Orthodox Catholic Church/School? (Jacksonville, St. Augustine: chapel, neighborhood, elementary school)

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Hi all!

I've been reading your posts for a while now, as we've been back and forth about moving to Jax for about a year. We have visited several times and love it there, and we're finally ready to make the move.

One concern I have is that my family is deeply religious, and old-fashioned Catholic. Very orthodox. No folk Masses or anything like that. In talking with several priest friends, they all have the impression that Jacksonville is quite, um, liberal.

Before we make the final decision, I need to know that there's a Church where my children (and I) can continue to grow in the solid, traditional teachings of the Catholic Faith. (An orthodox Catholic school would be a tremendous plus!!)

Thanks for any and all help you could provide!

[Ryde41]

There are several churches. One is St. Josephs Catholic Church in Mandarin. They have an elementary school and all the services a family would need. The students can later attend Bishop Kenny High School. To my knowledge they don't do the "folk" type sermons. My neighbors are very Catholic and they seem quite happy there.

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Juts wanted to mention, we are Roman Catholic, not Russian/Greek Orthodox, in case there was any confusion...

Thanks!

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Thanks for your help, Ryde41!!

[riveree]

In addition to Ryde's suggestion, you might also want to check out:

San Jose Catholic Church (in San Jose)
San José Catholic Church

Immaculate Conception (Downtown)
Immaculate Conception Church

[rugbymetal]

If you are looking for a conservative Catholic Church, Immaculate Conception in downtown Jax would likely be the place to go. They have an 8 a.m. Tridentine (Latin) Mass on Sundays. The reverence and respect for celebrating the mass (which has long sonce died out with the wave of modernism in a lot of parishes over the past 30 to 40 years) is alive and well here. Even at the Novus Ordo masses there - at 10 and 12 noon, if I remember correctly - you would be unlikely to find all of (pardon my sarcasm) the banjos and BS which you might find in a more liberal parish. Assumption parish on Atlantic in the St. Nicholas area of Jax is o.k. (although they do have a 6 p.m. folk mass on Sundays) and they have a parochial school. They have a chapel dedicated to perpetual adoration. St. John the Divine is an Orthodox Christian (Greek Orthodox - NOT Catholic) parish also on Atlantic where they celebrate Divine Liturgy 10 a.m. on Sundays. For more details on Catholic Churches in the Jacksonville area, I have found www dot dosafl dot com Welcome to The Diocese of St. Augustine to be a good site as far as parish directories. I find Bishop Victor Galeone (Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine which encompasses Jacksonville) to be most conservative and theologically sound. On Welcome to The Diocese of St. Augustine, click on "Bishop Victor Galeone" and then on his "columns," to review his moral and theological stance.

[jwolfer]

St Michaels and All Archangels in Orange Park/Fleming Island is an Anglo-Catholic parish. Very traditional Anglican (Episcopal)Church. They started in 1980 in response to changes in the Episcopal Church ( ordaining women). You may find it to your liking. Here is the link to their website St. Michael and All Angels - A Traditional Anglican Church

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Thanks so much for all the replies!

Rugbymetal --you seem to know precisely what I mean -- I really appreciate your help!

See you all in a few months!

Hooray!

[Since 1972]

Christ the King is an excellent school and parish. We're not into the liberalized church teachings either, and we're happy with CTK school for the third year in a row.

[dhaubner]

Assumption Catholic Curch and School is awesome. They have four nuns and an adoration chapel. The sisters lead the religious education programs for the church and school. The children relate so well to them. There is a older neighborhood next door called St. Nicholas full of good old fashion roman catholics.

Good Luck. We just moved from there and miss it very much.