About St. Paul · Pensacola, Florida
St. Paul Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Pensacola, Florida, serving approximately 1,400 families as part of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Founded in 1963 by members of Sacred Heart Church and complemented by St. Paul Catholic School (opened 1964), the parish grew so quickly that in the late 1980s it expanded to include the Church of Our Savior as a second worship site. In 2008 the parish reunited under one roof when Bishop John H. Ricard consecrated the present Gothic-inspired church on Hyde Park Road, at which time Our Savior was closed. Today St. Paul offers daily and Sunday Mass, weekly confessions, Eucharistic adoration, a robust family faith formation program including Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an active parish school, a wide array of outreach ministries, and a livestreamed Sunday Mass for the homebound and far-flung parishioners.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Craig S. Smith, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Why belong here
St. Paul is a 1,400-family Roman Catholic community in Pensacola with a strong Catholic school (K-8), a 2008-built Gothic-inspired church with daily Mass and Eucharistic adoration, and a lively web of ministries that touches nearly every stage of life. Families raising children benefit from the parish's Sunday Faith Formation program and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Atrium levels I and a forthcoming II), while adults can grow through OCIA, parish missions, the St. Paul Council of Catholic Women, and a robust music ministry. Outreach-minded parishioners find a place in Feed My Sheep (meals for the homeless), the Jail Ministry, Respect Life, the Angel Tree gift program, and the parish's partnership with Catholic Charities — all reasons a newcomer can quickly feel part of the Body of Christ here.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays: 5:15 – 6:15 PM (except June and July)
- Saturdays: 9:00 – 10:00 AM
- Saturdays: 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is available in the Chapel every day — call the Parish Office at (850) 434-2551 for current schedule.
- Morning devotional prayers: Monday–Saturday at 8:10 AM
About St. Paul Catholic Church
Saint Paul is a Roman Catholic community of about 1,400 families in Pensacola, Florida, founded in 1963 by order of the bishop from the parishioners of Sacred Heart Church (now the Cathedral). A Catholic school opened with the parish in 1964, and in 2008 the parish was reunited under one church — a Gothic-inspired worship space — that was consecrated by Bishop John H. Ricard and now serves as the focal point of the Hyde Park Road campus.
- Founded 1963
- School founded 1964
- 1,400 families
- Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
- Parish Office: 1700 Conway Drive, Pensacola, FL 32503
Parish History
St. Paul was established in 1963 as an outgrowth of Sacred Heart Church in East Hill. The founding pastor, Rev. Fr. Frank Giri, broke ground for Spartan Hall on Laetare Sunday, March 8, 1964, and Archbishop Thomas J. Toolen blessed Spartan Hall, the school, and the original rectory on January 10, 1965. The Sisters of Saint Francis of the Convent of Our Lady of the Angels helped launch the school; a convent was built on campus in 1967 and has since been converted into the parish office.
- 1963 — Parish founded from Sacred Heart parishioners
- 1964 — St. Paul Catholic School founded; Sisters of St. Francis arrive
- 1966 — First 8th-grade class graduates
- Late 1980s — Church of Our Savior opened on Old Spanish Trail Road
- 2004 — South wing added to school for middle-school students
- 2007 — Ground broken for new church by Bishop John H. Ricard
- 2008 — New church consecrated; Our Savior closed; piazza, parking lot, school expansion, and new rectory built
- 2014–2015 — Middle-school expansion adds four more classrooms
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Craig S. Smith, V.F., Pastor, and is assisted by two parochial vicars, a deacon, and a sizable parish and school staff. The leadership team covers music, faith formation, youth ministry, the parish school, the Angel Gift Shop, facilities, weddings, and parish events.
- Rev. Craig S. Smith, V.F. — Pastor ([email protected], ext. 112)
- Rev. Grant Sennott — Parochial Vicar ([email protected], ext. 101)
- Fr. Athanasius Abanulo — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon William Whibbs, MD ([email protected])
- Brian Brown — Director of Music Ministry ([email protected], ext. 109)
- Elaine Payne — Associate Director of Music Ministry
- Elizabeth Thompson — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected], ext. 102)
- Debbie Ridder — Director of Sacramental Education & Evangelization / OCIA ([email protected], ext. 104)
- Colby Bond — Catechesis of the Good Shepherd ([email protected])
- Mr. Patrick — Director of Youth Ministry ([email protected])
- Blair Hodge — School Principal ([email protected], 850-436-6435)
- Robin Stewart — Angel Gift Shop Manager ([email protected], ext. 115)
- Nancy Jacobs — Parish Secretary
- Kevin Dion — Facilities Maintenance Manager ([email protected], 850-221-6805)
- Neal Rowe — Facilities/Maintenance Assistant
- Julie Butler — Wedding Coordinator ([email protected])
- Sherry Vo — Events Manager ([email protected])
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) through OCIA for adults and sacramental catechesis for children. Marriage preparation, funeral hospitality, Anointing of the Sick, and visits to the homebound are coordinated through the parish office and dedicated staff.
- OCIA — Mon 6:30–8:00 PM in the Giri Room; contact Debbie Ridder, ext. 104
- Baptism & First Communion prep — Elizabeth Thompson, ext. 102
- Confirmation (youth) — through Family Faith Formation
- Adult Confirmation — scheduled at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Pensacola
- Marriage — Julie Butler, Wedding Coordinator, [email protected]
- Anointing of the Sick / Shut-in visits — call the rectory (850-434-2551)
- Funeral — Caring Hearts hospitality team (Sherry Vo, 251-689-2004) and Funeral Sacristans
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Paul's Faith Formation program is designed to support on-going, progressive catechesis across multiple stages of development, with families gathering on Sunday mornings during the school year from 9:30 to 10:45 AM. The preschool/kindergarten level uses Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in a Montessori-based Level I Atrium, while grades 1–8 use the Word of Life four-dimensional curriculum.
- Sunday Faith Formation — 9:30–10:45 AM (refreshments at 9:30, family prayer at 9:45)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — Level I Atrium (preschool–kindergarten); Level II Atrium in development
- Word of Life curriculum — 1st–8th grade (salvation history, Christian anthropology, virtue, discipleship)
- Monthly 'Family Faith Days' — parents and children learn together
- Bishop Wack's renewed vision for catechesis in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
St. Paul Catholic School (K-8)
St. Paul Catholic School was founded by the parish in 1964 and has served generations of Pensacola families with a classical Catholic liberal arts education. The school is committed to the 'complete formation' of its students — spiritual, intellectual, social, aesthetic, emotional, and physical — so that students grow in virtue and discipleship.
- Founded 1964 with help from the Sisters of Saint Francis of the Convent of Our Lady of the Angels
- First 8th-grade class graduated 1966
- Patron: St. Paul the Apostle (school feast day June 29)
- 2004 — South wing added for middle-school students
- 2014–2015 — Four additional classrooms added
- Principal: Mrs. Blair Hodge ([email protected], 850-436-6435)
Community Outreach & Charity
St. Paul's outreach ministries extend the parish's mission beyond the Hyde Park Road campus. From feeding the homeless to supporting prisoners, the unborn, the elderly, and grieving families, the parish lives the corporal and spiritual works of mercy in collaboration with Catholic Charities and local partners.
- Feed My Sheep — hot meals through the Alfred-Washburn Center for the homeless (Carol Huebner, 850-435-9396)
- Angel Tree — Christmas gifts for needy children and 'Christmas in July' for The Haven nursing home (Diane Wilkinson, 850-435-7330)
- Jail Ministry — Carol Jutras (850-525-7941)
- Respect Life — Carol Jutras, [email protected]
- Shut-in / Homebound Communion visits — Leesan Villa, 203-415-9983
- Bereavement Support — Ann Marie Clark, 703-431-9372
- Caring Hearts (funeral hospitality) — Sherry Vo, 251-689-2004
- Welcoming Ministry (new parishioner follow-up) — Lou Gellner, 850-477-1509
- Hugs for the Homeless, Baby Bottle Drives for Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers, Christmas Boxes of Joy, Life Runners
Parish Organizations & Fellowship
Lay-led organizations anchor parish life: the St. Paul Council of Catholic Women unites parish women in service, leadership, and spirituality; the Knights of Columbus provide welcome stewardship at Masses; and parish socials — Bunco nights, family events, and seasonal gatherings — keep the community connected.
- St. Paul Council of Catholic Women (SPCCW) — supports seminarians (Burse Club), religious vocations (Vocation Purse Club), caregivers (Respite), and the National Council of Catholic Women
- Knights of Columbus — Welcome Stewards / ushers (Sam Ridder, 850-291-8072)
- Wise Woman Ministry — monthly gatherings during the school year for married women
- Bunco and Parish Socials — periodic fellowship events
- Prayer Shawl, Compassion Card, and Greeter Ministries
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry is led by Director Brian Brown and Associate Director Elaine Payne. The program supports the parish's daily Mass schedule, the Sunday 11:00 AM livestream, weddings, funerals, holy days, and the seasonal music that supports the parish's liturgical life.
- Director of Music Ministry: Brian Brown ([email protected], ext. 109)
- Associate Director of Music Ministry: Elaine Payne
- Music supports daily Masses, Sunday 11:00 AM livestream, holy days, weddings, and funerals
Sacred Spaces & Facilities
The Hyde Park Road campus includes the 2008 church with its Gothic-arch steeple and rose window, a piazza with a statue of St. Paul, Spartan Hall, Sindik Hall (the former gym), the Parish Hall (the former nursery), the parish offices (the 1967 convent), a school, and the Angel Gift Shop. The former Church of Our Savior on Old Spanish Trail Road was closed in 2008 when the parish reunited on Hyde Park Road.
- New Church (2008) — Gothic-arch features, mosaic of the Conversion of Saul, bronze doors, piazza, rose window
- Spartan Hall — first building (1964–65), now a gathering space
- Sindik Hall — former gym, now an event center
- Parish Hall — former nursery, now an event center
- Parish Office — former 1967 convent
- School complex — K-8, expanded in 2004 and 2014–2015
Getting Involved
St. Paul lists roughly 35 active ministries, with an annual Ministry Fair that drew 600 parishioners. Newcomers can sign up through the parish office or via the contacts listed under each ministry. The parish encourages families to register and find a place in liturgy, formation, outreach, or fellowship.
- Register as a parishioner through the parish office
- Volunteer for one of ~35 ministries
- All adult volunteers working with children must complete Safe Environment courses and fingerprinting through the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
- Contact: [email protected] or (850) 434-2551
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (850) 434-2551 ([email protected]) or visit in person at 1700 Conway Drive, Pensacola, FL 32503. The church itself sits at 3131 Hyde Park Road. Sunday Masses are at 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM (livestreamed), and 5:00 PM; the Angel Gift Shop is open before and after most Masses.
- Parish Office: 1700 Conway Drive, Pensacola, FL 32503 — (850) 434-2551
- Church: 3131 Hyde Park Road, Pensacola, FL 32503
- Angel Gift Shop hours: M–F 9:00–9:30 AM; Sat 9:00–9:30 AM & 5:30–6:00 PM; Sun 9:30–10:00 AM, 12:00–12:30 PM, 6:00–6:30 PM
- Livestream Sunday Mass at 11:00 AM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Frank Giri1963 (founding pastor)
Requested help from the Sisters of St. Francis of the Convent of Our Lady of the Angels to start St. Paul Catholic School. The parish's Giri Room is named in his honor.
- Rev. Craig S. Smith, V.F.Current
Current pastor, Very Reverend; leads the parish with two parochial vicars and a deacon.