About St. Madeleine · High Springs, Florida
St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic Church is a small country parish of the Diocese of St. Augustine located in High Springs, Florida, just north of Gainesville. Situated on an 18-acre campus along U.S. Highway 441, the parish combines its main church with the Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche — a Marian pilgrimage site that draws thousands of visitors each year — along with a Family Life Center, an Activity Center, a Memorial Garden and Cemetery, an Emmaus Walk, a Marian Grotto, and outdoor Stations of the Cross. The community celebrated its centennial on May 25, 2025, marking a hundred years since the first Mass in High Springs in 1925, though the parish was formally established on April 9, 1969 under Bishop Paul F. Tanner. Current pastor is Rev. Sebastian K. George, CMI, who returned to the parish in 2024 after a brief reassignment.
- Established
- 1925 (mission church); 1969 (formal parish establishment)
- Patron
- St. Madeleine Sophie Barat
- Rector
- Rev. Sebastian K. George, CMI
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
St. Madeleine Sophie offers the warmth of a small country parish with the depth of a centuries-old Catholic spiritual life. Weekly Mass is offered both in the main church (Sunday 7:30 AM and 11:30 AM, Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM) and daily in the Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, where Adoration is held on Wednesdays and Fridays and an Anointing Mass is celebrated on the third Friday of every month. The parish serves families through grade-school religious education, Confirmation preparation, a youth group for grades 6–12, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), and the St. Madeleine Community Outreach food and supply drives that bring together churches and agencies across High Springs, Alachua, Newberry, Fort White, LaCrosse, and Gilchrist County. A monthly Saturday Bingo night, a Memorial Garden and Cemetery, and an Emmaus Walk winding through outdoor Stations of the Cross make this campus a place where a visitor can pray, learn, serve, and belong.
Mass times at St. Madeleine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM (half hour before Mass)
- Saturday 4:40 PM (half hour before Mass)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (at the Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche)
- Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM (at the Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche)
Parish History
Catholicism came to High Springs in 1906 when Fr. Patrick A. Bresnahan said Mass in the home of Sarah and James Paul. Twenty years later James Paul donated land in downtown High Springs and the original church — now the Adoration Chapel — was built and blessed on May 24, 1925, the eve of the feast of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat. For more than four decades St. Madeleine remained a mission of St. Patrick's in Gainesville. On April 9, 1969, Bishop Paul F. Tanner formally established it as a parish. The community has since grown, moved to its present Highway 441 campus, weathered a colorful transition from the former Dragon Arts Drive-In site, and on May 25, 2025 celebrated a Jubilee Mass with Bishop Erik T. Pohlmeier marking its 100th anniversary.
- 1906 — First Mass said in High Springs in the Paul family home
- April 1925 — James Paul donates land; church building constructed
- May 24, 1925 — Church blessed on the eve of St. Madeleine Sophie's feast day
- April 9, 1969 — Parish formally established by Bishop Paul F. Tanner
- December 1979 — Parish relocated to the Highway 441 site
- 2009 — Family Life Center built and dedicated on the Feast of All Saints
- 2011 — Former multi-purpose building renovated and dedicated as the main church
- 2013 — Memorial Garden and Cemetery completed
- 2015 — Adoration Chapel becomes the Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche
- 2016 — Marian Grotto, Emmaus Walk, and outdoor Stations of the Cross created
- May 25, 2025 — Centennial Jubilee Mass
Anointing Mass
On the third Friday of every month at 7:00 PM, an Anointing Mass is celebrated in the Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche for those who wish to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
- Third Friday of every month
- 7:00 PM in the Shrine
Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche
The 18-acre parish grounds include the Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, established in 2015 from the renovated 1925 Adoration Chapel at the request of Bishop Felipe J. Estévez. The Shrine contains a wood-carved statue of Our Lady of La Leche brought from Italy and is the destination of an annual 25-mile walking pilgrimage from St. Augustine Catholic Church in Gainesville each All Souls' Day. It was designated a Jubilee Church during both the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016) and the Holy Year 2025.
- Wood-carved statue from Italy
- Jubilee Church (2016, 2025)
- Annual 25-mile walking pilgrimage (Nov. 2)
Emmaus Walk, Grotto, and Outdoor Stations of the Cross
Created in 2016, the Marian Grotto along Emmaus Pass provides a quiet area for prayer and reflection just beyond the outdoor Stations of the Cross. The surrounding nature walk encircles the parish property and connects the Shrine, grotto, Memorial Garden, and Stations.
- Marian Grotto along Emmaus Pass
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross
- Nature walk encircling the parish property
Faith Formation
St. Madeleine offers age-appropriate religious education for grade-school youth and the OCIA process for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. Classes are held in the Family Life Center and parish classrooms.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Grades 1–2 — First Holy Communion preparation (two-year program)
- Grades 3–6 — Doctrine and Dogma at a basic level
- Grades 7–8 — Confirmation preparation
OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
OCIA (formerly RCIA) classes introduce interested adults to the Catholic Faith. Some participants prepare to enter the Church; others are already Catholic and want a deeper understanding of the teachings of Christ, the Apostles, and the Early Church Fathers.
Youth Group (Grades 6–12)
Middle- and high-school-aged young people (grades 6–12) meet on the first and third Sunday evenings from September through June. A meal is provided by parish families. Activities include outdoor fun and group discussions on topics that connect faith with daily life, along with pancake breakfasts and service at other parish functions and ministries. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children.
- Meets 1st and 3rd Sunday evenings, September–June
- Includes Good Friday presentations
- Pancake breakfasts and parish service opportunities
St. Madeleine Community Outreach
The parish's vision is to come together with churches, agencies, and members across the Communities of High Springs, Alachua, Newberry, Fort White, LaCrosse, Alachua County, and Gilchrist County in a community-wide ministry that offers long-term solutions — 'not only supplying the fish, but the tools to fish as well.' The Outreach coordinates yearly drives for food, paper goods, toiletries, and cleaning products, and welcomes sponsorships on behalf of or in memory of loved ones. Drives can be arranged through coordinator Belle Diefenderfer.
- Yearly food, paper goods, toiletry, and cleaning product drives
- Sponsorship of drives in memory or honor of a loved one
- Contact: Belle Diefenderfer, 386-454-1000
Memorial Garden and Cemetery
Completed and opened in November 2013, the Memorial Garden and Cemetery serves as both an interment site and a place of remembrance. In 2017 it was expanded with a memorial for U.S. Patriots and a memorial for the Unborn, the latter dedicated in June 2018 under Fr. Marek Dzien.
- Completed November 2013
- Memorial for U.S. Patriots (2017)
- Memorial for the Unborn (dedicated June 2018)
Family Life Center and Activity Center
The Family Life Center, dedicated in 2009, includes a large hall, classrooms, a library, and a kitchen. It hosts Bingo nights, parish meals, youth gatherings, and OCIA classes. The Activity Center, just east of the office, was acquired in 2007 and is used for small-group events.
- Family Life Center built and dedicated in 2009
- Includes large hall, classrooms, library, kitchen
- Activity Center acquired 2007 for small-group events
Bingo Night
Once a month on a Saturday evening, the Family Life Center doors open at 6:00 PM with games beginning at 6:30 PM. Bingo serves as both a fundraiser for the building fund and a parish social gathering.
- Monthly Saturday evening
- Doors 6:00 PM / games 6:30 PM
- Benefit: Building Fund
Staff and Pastoral Team
The parish is served by Rev. Sebastian K. George, CMI as Pastor and Rev. Marek Dzien in an associate / parochial administrator role, together with Deacons Angel Cuesta and Henry. The parish office administrator is Belquis Diefenderfer, and the Youth Ministers are Robbin and Larry Garcia.
- Pastor — Rev. Sebastian K. George, CMI ([email protected])
- Associate — Rev. Marek Dzien
- Deacon Angel Cuesta
- Deacon Henry
- Office Administrator — Belquis Diefenderfer
- Youth Ministers — Robbin & Larry Garcia
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM (per official site) / 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM (per directory listing)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick A. Bresnahan1906
Said first Mass in High Springs in the home of Sarah and James Paul while staying at the 'Yellow Dog' hotel.
- Fr. Richard Altenbaugh1968
First resident pastor after the parish was established.
- Fr. Michael Williams1971
First pastor of the 'Tri-County Parish' (High Springs, Cross City, Williston).
- Fr. Paul Hogarty1973
- Fr. Roland Julien1974
Purchased the Dragon Arts Drive-In property with the intention of converting it to a family venue.
- Fr. John Dux1977
Oversaw the relocation of the parish to the new Highway 441 site in December 1979.
- Fr. Joseph Meehan1985
Worked to retire the building-project debt.
- Fr. Wayne Price1993
- Fr. Noel Cox, CSSp1995
Paid off the mortgage; moved the abandoned Hawthorne church building onto the parish grounds.
- Fr. Edward Murphy2002
Provided pastoral care of San Juan Mission, Branford; purchased the rectory property.
- Fr. Jim Cottrell2000s
Non-resident associate.
- Fr. Gerald Pincince2000s
Interim Administrator.
- Fr. Sebastian K. George, CMI2007–
Oversaw construction of Family Life Center, renovation of the main church, creation of Memorial Garden, the Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, and the Marian Grotto / Emmaus Walk. Returned to the parish in 2024 after a brief reassignment.
- Fr. Marek Dzien2017–
Originally from Poland; served as a missionary in Ecuador for six years; in the Diocese of St. Augustine since 2008.