About St. Edward · Palm Beach, Florida
The Basilica of Saint Edward is a Roman Catholic parish church in the Diocese of Palm Beach, located at 144 North County Road on the island of Palm Beach, Florida. Founded in 1926 by a Jesuit missionary, Father Felix Clarkson, and dedicated in February 1927, it is one of the most architecturally distinctive Catholic churches on Florida's southeast coast, designed in the Spanish Renaissance style with twin towers, a Spanish tile roof, and richly painted interior frescoes. On December 13, 2024, the Vatican elevated the church to the status of a Minor Basilica — only the seventh in Florida and the only one in Palm Beach County — and the designation was solemnly proclaimed by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito on March 1, 2025. The parish is currently led by Right Reverend Archimandrite Glen J. Pothier, rector, and is widely known for its outreach work, including preparing 750 meals a week for local food pantries.
- Established
- 1926
- Patron
- Saint Edward (the Confessor, King of England)
- Rector
- Right Reverend Archimandrite Glen J. Pothier (Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Palm Beach
Why belong here
St. Edward is the historic Catholic heart of Palm Beach island — a nearly century-old parish serving both full-time residents and seasonal visitors, with five Sunday Masses and two daily Masses to fit any schedule. The parish is known for its welcoming liturgical life, its RCIA program for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, and its remarkable community outreach, including the preparation and shipment of 750 meals each week to local food pantries and the hosting of the annual Palm Beach interfaith Thanksgiving service. Members also enjoy the spiritual privilege of a Minor Basilica with Holy Doors open during Jubilee years, set within a Spanish Renaissance sanctuary renowned for its Marian stained-glass windows and frescoes.
Mass times at St. Edward
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM (until 5:15 PM, before the 5:30 PM Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament ending with Benediction)
About the Basilica of Saint Edward
The Basilica of Saint Edward is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Palm Beach, located on the island of Palm Beach, Florida. The parish traces its origins to 1926 and was dedicated in 1927 by the Bishop of St. Augustine. On December 13, 2024, the Vatican elevated the church to the dignity of a Minor Basilica, a status solemnly proclaimed locally on March 1, 2025, when Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito blessed the Holy Doors for the Jubilee Year of Hope. The parish is currently led by Right Reverend Archimandrite Glen J. Pothier, who serves as rector and continues his work as judicial vicar for the diocese.
History of the Parish
Founded in 1926 by the Jesuit priest Father Felix Clarkson on three lots at North County Road and Sunrise Avenue, the church was completed in under nine months and dedicated by Bishop Patrick Barry on February 13, 1927. Father Clarkson raised approximately $300,000 from 291 donors to build the $500,000 structure. Reverend James Cloonan became the first resident pastor in 1941, and the rectory — connected to the church and including a guest suite for the bishop — was built in 1942. Major parish milestones since then include the 1958 construction of the Parish Center (largely funded by Lorraine and Frank Freimann) and the succession of pastors who have guided the community through the 20th and 21st centuries.
- 1926 — Three lots purchased for $80,000 by Father Felix Clarkson, S.J.
- April 4, 1926 — Groundbreaking on Easter Sunday
- December 25, 1926 — Midnight Mass celebrated in completed structure
- February 13, 1927 — Formal dedication by Most Rev. Patrick Barry, Bishop of St. Augustine
- January 1941 — Rev. James Cloonan becomes first resident pastor
- 1942 — Rectory built, connected to church
- 1958 — Parish Center built on east side of North County Road (Freimann gift)
- 1949–1971 — Msgr. Jeremiah P. O'Mahoney, LLD, P.A.
- 1971–1992 — Very Rev. Msgr. Bernard McGrenehan
- 1992–May 2011 — Rev. Francis J. Lechiara (oversaw $1.2M restoration)
- October 2011 — Rev. Monsignor Thomas J. Klinzing, JCL, named pastor
- 2022 — Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Glen J. Pothier assumes pastoral duties
- December 13, 2024 — Vatican elevates church to Minor Basilica
- March 1, 2025 — Rescript proclaimed; Holy Doors blessed for Jubilee Year of Hope
- 2026 — Centennial anniversary approaching
Architecture and Sacred Art
St. Edward Church is designed in the Spanish Renaissance style, with twin towers, a Spanish tile roof, and three sets of bronze doors opening to a vestibule flanked by chapels dedicated to St. Anthony and St. Theresa. The main Altar of the Sacred Heart, made of Carrara marble, occupies a niche over forty feet in height and is surrounded by a mural of the twelve apostles and a depiction of the Crucifixion. The church's defining decorative features include its Marian stained-glass windows — depicting the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary — and intricate hand-painted ceiling frescoes.
- Style: Spanish Renaissance
- Twin towers and Spanish tile roof
- Three sets of bronze doors
- Side chapels: St. Anthony and St. Theresa
- Altar of the Sacred Heart in Carrara marble
- Apostle mural above the altar
- Marian stained-glass windows ('Marian windows')
- Hand-painted ceiling and frescoes
- Preservation awards: Ballinger Award (Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach) and Knott Award (Historical Society of Palm Beach County)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the usual sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Eucharist are guided through the parish's RCIA process, which culminates in reception at the Easter Vigil. The parish also welcomes inquiries about Baptism for infants and young children, Marriage preparation, Anointing of the Sick, and vocations support through the diocesan tribunal.
- Baptism — preparation required; contact parish office
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Masses
- Confirmation — for adults via RCIA; youth through diocesan preparation
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:30 PM
- Matrimony — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
The parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, the Church's ancient process (restored by the Second Vatican Council) by which non-baptized adults and baptized Christians from other traditions are fully initiated into the Catholic Church. The journey moves through the Pre-Catechumenate (Inquiry), the Catechumenate (formation), the Rite of Election, the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and finally Mystagogia. Sponsors from the parish accompany candidates at each stage.
- Pre-Catechumenate / Period of Inquiry
- Catechumenate — formation in doctrine and tradition
- Rite of Election
- Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist)
- Mystagogia — post-initiation reflection
- Contact: parish office, 561-832-0400
Outreach and Community Service
Outreach is central to the parish's identity. Each week the parish prepares and ships approximately 750 meals to local food pantries. On a rotating basis St. Edward hosts the annual Palm Beach interfaith Thanksgiving service. The Parish Center complex is also used by the wider community as a polling place during elections, as the venue for Police Department exams and graduation ceremonies, and by the Town Council for larger meetings.
- 750 meals per week shipped to local food pantries
- Annual Palm Beach interfaith Thanksgiving service (hosted on rotating basis)
- Parish Center used as community polling place
- Police Department exams and graduations held at the Parish Center
- Town Council meetings hosted at the Parish Center
Parish Center and Facilities
Built in 1958 on property acquired on the east side of North County Road — largely through the generosity of Lorraine and Frank Freimann — the Parish Center contains an auditorium with a stage and projection room, a social-meeting room, a full kitchen, the Women's Guild room, and offices and classrooms used for faith formation. The 1942 rectory, connected to the church, includes a guest suite for the diocesan bishop and continues to house the priests and parish staff.
- Auditorium with stage and projection room
- Social-meeting room
- Full kitchen
- Women's Guild room
- Faith formation classrooms and offices
- Rectory connected to church (built 1942) with bishop's guest suite
Elevation to Minor Basilica (2024–2025)
On December 13, 2024, prompted by the prayers and requests of clergy and faithful, the Vatican's Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments — by virtue of special faculties granted by Pope Francis — bestowed on the parish church in the Town of Palm Beach, dedicated to God in honor of Saint Edward, the title and dignity of Minor Basilica, with all the rights and liturgical concessions appropriate. The official Rescript was read publicly at the 5:30 PM Vigil Mass on Saturday, March 1, 2025, in the presence of Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, after which the double doors on the north side of the church were blessed as Holy Doors for the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025. St. Edward is one of 94 Minor Basilicas in the United States, one of seven in Florida, and the only one in Palm Beach County.
- Petition initiated by Rector Archimandrite Glen Pothier
- Formal questionnaire of 119 items completed
- USCCB review: March 22, 2024
- Packet forwarded to Vatican: April 17, 2024
- Vatican request: a more befitting sanctuary chair (now being crafted in Tuscany, Italy)
- Decree signed: December 13, 2024
- Local proclamation: March 1, 2025
- Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito celebrated the Votive Mass in honor of Saint Edward
- Holy Doors blessed for the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025
Visiting and Pilgrimage
The Basilica of Saint Edward welcomes visitors and pilgrims. During the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025, the Holy Door is open for individual pilgrimage Monday through Friday from 6:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Saturdays from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM, and Sundays from 6:30 AM to 1:00 PM, dependent on the Mass and sacraments schedule. Large group or parish pilgrimages should contact the church office in advance to reserve a time for prayer.
- Address: 144 N. County Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480
- Phone: (561) 832-0400
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: basilicaofstedward.org
- Holy Door hours (Jubilee 2025): Mon–Fri 6:30 AM–5:00 PM; Sat 8:30 AM–6:30 PM; Sun 6:30 AM–1:00 PM
- Large group reservations: contact the church office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Felix Clarkson, S.J. (Jesuit founder; not resident pastor)1926–c.1927
Visionary Jesuit missionary who acquired the land, raised $300,000 from 291 donors, broke ground Easter 1926, and celebrated Midnight Mass Dec. 25, 1926; church dedicated Feb. 13, 1927.
- Rev. James CloonanJanuary 1941–
First resident pastor of St. Edward; oversaw construction of the rectory in 1942.
- Msgr. Jeremiah P. O'Mahoney, LLD, P.A.1949–1971
Much-loved pastor during a long period of parish growth.
- Very Rev. Msgr. Bernard McGrenehan1971–1992
Long-serving pastor.
- Rev. Francis J. Lechiara1992–May 2011
Oversaw a $1.2 million structural and decorative restoration of the church; died in May 2011.
- Rev. Monsignor Thomas J. Klinzing, JCLOctober 2011–2022
Retired in summer 2022 due to health issues.
- Right Rev. Archimandrite Glen J. Pothier2022–present
Took over as pastor; continues also as judicial vicar of the Diocese of Palm Beach; led the successful petition to the Vatican for elevation to Minor Basilica.