San Francisco de Asís Parish - Churches and Mass Schedules

SAN FRANCISCO DE ASÍS PARISH Flagstaff, Arizona 928.779.1341 It's and "YOU ARE LOVED"!
		CHURCHES AND MASS SCHEDULES St. Pius X 2257 E. Cedar Ave. in Flagstaff Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30 a.m. Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses: 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., Noon (Spanish), and 5:00 p.m. (Teen Mass) When Nativity was the main church in Flagstaff, the collection envelopes from East Flagstaff were put into a separate fund, previewing the need for another building there. Parishioners themselves built a new church right behind Killip School, and in December 1956, the celebrated the first Christmas mass there as a mission of Nativity Church. In October 1958, Bishop Espelage appointed Father Harry Morgan the first pastor of St. Pius X Parish. As the parish grew, people often stood in the parking lot to hear Mass through open windows. By 1963, the congregation numbered over 400 families and needed a larger church. Groundbreaking for the current building of 500 seats and a parish center occurred on April 3, 1966. The exterior adobe reflected the Spanish culture and the wooden altars represented the forests. Everyone could easily see the first doors colored strawberry, lemon, orange, and turquoise. The design used four squares: the altar, one large seating area on each side, and one square for daily Mass. Estimates show over fifty per cent of the parishioners worked on the building. In 1969, Father Milligan was designated the third pastor. The hall was built in 1972 and the church paid off in 1980. By 1983, the congregation had grown to 800 families. To return to parish "home page," click here Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel 224 S. Kendrick St. in Flagstaff Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 8:30 a.m. Sunday Mass: All Sunday masses at St. Pius except for the first Sunday of each month when there is a mass at Guadalupe at 11:30 a.m. After a summer of fundraising, the foundation for the Hispanic church was poured on September 25, 1925. Mrs. George Babbitt donated the four original lots for the grounds and four more in 1929. In 1928, parishioners built a small four-room house for the caretaker and finished the basement. In 1936, they finished the interior and on May 3 laid the cornerstone. In 1937, they installed stained glass windows. August 1, 1942, Bishop Bernard Espelago of the new diocese at Gallup, declared the mission a parish and designated Reverend Leo Oelman its first pastor. To return to parish "home page," click here Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Chapel 16 W. Cherry Ave. (corner of Cherry Ave. and Beaver St.) in Flagstaff Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:30 a.m. Sunday Masses: All Sunday masses at St. Pius Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession: Saturdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. and by appointment On February 4, 1887, Father Gubitosi, a Jesuit from Prescott, celebrated the first Catholic mass in Flagstaff in the home of P.J. Brannen. Brannen later donated land at Beaver and Ellery Streets for a church and school. Father Ferrari, the first parish priest assigned to Flagstaff, said Midnight Mass 1888 in the newly built church, thus providing the name "Nativity Church." Meanwhile, as Flagstaff's population moved farther north, the parish purchased land in 1896 for a church on Cherry Street between Beaver and Humphreys. In 1899 the Sisters of Loretto opened the first parochial school called St. Anthony's because the parishioners had prayer to him for a school. From 1911 to 1930 the parish church was in St. Anthony's School where San Francisco de Asis School parking lot is today. The pastor, Father Albouy, supervised building the new church. As a significant savings, he encouraged parishioners to bring malapais stones for the edifice. And they did, conveying them singly and by the wagon load. The altar, crucifix, and organ, which had been moved to St. Anthony's, were now installed in this new Nativity Church. On May 18, 1930, Bishop Gercke of Tucson laid the cornerstone, and on December 7, Father Albouy said the first mass in the new church. Even today, the building is considered an excellent example of Gothic architecture. The current organ, installed in 1937, is a memorial to the first organist, Mrs. Edna Buggeln Babbitt. In February, 1979, Stephen Juharas installed the altar mural that Mrs. Viola Babbitt had commissioned him to paint. Its official title is "Presentation of the Newborn Baby Mary to the Relatives." To return to parish "home page," click here Holy Trinity Catholic Newman Center 520 W. Riordan Rd. in Flagstaff Tuesday and Thursday: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Mass: 5:30 p.m. In 1930, Catholic students at Northern Arizona State Teachers College formed a Newman Club and met on and off under the direction of nearby Guadalupe Church. During the 1963-1964 school year, Father Michael Bain, assistant pastor for Guadalupe Church, began the meet thirty students on a regular basis and to hold masses in the Eastburn Education Center auditorium. Between 1964 and 1966, an advisory board of community members began to operate, acquired land, raised funds, and built Holy Trinity Newman Center. Later, the Center added an apartment for the chaplain and a library (current San Francisco de Asis parish offices). In December 1965, Father Richard Toerner became full-time director of the Newman students. Father Toerner became the chaplain with the ability to provide sacraments and keep his own registers. Over the years, a series of chaplains led the Center. When San Francisco de Asís Parish was formed in 1997, Ms. Garnett Arruda served as the New Center's first lay director. Present director, Michael Vollmer, began his tenure in 1999. Holy Trinity Catholic Newman Center continues to be a ministry for students to grown in their faith at Northern Arizona University. To return to parish "home page," click here Copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix Contact the Webmaster