About St. Pius the Fifth · Jacksonville, Florida
St. Pius V Catholic Church, located at 2110 Blue Avenue in Jacksonville, Florida, is the Mother-Church of African-Americans in Jacksonville and a parish of the Diocese of St. Augustine. It was founded in 1919 when a group of Black Catholic parishioners left Immaculate Conception Parish to seek full, equal participation in parish life. Long staffed by the Josephite Fathers (Society of St. Joseph / SSJ), the parish has been home to a vibrant African-American Catholic community for more than a century, with an extensive array of parish ministries, choirs, the Knights of Peter Claver, CCD religious education, RCIA, and outreach programs. It is currently administered as a tri-parish community with Holy Rosary and Crucifixion parishes under Father Dilip Pally.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- St. Pius V
- Rector
- Rev. Dilip Pally
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Augustine
Why belong here
St. Pius V is the historic Mother-Church of African-American Catholics in Jacksonville — a community founded in 1919 by families who wanted full participation in parish life and who built their own church with the sacrifices of working people. Today it offers a remarkably active parish life: three Sunday choirs (adult, youth, and Wee Folk), Knights of Peter Claver councils and auxiliaries for adults, juniors, ladies, and young people, CCD religious education and an adult Sunday school, RCIA, a Respect Life ministry, a Parish Nursing ministry, a Bereavement Committee, a Prayer Group, Knights of Columbus, Altar Rosary, and outreach and social-media ministries. For anyone seeking a welcoming, heritage-rich Catholic community in Jacksonville's Northside with deep Black Catholic roots and abundant ways to serve, St. Pius V is a meaningful home.
Mass times at St. Pius the Fifth
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 to 5:00 p.m. or by appointment
Adoration times
- Adoration and Benediction (times listed on parish website)
History & Heritage
St. Pius V's history is unusually well documented on its own website, drawn largely from the writings of founding pastor Father Michael Gumbleton, SSJ. The parish grew out of Black Catholic families who belonged to Immaculate Conception but were excluded from full parish life. After years of fund-raising led by Andrew Huff, Arthur Aveilhe and Louis Abraham, Bishop Michael J. Curley of the Diocese of St. Augustine contacted the Josephite Fathers (Society of St. Joseph). Father Gumbleton, SSJ, celebrated the first Mass on September 14, 1919 with 47 people present and a $7.70 collection. The first church-school at State and Lee Streets was dedicated February 27, 1921, and a new building on Blue Avenue followed in 1961 and again in 1981. The parish celebrated its centennial in 2021 and continues to identify proudly as the Mother-Church of African-American Catholics in Jacksonville.
- First Mass: September 14, 1919 — 47 present, $7.70 collection
- First church dedicated February 27, 1921 by Bishop Curley — first Catholic church for Black Catholics in Jacksonville
- Second (church-school) building dedicated October 23, 1961 by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley on Blue Avenue between 11th and 13th Streets
- Third (current) church dedicated November 1, 1981, the Feast of All Saints, by Bishop John J. Snyder — 658 people present
- Centennial celebrated in 2021
Founding Families & Pioneers
The movement that became St. Pius V was driven by named lay pioneers and the sacrifices of a working-class Black Catholic congregation. Andrew Huff, Arthur Aveilhe and Louis Abraham are credited as the pioneers of the effort to build a new church, with Huff authorized to run entertainments and fund-raising events. The Josephite Fathers (SSJ) brought specialist experience in Black Catholic ministry.
- Andrew Huff — authorized fund-raiser
- Arthur Aveilhe — pioneer organizer
- Louis Abraham — pioneer organizer
- Bishop Michael J. Curley — fourth Bishop of St. Augustine, supporter of the new parish
- Society of St. Joseph (Josephites / SSJ) — founding religious order
Parish Clergy & Staff
St. Pius V is currently administered as part of a tri-parish community with Holy Rosary and Crucifixion parishes under a single pastor. The parish office staff is small and long-serving.
- Rev. Dilip (Dillip) Pally — Pastor / Administrator; appointed August 1, 2024; installation Mass August 24, 2025
- Karen Kincade — Business Manager ([email protected])
- Selena Mendez — Secretary ([email protected])
- Regina Taylor-Murphy — Director of Religious Education (CCD)
- Office phone: (904) 354-1501; Medical Emergency Only: (904) 994-8463; Fax: (904) 354-7240
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Faith formation for children and adults is a central ministry of the parish. CCD classes are scheduled to begin in September 2025 and registration forms are available at the religious articles table or by contacting the Director of Religious Education. Adult Sunday School uses materials such as 'The Creed' and is supported by dedicated registration and photography release forms.
- Director of Religious Education: Regina Taylor-Murphy ([email protected])
- CCD classes begin September 15, 2025
- Religious Education Brochure available
- Adult Sunday School on The Creed (2022–2023 cycle on file)
- Child Photography Release Form and Adult Photography Release Form on file
RCIA & Sacramental Preparation
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and annulment companionship are coordinated through Sr. Elise Kennedy. Families seeking Baptism, Marriage or other sacraments are invited to contact the parish office.
- RCIA — Sr. Elise Kennedy (509-7493)
- Annulment Companion — Sr. Elise Kennedy (509-7493)
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:15–5:00 p.m. or by appointment
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Pius V has one of the most extensive published ministry rosters of any parish in the Diocese of St. Augustine — more than thirty named ministries and organizations, each with a lay contact and phone number. Music is served by three choirs (adult, youth, and Wee Folk). Fraternal and devotional organizations include the Knights of Peter Claver, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Junior Knights and Junior Daughters of Peter Claver, Knights of Columbus, the Altar Rosary Council and St. Bernadette Council.
- Three choirs: Adult (Roy Wilson), Youth and Wee Folk (Leah Mills)
- Knights of Peter Claver (Amadeus Amador) and Ladies Auxiliary (Janice Hice)
- Junior Knights of Peter Claver (James Breaker) and Junior Daughters of Peter Claver (Loretta Breaker)
- Knights of Columbus (Alexander Hice)
- Altar Rosary Council (Angela Myers) and St. Bernadette Council (Lucille Trotter)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors/Commentators, Ushers (Adult and Junior), Altar Servers
- Parish Council, Finance Council, Stewardship Committee, Pastoral Council, Counters
- Prayer Group, Bereavement Committee, Welcome and Outreach, Respect Life, Parish Nursing, Social Media Committee, Webmaster
Music & Liturgy
Music is central to worship at St. Pius V. Three choirs support the parish's liturgies, and a parish Sound System Engineer coordinates the audio for services.
- Adult Choir (10:30 a.m. service) — Roy Wilson
- Youth Choir — Leah Mills
- Wee Folk Choir — Leah Mills
- Sound System Engineer — Roy Wilson
Community, Outreach & Respect Life
The parish maintains ministries of pastoral care, health, and outreach to the wider Jacksonville community.
- Parish Nursing (Tinye Dawkins; Ta'Kiesha Franklin)
- Welcome and Outreach (Patricia Sampson)
- Respect Life (Gloria Mendez)
- Bereavement Committee (Anethette Durham)
- Prayer Group (Shirley Mills)
- Adult/Family Ministry (Endya Freeman)
Pastoral Succession
The parish's published history and diocesan coverage name several pastors spanning more than a century, from the founding Josephite priest to the current tri-parish administrator.
- Father Michael Gumbleton, SSJ — founder (first Mass September 14, 1919)
- Father Plunkett, SSJ — oversaw construction and dedication of first church (1921)
- Father Robert Bowen, SSJ — pastor during 1981 dedication
- Father James Boddie, Jr. — first African-American priest ordained in the diocese (1978); pastor from 1994 after the Josephites withdrew
- Father Bernardine Eikhuemelo — pastor of the tri-parish community from 2015
- Rev. Dilip Pally — current administrator, appointed August 1, 2024
Tri-Parish Community & Diocese
Since at least 2015, St. Pius V has shared pastoral leadership with two neighboring Jacksonville parishes, Holy Rosary Catholic Church and Crucifixion Parish. The current administrator, Rev. Dilip Pally, was appointed to all three parishes effective August 1, 2024. The parish belongs to the Diocese of St. Augustine, whose website lists St. Pius V's address, phone, Mass schedule and administrator.
- Diocese: Diocese of St. Augustine
- Tri-parish partner: Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Jacksonville
- Tri-parish partner: Crucifixion Parish, Jacksonville
- Father Pally's installation Mass celebrated at Holy Rosary on August 24, 2025
Contact, Visiting & Giving
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Pius V by phone, email, or in person at the parish office on Blue Avenue in Jacksonville's Northside. The parish website includes a 'Contact Us' page and links to support the parish mission.
- Address: 2110 Blue Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32209
- Office: (904) 354-1501
- Medical emergency only: (904) 994-8463
- Fax: (904) 354-7240
- Secretary email: [email protected]
- Business Manager email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stpiusjax.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Gumbleton, SSJ1919–
Josephite priest assigned by the Superior General at Bishop Curley's request to start the new parish; celebrated the first Mass on September 14, 1919, with 47 people present.
- Father Plunkett, SSJ
Assigned by the Josephite Superior to direct construction of the first church; celebrated the Mass at its dedication on February 27, 1921.
- Father Robert Bowen, SSJ1980–1984
Pastor when the third (current) church on Blue Avenue was dedicated on November 1, 1981.
- Father James Boddie, Jr.1994–
First African-American man ordained a priest in the Diocese of St. Augustine and in Florida (1978); named pastor when the Josephites withdrew from the parish in 1994.
- Father Bernardine Eikhuemelo2015–
Pastor of the tri-parish community of St. Pius V, Crucifixion and Holy Rosary; led the parish through its 2017–2021 centennial era.
- Rev. Dilip Pally2024–present
Appointed administrator of St. Pius V, Holy Rosary and Crucifixion parishes effective August 1, 2024; installation Mass held August 24, 2025.