Franciscan friars establish a mission at the Hopi village of Oraibi. Seeing a cluster of snow-capped mountains in the distance, they give the mountains the name of their patron, San Francisco de Asís (Saint Francis of Assisi).

July 19, 1850 

Pope Pius IX establishes the Vicariate Apostolic of Santa Fe, with jurisdiction over New Mexico Territory, and appoints the Rt. Rev. Jean Baptiste Lamy as Vicar Apostolic.

1853

The Vicariate Apostolic of Santa Fe becomes a See in its own right; Bishop Lamy becomes the first Bishop of the Diocese of Santa Fe.

1863

New Mexico Territory is divided and the Arizona Territory created. In December 1863, Bishop Lamy tours northern Arizona on horseback; his travels include the Flagstaff area.

1868

The Vicariate Apostolic of Arizona Territory is created, covering Arizona Territory and several New Mexico counties. The Rt. Rev. Jean Baptiste Salpointe is appointed Vicar Apostolic, thus becoming the first Bishop of the future state of Arizona.

February 12, 1875

The Diocese of Santa Fe is elevated to an Archdiocese, with jurisdiction over the New Mexico and Arizona Territories. Arizona is a suffragan. Bishop Lamy becomes Archbishop Lamy.

1884-1885?

Father LeBreton is the first priest to visit Flagstaff.

1888

Bishop Salpointe becomes Archbishop of Santa Fe following the death of Archbishop Lamy. The Rt. Rev. Peter Bourgade becomes the Vicar Apostolic for the Arizona Territory, with jurisdiction over Flagstaff.

1886-1888

Father F. X. Gubitosi, a Jesuit assigned to Prescott, visits Flagstaff several times to say Mass in private residences. The first Catholic Mass in Flagstaff of record is said on February 4, 1887, in the home of P. J. Brannen.

1887

A group of Flagstaff residents petitions Bishop Bourgarde for a priest to be permanently assigned to Flagstaff. The Bishop regretfully refuses, but suggests that Flagstaff Catholics select a site for a church building, rectory and school, and promises to assign a priest to Flagstaff when one becomes available.

P. J. Brannen donates a plot of land south of the railroad tracks for a church and school site. Father Gubitosi draws plans for a church building.

1888

Father Gubitosi succeeded by Father Carlo M. Ferrari, S.J., who discards Father Gubitosi's building plan and draws plans for a much larger structure. Construction commences almost immediately, with Father Ferrari doing much of the bricklaying and mortaring himself.

1888-1889

Construction is completed and Mass is said for the first time in the first Catholic church in Flagstaff on Christmas, 1888. In honor of the day, the church is named the Church of the Nativity. The church features a large, ornately carved altar with statues of St. Aloysius Gonzaga and St. Clare, a very large crucifix and corpus, and a church bell purchased in Maryland. In 1889, an organ was installed.

Flagstaff's parishes become a part of the Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico (covering most of northern Arizona and northern New Mexico). The Rt. Rev. Bernard T. Espelage, O.F.M., is the Bishop for the Diocese of Gallup.

Father Vorst leaves Flagstaff; is succeeded at Nativity Parish by Father Eugene J. McCarthy.

The mural by Juharos, painted on a 16 x 35 feet canvas, is installed by the artist himself in Nativity Chapel in February. The mural's title is "Presentation of the Newborn Baby Mary to the Relatives." One of the figures holds a scroll reading "By Stephen Juharos with the inspiration and support of Viola Babbitt."

Father Nevulis leaves Flagstaff; Father Charles Parker becomes pastor at Nativity Parish.

Administrator pro tempore Fr. Patrick Robinson leaves San Francisco de Asís Parish.  Fr. Michael J. Straley becomes the new pastor of San Francisco de Asís Parish.