanmission.org (with a Spanish-language landing at /es/).
- Diocese — Diocese of St. Augustine; parish is a Mission Church of Epiphany Parish, Lake City.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Roland Julien1976–1977
First pastor of the makeshift mission, under the care of St. Madeleine's, High Springs.
- Fr. Thomas Gordon1977–1981
Took over when mission was transferred to Epiphany Church, Lake City; assistant Fr. Patrick Carroll. Growth from 0 to 125 members during his tenure.
- Fr. Christian Brandstrup1983
Took over when mission was transferred to St. Francis Xavier, Live Oak.
- Fr. James O'Neal1984
St. Francis Xavier, Live Oak.
- Sr. Agnes Marie Jasa1987
Pastoral associate; lived on San Juan Mission property.
- Fr. Anthony Sebra1990
Epiphany Church, Lake City; assistant Fr. Alan Bower.
- Fr. Gerald Vallee1993
First resident pastor of San Juan Mission.
- Fr. Patrick Murphy1998
Administrator when mission returned to Epiphany Church, Lake City.
- Fr. Michael Morse2000
Pastor; assistant Fr. George Kuruvilla.
- Deacon Michael Leahy2001
Administrator; Fr. Edward Murphy of St. Madeleine's said Mass and heard confessions.
- Fr. Edward Murphy2002
Became Pastor; assisted from 2004 by retired Fr. Jim Cottrell.
- Fr. Sebastian George, CMI2007–
Became Pastor in February 2007; Fr. Arnaldo Bazan began yearly visits to San Juan in June 2008.
- Rev. Marek Dzien
Listed as pastor in the 2019 Diocesan Directory.
- Rev. Pablo Fuentesuntil 2024
Relieved as pastor on July 1, 2024, retaining his appointment as pastor of St. Francis Xavier, Live Oak.
- Rev. Robert Hoffman2024–present
Appointed pastor effective July 1, 2024, for a six-year term, alongside his role at Epiphany Parish.