About St. Patrick · Gainesville, Florida
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a diverse, family-oriented parish in east Gainesville, Florida, and the oldest Catholic parish in the city. Founded in 1886–1887 by Bishop John Moore and its first pastor Fr. P.J. Lynch, both Irishmen, it serves as the mother Catholic parish of Gainesville and today offers Mass in English, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The parish operates an interparish Catholic school (St. Patrick Catholic School) shared with Holy Faith and St. Augustine parishes, and supports a wide range of ministries including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus Council 6108, Council of Catholic Women, youth and family ministry, CarePortal, and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The current parish home is a permanent church built in 2009, the third building to house the worshipping community.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Mac (Mackenzie) Hill
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
St. Patrick's is the oldest Catholic parish in Gainesville — a busy, diverse, family-oriented community that worships in English, Korean, Spanish, and Vietnamese every week. Parishioners of all ages find a place here through more than 30 ministries: a thriving K-12 youth ministry, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the youngest disciples, OCIA for adults entering the Church, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus Council 6108, a music ministry, a rosary ministry, a community garden, and a CarePortal team serving vulnerable children and families. As pastor Fr. Mac Hill has said, the parish is a place 'where everybody is Irish on St. Patrick's Day' — a community that comes together across cultures around the Eucharist.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm
- 1st Saturdays 9:00 am – 9:30 am
- Wednesdays 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesdays 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
- 1st Fridays 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
- 1st Friday: following 8:30 am Mass until 11:45 am and again after 12:15 pm Mass until 7:00 pm
Our Parish & History
St. Patrick is the oldest Catholic parish in Gainesville, founded in 1886 when Bishop John Moore purchased land and installed Fr. P.J. Lynch as its first pastor — both men were Irish, hence the parish's name. Over more than 130 years the parish has grown from 125 families to a diverse, multi-cultural worshipping community serving all of east Gainesville.
- Founded 1886 by Bishop John Moore and Fr. P.J. Lynch; both Irishmen.
- Mother parish of Gainesville — Holy Faith Parish (1973) and the campus ministry behind St. Augustine Church were carved out of its territory.
- Pastors historically served mission communities including Cedar Key, Cross City, Hawthorne, Lake City, Madison, Starke, Waldo, Newberry, Alachua, Micanopy, High Springs, Williston, Interlachen, and Keystone Heights.
Buildings & Campus
Three successive buildings have housed the St. Patrick parish community. The original church was sold and demolished in the early 1970s; a provisional church was built next to the school in 1965; and in 2009 Fr. Roland Julien built the current permanent church. The older church was then converted into the parish's social hall.
- 1965: provisional church built next to the school by Fr. Thomas R. Gross.
- 1968: rectory built by Fr. Bernard McFadden.
- 2009: current permanent church built by Fr. Roland Julien.
- Older church now serves as the parish social hall for ministries and events.
Faith Formation — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)
St. Patrick offers the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for children from age 3 through 9+, based on the Montessori method and the religious values of childhood — contemplation and enjoyment of God. Coordinator Sara Ragan can be reached at [email protected].
- Level 1 (potty trained, ages 3–6)
- Level 2 (ages 6–9+)
- Sundays 9:40 am – 10:50 am: Level 2
- Tuesdays 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Level 1 & Level 2
- $60 per child; scholarships available.
Youth & Family Ministry
The parish youth ministry, led by Jessica Bailes ([email protected]), supplements what young people receive at school, in faith formation, and at home with peer community, scripture study, and games. It serves 5th through 12th graders year-round, with meetings on Sundays during the school year.
- Open to youth in grades 5–12.
- Sundays 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm during the school year (alternating Middle School and High School weeks).
- FlockNote email list for the latest updates; online and printable registration forms on the parish website.
St. Patrick Catholic School
St. Patrick Catholic School is an interparish school sponsored jointly by St. Patrick, Holy Faith, and St. Augustine parishes, with families from other area parishes also attending. It opened in 1959 under the Sisters of St. Joseph (who served until 1992) and has been enlarged twice — in 1988 and 1994 — adding middle-school classrooms, a kitchen and lunchroom, technology and science labs, and a gymnasium.
- Opened 1959; Sisters of St. Joseph served until 1992.
- Interparish school: St. Patrick, Holy Faith, and St. Augustine parishes.
- Building enlarged in 1988 and 1994 (middle school addition, kitchen/lunchroom, technology and science labs, gymnasium).
- Principal Wendy Kenny; pastor Fr. Mac Hill serves on the School Advisory Council.
- Many graduates go on to St. Francis Academy Catholic High School.
Liturgical Ministries
Music, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, rosary, and the Marian Mission round out the parish's liturgical life, with leadership drawn from the parish staff and volunteers.
- Music Ministry — Sara Geiser (5 pm & 8:30 am), Joel Ainesworth (11 am).
- Eucharistic Ministers & Lectors — Susan Carr.
- Altar Servers — Leslie Murray ([email protected]).
- Rosary Ministry — Kiem Tran.
- Marian Mission — Dr. Lillian Guerra & Kiem Tran.
Outreach & Charity
St. Patrick's extends the Gospel beyond its walls through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a CarePortal Response Team for vulnerable children and families, a community garden, and ministries for the homebound, grieving, and bereaved.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Debbie Fischer ([email protected]).
- CarePortal Response Team — Robin Beutler.
- Community Garden — Chris Stetter.
- Homebound Ministry — Susan Carr.
- Grief Support Ministry — Margaret Lewis ([email protected]).
- Bereavement Ministry — Joanne Wasner.
Parish Organizations
Two long-standing Catholic lay organizations anchor parish life: the Knights of Columbus Council 6108 and the Council of Catholic Women (CCW). A Finance Council and Parish Council also help steward the mission and resources of the parish.
- Knights of Columbus Council 6108 — John Beutler.
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW) — Najwa Liscombe.
- Finance Council — Steve Barbieri, Bonita Kremer, Keith Rambo, Carol Mills-Norton, William Powell.
- Parish Council — Joe Branch, Angela Choi, Lucy Guerra, Margie Lawrence, Matt Terza, Michele Walsh.
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Adults seeking to learn about the Catholic faith or to enter the Church through Baptism, Confirmation, or full communion are welcomed into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Contact Paul Kremer at [email protected].
- Coordinator: Paul Kremer — [email protected].
- Process leads to Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
Clergy, Staff & Contact
The parish is led by pastor Fr. Mac (Mackenzie) Hill, with a small staff coordinating worship, formation, outreach, and finance. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday.
- Pastor: Rev. Mac Hill — [email protected].
- Administrative Assistant: Margaret Lewis — [email protected].
- Bookkeeper: Gus Henao — [email protected].
- CGS Coordinator: Sara Ragan — [email protected].
- Youth Ministry: Jessica Bailes — [email protected].
- Community Engagement Coordinator: Robin Beutler — [email protected].
- Phone 352-372-4641 · Fax 352-376-0575.
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 am – 3:00 pm (closed for lunch 12:00–12:30 pm); closed Fri–Sun.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- P.J. Lynch1886–
First pastor; an Irishman like founding Bishop John Moore; built up the parish to 125 families within a decade.
- John Conoley1919–
Began outreach to Catholic students at the University of Florida; built Crane Hall Catholic dormitory; launched the campus ministry that became St. Augustine Church.
- William F. Balfe1950–
With the Matsko, Pierce and other families, purchased land on NE 16th Ave from developer Hugh Edwards to build the parish school.
- Thomas R. Gross1965–
Broke ground on the provisional church next to the school; original church site abandoned.
- Bernard McFadden1968–
Built the rectory.
- Roland Julien2009–
Built the current permanent church (the third building to house St. Patrick); converted the older church into the parish social hall.
- Mac (Mackenzie) Hill
Current pastor (Administrator per the diocese page); previously served at the Cathedral Basilica in St. Augustine.