About St. Patrick · Bisbee, Arizona
St. Patrick Roman Catholic Parish is a historic Catholic community in Bisbee, Arizona, perched 200 feet above the floor of Tombstone Canyon on Higgins Hill. The parish is composed of St. Patrick Church in Bisbee and St. Michael Mission in Naco, and belongs to the Diocese of Tucson. Its striking Late Gothic Revival church — designed by the Los Angeles architect Albert C. Martin, built largely by volunteer parishioners, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places — remains a monument to the copper-mining town's early residents. The parish is currently served by Sacramental Minister Rev. Amal Sebastiar, MSFS, with Msgr. Gregory Adolf as Canonical Pastor and Deacon Tony Underwood as Pastoral Administrator.
- Established
- 1884 (first Catholic church in Bisbee); 1891 (first St. Patrick); 1917 (current church consecrated)
- Patron
- St. Patrick (patron saint of Ireland)
- Rector
- Rev. Amal Sebastiar, MSFS (Sacramental Minister); Msgr. Gregory Adolf (Canonical Pastor)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tucson
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is the heart of Catholic life in the Bisbee and Naco communities, with daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday and two weekend Mass locations, confession available before every Mass, a long-running Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference that distributes food to neighbors every Thursday, and Bible study and faith formation opportunities year-round. The parish combines a landmark 1917 Gothic Revival church — literally built by the hands of its own parishioners — with active ministries for women, youth, sacramental preparation, the incarcerated, and the wider poor. Whether you are a long-time Bisbee local or a visitor, you'll find a small, committed community devoted to encountering Jesus in prayer, sacrament, and service.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Patrick Church: 30 minutes before Mass
- By appointment (call the parish office)
History of St. Patrick Church
The Catholic presence in Bisbee goes back to 1884, when a small cabin near Naco Road served as the first Catholic church and the first church of any denomination in the area. An adobe on Quality Hill (1884–1890) gave way to a 1891 white frame church at School Hill on Clawson Avenue, named for the patron saint of Ireland because so many residents were of Irish (and Welsh) descent. By 1913 the wooden frame building could no longer hold the growing parish. French-born Father Constant Mandin, arriving that year, organized his flock to build a permanent Gothic Revival church on Higgins Hill — a $150,000 edifice designed by Los Angeles architect Albert C. Martin, built largely by volunteer labor, and consecrated on September 30, 1917 by Bishop Henri Granjon of Tucson. The church is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing building of the Bisbee Historic District.
- 1884: first Catholic church in Bisbee (cabin near Naco Road)
- 1891: first St. Patrick Church (frame, School Hill/Clawson Avenue)
- 1913: Fr. Constant Mandin arrives in Bisbee
- 1915: excavation of Higgins Hill site begins on Labor Day
- Sept. 30, 1917: church consecrated by Bishop Henri Granjon
- 1980: included as contributing building in the Bisbee Historic District
- 1995: individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Father Constant Mandin (1878–1943)
The founding pastor of the present St. Patrick Church. Born in France, he was recruited to the Arizona Territory by Bishop Henri Granjon, arrived in 1903, and was ordained in San Antonio in 1904. He first served the parishes of Clifton/Morenci and Prescott before being assigned to Bisbee in 1913. He is remembered not only as the visionary who designed and built the current church but also as a pastor who worked side by side with his parishioners in overalls. His mentor, Bishop Granjon, returned to Bisbee to consecrate the completed church on September 30, 1917.
- Born 1878, died 1943
- Ordained 1904 in San Antonio, Texas
- Designed and oversaw the 1915–1917 construction
- Mentored by Bishop Henri Granjon of Tucson
The Building: Architecture and Materials
St. Patrick's is a Late Gothic Revival design by architect Albert C. Martin, with builder John Steffes. The walls are of light tan brick with terra-cotta trim, the roof is slate, and the interior features a ribbed vaulted plaster ceiling rising roughly 40 feet at the apex. The interior measures about 103 feet from narthex to apse, 44 feet across the nave including side aisles, and 66 feet across the transept. Stained glass windows, decorative fittings, and the altars are noted by the National Register for their high artistic value.
- Architect: Albert C. Martin (Los Angeles)
- Builder: John Steffes
- Walls: light tan brick with terra-cotta trim
- Roof: original Vermont slate
- Stained glass: original from St. Louis, MO
- Terra cotta: Gladding McBean Co., Lincoln, CA
- Late Gothic Revival, listed on the NRHP 1995
St. Michael Mission, Naco
The parish also serves St. Michael Mission in Naco, Arizona, which shares St. Patrick's mailing address and pastoral staff. The mission underwent a major renovation in 2013, accomplished in large part through the fundraising efforts and physical labor of local parishioners, and is now a comfortable place to worship year-round. Sunday Mass is celebrated there at 11:00 a.m.
- Sunday Mass: 11:00 a.m.
- Major renovation completed 2013
- Shares St. Patrick Parish staff and bulletin
Parish Staff and Clergy
Pastoral leadership at St. Patrick Parish currently includes Msgr. Gregory Adolf as Canonical Pastor, Rev. Amal Sebastiar, MSFS, as Sacramental Minister, and Deacon Tony Underwood as Pastoral Administrator. Pastoral Associates include Deacon Bill Lugo and Deacon Joe Delgado. Wanda Leikem serves as the Volunteer Director of Religious Education. The parish is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson, whose current bishop is the Most Rev. Edward J. Weisenburger, D.D.
- Canonical Pastor: Msgr. Gregory Adolf
- Sacramental Minister: Rev. Amal Sebastiar, MSFS
- Pastoral Administrator: Deacon Tony Underwood
- Pastoral Associates: Deacon Bill Lugo, Deacon Joe Delgado
- Director of Religious Education: Wanda Leikem
- Diocesan Bishop: Most Rev. Edward J. Weenburger, D.D.
Parish Ministries
The parish supports a rich array of ministries rooted in its mission to encounter Jesus through prayer, sacrament, and service. Outreach and service include the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Bisbee Conference (running a weekly food bank), Detention Ministry at the Cochise County Jail in Bisbee, and a long-running Women's Club that has supported the parish for nearly a century. Fundraising is done in partnership with the Knights of Columbus, and a Bible Study meets throughout the year. The parish also maintains a Parish Pastoral Council, a Board of Directors, and committees that handle corporate matters and the annual budget.
- St. Vincent de Paul — Bisbee Conference (food bank, TEFAP partner)
- Women's Club (anniversary bazaars, scholarship, funeral luncheons)
- Detention Ministry (Cochise County Jail)
- Knights of Columbus (fundraising partner)
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Board of Directors (Corporate Matters)
- Bible Study (year-round)
St. Vincent de Paul — Bisbee Conference
The parish's St. Vincent de Paul Conference serves neighbors in the Bisbee community with food and other assistance, and is now a partner in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) with the Arizona Food Bank, receiving monthly shipments of perishables, non-perishables, protein, produce, and bread. Food bags and a free Thursday lunch are distributed from the Parish Hall (basement of the church) every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until noon, with non-perishable donations accepted in the parish hall Wednesdays/Thursdays 10 a.m.–noon or anytime in the church narthex. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday at 11 a.m. and the fourth Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
- Food distribution: Thursdays 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Parish Hall
- Non-perishable donations: Wed/Thu 10 a.m.–noon, or church narthex any time
- TEFAP partner through Arizona Food Bank
- SVdP meetings: 2nd Wednesday 11 a.m.; 4th Wednesday 5:30 p.m.
- 501(c)(3) tax-exempt; eligible for AZ dollar-for-dollar tax credit
St. Patrick Women's Club
Active in the parish for nearly a century, the Women's Club supports St. Patrick Church and St. Michael Mission through fundraising (an annual Christmas Bazaar the first weekend in December, a Christmas-in-July Bazaar in mid-July), funeral luncheons, meals for visiting clergy, financial support to the parish, and a graduating-senior scholarship for a Bisbee High School student. The Club also sponsors an annual Women's Retreat in May open to all women in the area. Meetings are normally the first Wednesday of the month at noon in the parish hall. Annual dues are $15.
- Annual Christmas Bazaar (first weekend in December)
- Christmas-in-July Bazaar (mid-July)
- Annual Women's Retreat in May
- Meetings: first Wednesday of the month, noon, parish hall
- Annual dues: $15
- President: Kay Gojkovich
Faith Formation: RCIA, Religious Education, Bible Study
St. Patrick Parish welcomes adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), a communal process rooted in the early Church and restored by the Second Vatican Council. Children are prepared for the sacraments of First Holy Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation through the parish's Religious Education program. Bible Study sessions are offered throughout the year, with current schedules available by calling the parish office at (520) 432-5753.
- RCIA: process for unbaptized adults and baptized Christians seeking full communion
- Religious Education: First Communion, Reconciliation, Confirmation prep
- Bible Study: sessions throughout the year (call parish office for schedule)
- Volunteer Director of Religious Education: Wanda Leikem
Contact, Office Hours, and Visit Information
Parish office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The mailing address is P.O. Box 164, Bisbee, AZ 85603; the physical address is 100 Quality Hill Road, Bisbee, AZ 85603. Phone: (520) 432-5753. Email: [email protected]. The St. Michael Parish Hall is available for rent; inquiries should be directed to the parish office. An emergency pastoral line — (928) 228-0258 — is available around the clock for anointings and last rites.
- Parish office: Tue–Fri 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Mailing: P.O. Box 164, Bisbee, AZ 85603
- Physical: 100 Quality Hill Rd, Bisbee, AZ 85603
- Phone: (520) 432-5753
- Email: [email protected]
- Emergency line: (928) 228-0258
- St. Michael Parish Hall available for rent (contact parish office)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. W. A. Meurer1899–1905
Listed in the parish's 'History of Our Catholic Priests' page.
- Rev. Constant C. Mandin1905–1913
French-born; arrived from France in 1903, ordained in San Antonio 1904; served Clifton/Morenci and Prescott before Bisbee; designed and built the current St. Patrick Church (1915–1917).
- Rev. James P. Davis1913–1938
Years of service as recorded on parish history page; the parish's chronology is presented in a chart.
- Rev. Julius Gheldof1937–1943
Served during and around the WWII era, per parish priest history page.