About St. Monica · Palatka, Florida
St. Monica Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in downtown Palatka, Florida, and the third oldest parish in the Diocese of St. Augustine. Founded in 1858 as a mission station served by the Georgia 'horseback priests,' the parish grew from a small wood-frame church blessed by Fr. Edmund Aubril on December 8, 1858 into a thriving faith community that still worships in its 1899 brick sanctuary on South 4th Street. Today St. Monica offers daily and Sunday Mass in English (and a weekly Mass in Spanish), Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, and a wide network of lay ministries — from the Ladies Guild and Knights of Columbus to a Prayer Blanket Ministry and Bereavement Luncheon Committee — serving Catholics in Palatka and the surrounding river communities.
- Established
- 1858
- Patron
- St. Monica
- Rector
- Rev. Jared De Leo
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
St. Monica offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in a small, walkable downtown setting: daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday morning Masses (plus a weekly Mass in Spanish), and weekday Eucharistic Adoration. A wide bench of lay ministries — Knights of Columbus, Ladies Guild, Lectors, Altar Servers, Ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Prayer Blanket Ministry, Bereavement Luncheon Committee, OCIA, and Adult Faith Formation — give newcomers easy ways to serve and to belong. The parish's history, stretching back to 1858, anchors a community that takes seriously both its Catholic tradition and its care for the people of Palatka.
Mass times at St. Monica
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 8:00 – 8:25 AM
- Wednesday: 8:00 – 8:25 AM
- Thursday: 8:00 – 8:25 AM
- Friday: 8:00 – 8:25 AM
- Saturday: 3:15 – 4:15 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament)
- All other Fridays: 9:00 – 10:00 AM
Parish History
St. Monica was founded in 1858 as a mission station ministered by the Georgia 'horseback priests' and grew through the Civil War, the Great Freeze of 1894, and two world wars to become one of the historic anchor parishes of the Diocese of St. Augustine. The current brick church dates to 1897–1899 and was rededicated at its 1997 centenary by Bishop John J. Snyder, with further restoration of the steeple and roof under Fr. Joseph F. Finlay. The parish marked 150 years with a Sesquicentennial Jubilee Mass on December 7, 2008.
- Founded December 8, 1858 — wood-frame church blessed by Fr. Edmund Aubril.
- 1897 cornerstone laid by Bishop John Moore; brick church completed May 4, 1899.
- 1921 church renovations; 1950 Fr. Michael Kelly erects the parish hall.
- 1997 centenary rededication; 2008 sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) Jubilee Mass.
Our Pastor — Fr. Jared De Leo
Fr. Jared De Leo is a Catholic convert whose paternal grandmother began taking him to Mass in 7th grade; the following year he, his mother, and his sister entered the Church at Queen of Peace Parish in Gainesville. While a history student at the University of Florida he became involved in campus ministry and FOCUS, and discerned his vocation after a powerful experience of the Eucharist at a youth conference. He studied at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 20, 2020. He served three years as Parochial Vicar at St. Anastasia's in St. Augustine before Bishop Erik Pohlmeier appointed him Parish Administrator of St. Monica's on July 1, 2023 and Pastor on July 1, 2024.
- Convert; came into the Church through Queen of Peace Parish, Gainesville.
- Discerned vocation through campus ministry and FOCUS at the University of Florida.
- St. John Vianney College Seminary (Miami); St. Vincent de Paul Seminary (Boynton Beach).
- Ordained June 20, 2020; served at St. Anastasia's, St. Augustine, 2020–2023.
- Administrator at St. Monica's from July 1, 2023; Pastor from July 1, 2024.
Parish Staff & Ministry Leaders
Day-to-day parish life is supported by a small office staff and a wide bench of lay ministry leaders who coordinate the liturgical and pastoral work of the parish.
- Pastor: Rev. Jared De Leo
- Office Manager: Diane Felice (also Music Director and Liturgy Planning/Bulletin)
- Administrator of Religious Education: Cheryl Carr (also Sacramental Records, Bereavement Luncheon, EMHC to Homebound)
- Coordinator of OCIA: Cheryl Meis
- Adult Faith Formation: Karen Lee
- Lectors: Sandy Sharp
- Altar Servers: Lisa Bianculli
- Ushers: Bill Black
- EMHC & Sacristans: Bill Black
- Prayer Blanket Ministry: Sandy Sharp
- Ladies Guild President: Lori Stuhler
- Knights of Columbus Grand Knight: Scott Phillips
- Maintenance: Rick Carr, Scott Phillips
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Beyond the staff, St. Monica runs a network of lay-led ministries that allow parishioners to put their faith into action — from serving at the altar to caring for the bereaved and praying over handmade blankets.
- Ladies Guild — monthly meetings Sept.–May, parish hall, 11:00 AM first Tuesday
- Knights of Columbus — Council # (parish council), Grand Knight Scott Phillips
- Small Christian Communities — scripture sharing and friendship-building groups
- Prayer Blanket Ministry — handmade prayer blankets for the sick and homebound
- Bereavement Luncheon Committee — supports families after funeral Masses
- Extraordinary Ministers to the Homebound — brings Communion to the sick and shut-in
- Adult Faith Formation — ongoing catechesis for adults
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for those exploring the Catholic faith
Sacraments & Faith Formation
St. Monica prepares Catholics of every age for the sacraments. The Administrator of Religious Education coordinates sacramental preparation for children, while the OCIA coordinator walks adults through the process of Christian initiation.
- Reconciliation: weekday mornings and Saturday afternoons (see schedule).
- OCIA for adults — contact coordinator Cheryl Meis at [email protected].
- Religious Education for children — contact Cheryl Carr at the parish office.
- Baptism, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office at (386) 325-9777.
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at the parish office, located at the church on South 4th Street in downtown Palatka, across the river district and within walking distance of the historic Putnam County courthouse.
- Address: 114 South 4th Street, Palatka, FL 32177
- Phone: (386) 325-9777; Fax: (386) 329-1960
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM; Fri 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM; closed weekends
Diocese & Wider Church
St. Monica is one of more than four dozen parishes in the Diocese of St. Augustine, the oldest Catholic diocese in Florida, covering seventeen counties across northeast and north-central Florida. The parish falls under the pastoral care of Bishop Erik Pohlmeier.
- Diocese of St. Augustine (est. 1870).
- Diocesan website: dosafl.com
- Bishop: Most Rev. Erik Pohlmeier.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Hamilton1850s
Ministered the Palatka mission from Jacksonville.
- Fr. Edmund Aubril1858
Blessed and dedicated the original wood-frame church on December 8, 1858.
- Fr. Henry Clavreulpost-Civil War
French missionary who administered the parish from St. Augustine after the war.
- Fr. Joseph Hugonpost-Civil War
Co-administered the parish with Fr. Clavreul after the Civil War.
- Fr. Felix Ghionefrom 1876
Ministered in Palatka until Fr. Kenny's arrival.
- Fr. William J. Kenny1881–1884
Three-year tenure; later rose to the episcopacy.
- Fr. Bernard O'Reillyfrom 1884
Documented the impact of the Great Freeze of 1894 on parishioners.
- Fr. Patrick Barry1903–1913
Eighth pastor; later became the fifth Bishop of St. Augustine (1922).
- Fr. William C. Becker24-year tenure; 50th anniversary in 1949
Long-serving pastor; the town declared Feb. 24 'Father Becker Day' in 1949.
- Fr. Michael Kelly1950
Erected the parish hall.
- Fr. Joseph F. Finlay1997 (centenary)
Oversaw steeple/roof restoration and the 1997 centenary rededication.
- Fr. Ignatius Plathanam2006–2014
Officiated at the 2008 Sesquicentennial Jubilee Mass.
- Fr. Jared De LeoParish Administrator 2023; Pastor 2024–present
Convert; ordained June 20, 2020; appointed by Bishop Erik Pohlmeier.