About St. Cecilia · Clarkdale, Arizona
St. Cecilia Catholic Church is a historic mission parish at 850 Main Street in Clarkdale, Arizona, in the Diocese of Phoenix. Built in 1924 to serve the copper-smelter company town of Clarkdale and the wider Verde Valley, it is the second-oldest Catholic church in the Verde Valley after Holy Family in Jerome, and a contributing building of the Clarkdale Historic District (National Register of Historic Places, listed 1998). After more than 80 years of care by diocesan and Claretian priests, the mission closed in 2002 and was eventually reopened as a Traditional Latin Mass apostolate staffed by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP); it is today operated as a satellite of Mater Misericordiae Parish in Phoenix, offering the Mass and sacraments exclusively in the 1962 liturgical books.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- St. Cecilia of Rome (3rd-century Roman martyr, patroness of musicians and church music)
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Stinson, FSSP (Chaplain, FSSP Clarkdale satellite apostolate); the mission is served from Mater Misericordiae Parish, Phoenix, currently pastored by Fr. Michael Passo, FSSP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Phoenix (originally erected as a mission of the Diocese of Tucson; transferred to the Diocese of Phoenix when it was created in 1969)
Why belong here
St. Cecilia's is a small, historic mission church with daily Traditional Latin Mass in the 1962 liturgical books — a rare find in Arizona and the only place in the Diocese of Phoenix where the older Mass and sacraments are offered every day of the week. It draws a tight-knit, multigenerational community (weekday Mass typically has a handful of regulars, while the Sunday 9 a.m. Mass is 'packed with young families and regulars, with many driving in from Flag[staff]'). For Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass, parishioners of the historic Clarkdale and Verde Valley area, and visitors touring the Clarkdale Historic District, it offers a uniquely reverent, centuries-old liturgical life in a beautifully preserved 1924 church.
Mass times at St. Cecilia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM (immediately before the 9:00 AM Mass)
- Daily: 9:00 AM (per Latin Mass Directory; verify with chaplain)
About St. Cecilia Catholic Mission
St. Cecilia Catholic Church is a historic 1924 mission parish at 850 Main Street in Clarkdale, Arizona, in the Diocese of Phoenix. It is a contributing building of the Clarkdale Historic District (National Register of Historic Places, 1998) and is the second-oldest Catholic church in the Verde Valley. After more than eight decades of care by Claretian and diocesan priests, the mission was closed in 2002 and eventually reopened as a Traditional Latin Mass apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), operating as a satellite of Mater Misericordiae Parish in Phoenix. It is the only parish of the Diocese of Phoenix where the Mass and sacraments are offered exclusively in the 1962 liturgical books, daily.
History of St. Cecilia's
St. Cecilia's was born of the copper boom. In 1920 Bishop Henri R. Granjon of the Diocese of Tucson leased Main Street property in Clarkdale — a model company town founded in 1911 by U.S. Senator William A. Clark for the workers of the United Verde Copper Company's new smelter — and the Wm. Simpson Construction Company of Los Angeles began construction. The church was completed and dedicated in 1924 as the second Catholic church in the Verde Valley, joining Holy Family in Jerome and later Immaculate Conception in Cottonwood (1930). For most of the 20th century it was served by Claretian missionaries (CMF) and then by diocesan priests, including the much-loved Fr. Michael Hurley (1977–2002). When Father Mike retired, the combination of Clarkdale's dwindling population, a priest shortage, and the construction of the new Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in Cottonwood led to the mission's temporary closure in 2002.
Reopening as a Traditional Latin Mass Apostolate
Roughly fifteen years after closure, the Rev. Jose Salgado, FSSP, personally restored the mothballed 1924 building — reportedly evicting a rodent infestation and investing 'blood, sweat and tears' — and reopened St. Cecilia's for the Traditional Latin Mass. The mission is now served by FSSP priests of Mater Misericordiae Parish in Phoenix, the only parish in the Diocese of Phoenix where the 1962 liturgical books are used exclusively on a daily basis, in keeping with the provisions of Ecclesia Dei (1988) and Summorum Pontificum (2007).
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The mission is served by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). The current chaplain is Fr. Michael Stinson, FSSP, who also serves as FSSP North American District Superior (2018–2021). The mission is staffed from the parent FSSP parish, Mater Misericordiae in Phoenix, currently pastored by Fr. Michael Passo, FSSP, with assistant pastors Fr. Martin Rangel-Garcia, FSSP, Fr. David McWhirter, FSSP, and Fr. Zachary Barry, FSSP. The mission's reopening was led by Rev. Jose Salgado, FSSP, who restored the building after its long closure.
- Fr. Michael Stinson, FSSP — Chaplain, FSSP Clarkdale
- Fr. Michael Passo, FSSP — Pastor, Mater Misericordiae Parish (parent parish)
- Fr. Martin Rangel-Garcia, FSSP — Assistant Pastor
- Fr. David McWhirter, FSSP — Assistant Pastor
- Fr. Zachary Barry, FSSP — Assistant Pastor
- Rev. Jose Salgado, FSSP — restored and reopened the mission
Pastor History (Founding to Present)
A partial succession of priests who have led St. Cecilia's from its founding in 1924 to the present day is preserved by the Clarkdale Historical Society and Museum. The earliest decades were dominated by Claretian (CMF) missionaries based at Holy Family in Jerome; the post-Claretian era began in the mid-20th century with diocesan priests. The 21st-century reopening brought the mission under the care of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). The full chronological succession, where verified, is recorded in the pastor_history field above.
- 1920: Bishop Henri R. Granjon (Diocese of Tucson) leases the Main Street property
- c. 1920–1924: Wm. Simpson Construction Company of Los Angeles builds the church
- 1924: St. Cecilia's dedicated; Claretian (CMF) missionaries begin serving
- 1940s–1950s: Rev. John Atucha, CMF (and other Claretians)
- 1958–1962: Rev. Charles Gielow, CMF (per Anderson Report)
- mid-1950s: Rev. John Driscoll; rectory added by Fr. Phillip Rieser, 'The Builder'
- 1960s: Rev. Phillip Rieser, CMF
- September 23, 1971: St. Cecilia formally becomes a mission of Immaculate Conception, Cottonwood
- early 1970s: Rev. Anthony Schwartz
- mid-1970s: Rev. Raymond Gillis
- July 1977 – July 2002: Rev. Michael Hurley ('Father Mike')
- July 2002: Mission closed following Father Mike's retirement
- c. 2009 onward: Rev. Jose Salgado, FSSP — restores and reopens the mission
- Present: Fr. Michael Stinson, FSSP — Chaplain, FSSP Clarkdale (satellite of Mater Misericordiae, Phoenix)
Architecture & the Clarkdale Historic District
St. Cecilia's is a modest 1924 mission-style Catholic church and a contributing building of the Clarkdale Historic District, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 (NRHP #97001586). The district's overall architectural character is Mission/Spanish Revival, Classical Revival, and Bungalow/Craftsman. The church was built by the Wm. Simpson Construction Company of Los Angeles, expanded with a rectory on the same lot in the mid-1950s by Fr. Phillip Rieser, and refurbished again in the late 2000s during the FSSP restoration. It remains a tangible link to Clarkdale's origins as a 1911 copper-smelter company town founded by U.S. Senator William A. Clark.
- Built 1924 by Wm. Simpson Construction Company of Los Angeles
- Rectory added mid-1950s by Fr. Phillip Rieser, CMF ('The Builder')
- Contributing building, Clarkdale Historic District (NRHP, 1998)
- Restored late 2000s by Rev. Jose Salgado, FSSP
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Bishop Henri R. Granjon (Diocese of Tucson)1920 (lease)
Leased the Main Street property on which St. Cecilia was built; then-bishop of the statewide Diocese of Tucson, which at the time covered all of Arizona.
- Wm. Simpson Construction Company (Los Angeles, CA)c. 1920–1924
Builder/contractor; not a pastor, but constructed the church beginning shortly after the 1920 lease.
- Claretian (CMF) missionaries1924 – mid-20th century
Priests of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary served the Verde Valley missions from Holy Family in Jerome. A partial list of Claretian missionaries who served in Arizona is preserved by the Clarkdale Historical Society; Fr. John (Juan) Atucha Gorostiaga, CMF, is documented across multiple Verde Valley posts including St. Cecilia's and Immaculate Conception.
- Rev. John Atucha (CMF)1940s–1950s
Claretian priest, also named in Verde Valley history for building and expanding Immaculate Conception in Cottonwood and adding its sacristy in 1943.
- Rev. John Driscollmid-1950s
According to Clarkdale Historical Society, established the first Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) and built the recreation hall (1953) at Immaculate Conception in Cottonwood; served the Verde Valley missions in this period.
- Rev. Phillip Rieser1960s (rectory mid-1950s)
Known as 'The Builder'; added the rectory to St. Cecilia's in the mid-1950s and assisted in the construction of many Catholic churches in Yavapai County, including Sedona's renowned Chapel of the Holy Cross.
- Rev. Charles Gielow, CMF1958–1962
Claretian priest assigned to St. Cecilia, Clarkdale (per the Anderson Report on Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Phoenix).
- Rev. Anthony Schwartzearly 1970s
Per Clarkdale Historical Society list of post-Claretian priests who served St. Cecilia's.
- Rev. Raymond Gillismid-1970s
Remembered by parishioners as an austere man given to severe self-denial practices; per Clarkdale Historical Society list.
- Rev. Michael HurleyJuly 1977 – July 2002
Known affectionately as 'Father Mike'; a Chicago priest whose quarter-century tenure spanned the closure of the Jerome mines. His retirement in July 2002 precipitated the mission's temporary closure.
- Rev. Jose Salgado, FSSPc. 2009 – present (per historical reports)
Restored the mothballed 1924 building — personally evicting the rodent population that had taken it over — and reopened St. Cecilia's as a Traditional Latin Mass apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter.
- Fr. Michael Stinson, FSSPcurrent
Listed by FSSP as the Chaplain of the FSSP Clarkdale satellite apostolate; also served as FSSP North American District Superior (2018–2021).