About St. Francis Choe [Korean] · Jacksonville, Florida
St. Francis Choe Korean Chapel is a Korean-language Roman Catholic mission chapel serving the Korean Catholic community in Jacksonville, Florida. It is one of the small ethnic-pastoral missions within the Diocese of St. Augustine, listed by the diocese under 'Eastern Rite Catholic Churches and Korean Chapel.' The chapel is named for Saint Francis Ch'oe Kyong-hwan, a 19th-century Korean lay catechist and martyr. Weekend and weekday Mass is celebrated in Korean, and the community gathers at 8051 Rampart Road on Jacksonville's west side under the pastoral care of Rev. Thomas Aquinas Gunseung Lee.
- Patron
- Saint Francis Ch'oe Kyong-hwan (최경환 프란치스코)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas Aquinas Gunseung Lee
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
St. Francis Choe Korean Chapel offers Korean Catholics in the Jacksonville area a place to worship in their heart language, with weekly Sunday and Wednesday Mass celebrated in Korean under the care of a Korean-heritage priest. As a diocesan mission, it provides a close-knit community of faith where Korean-American families can receive the sacraments, gather for fellowship, and maintain strong ties to their Catholic Korean heritage and to the witness of the Korean martyrs — including its own patron saint.
Mass times at St. Francis Choe [Korean]
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish Identity & Patron Saint
St. Francis Choe Korean Chapel is a Korean-language Catholic mission in Jacksonville, Florida, named in honor of Saint Francis Ch'oe Kyong-hwan, one of the great lay martyrs of the Korean Church. Francis Ch'oe was a humble farmer and catechist who, with his wife and children, was arrested in July 1839 during the Gihae Persecution. He was beaten and tortured for more than two months and died in prison on the night of September 11–12, 1839, refusing to deny his Catholic faith. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1984 as one of the 103 Korean Martyrs, and his feast is kept on September 20. By placing the chapel under his patronage, the Korean Catholic community in Jacksonville connects its local faith life to the heroic witness of the early Korean Church.
- Patron: Saint Francis Ch'oe Kyong-hwan (최경환 프란치스코)
- Died: September 12, 1839 (옥사, death in prison)
- Canonized: 1984 by Pope John Paul II
- Feast Day: September 20
- Family witness: His eldest son Thomas Choe Yang-eop became the second Korean-born Catholic priest
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
Pastoral care at the chapel is provided by a Korean-heritage priest who serves as Pastor, with the assistance of a lay Pastoral Business Administrator. The diocesan directory for 2026–2027 lists the current pastor and administrator, reflecting the mission's small but stable staffing structure typical of Korean ethnic-ministry chapels in the United States.
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas Aquinas Gunseung Lee
- Pastoral Business Administrator: Okhee Wilson
- Email: [email protected] (pastor) / [email protected] (administrator)
Diocese & Canonical Status
The chapel is part of the Diocese of St. Augustine (Roman Catholic Diocese covering much of North and Northeast Florida). In the diocesan directory it appears under the heading 'Eastern Rite Catholic Churches and Korean Chapel,' indicating its status as an ethnic-pastoral mission rather than a territorial parish, while remaining in full communion with Rome and under the pastoral authority of the diocesan bishop.
- Diocese: Diocese of St. Augustine
- Listed alongside: Our Lady of Peace Syriac, St. Ephrem Syriac, St. Maron Maronite
- Deanery grouping: see Diocese of St. Augustine directory, page 84
- Rite: Roman-Latin (Mass celebrated in Korean)
Contact & Location
The chapel shares its address with its office and is located on Jacksonville's Westside at 8051 Rampart Road, ZIP 32244. Inquiries about Mass times, sacraments, parish registration, and other services can be directed to the parish office by phone or email.
- Address: 8051 Rampart Road, Jacksonville, FL 32244
- Phone: (904) 573-1833
- Parish Email: [email protected] (some diocese listings also show [email protected])
- Website: http://www.stfccm.org/xe/
Visit & Belonging
As a Korean Catholic mission, the chapel welcomes Korean-speaking Catholics in the Jacksonville area and anyone who wishes to join them for worship. Because much of its life (Bible study, faith formation, social gatherings, and feast-day celebrations) is communicated through its Korean-language website and bulletins, visitors are encouraged to reach out to the parish office for guidance on upcoming events, sacramental preparation, and how to register as a parishioner.
- Primary worship language: Korean
- Community: Korean Catholic community of Jacksonville and surrounding Northeast Florida
- Recommended first step: contact the parish office at (904) 573-1833 to confirm Mass times and learn about community activities