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History of Parish
1922 - A Catholic chapel was built on the present
site of St. Augustine's, directly across the street from the University
of Florida. St. Thomas Chapel, as it was called, seated 50 people.
A Catholic students’ residence hall (Crane Hall) was also on the
site, having been built through the generosity of Mary Crane and
her family. The chapel and residence was directed by the pastor
of St. Patrick's, at the time the only other Catholic church in
town.
1940’s - It became obvious that these facilities had become inadequate to meet the needs of the growing Catholic student population at the University of Florida, especially with the advent of the G.I. Bill, which enabled many Catholics access to higher education. Between 1946 and 1947, enrollment at the University of Florida increased 129%.
A temporary wooden chapel was erected to accommodate the growing Catholic student population. The University became co-education in 1947 further increasing enrollment. Ten years later, with his typical vision, Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley began construction of the present day parish church and adjacent buildings. Crane Hall and St. Thomas Chapel were demolished, and the new church, renamed after St. Augustine, was dedicated on December 13, 1959. Many at the time were amazed at its size, seating 750 persons. Hurley is reported to have said: “Just wait and see.” indeed, today in 2000, with six Masses and over 5600 registered at St. Augustine’s, the present facilities are overflowing with families and students.
1969 - St. Augustine’s was made a “non-territorial parish with its own pastor. Its mission was to minister to the students, families and workers associated with the University. Fr. Robert Baker (currently Bishop of Charleston, S.C.) was appointed pastor at St. Augustine’s in 1976. Father Baker is remembered for creating the St. Francis Soup Kitchen, which originally had meals prepared for the homeless out of the Student Center’s parish kitchen. He brought the needs of the poor and homeless to the attention of students preparing for leadership positions in society. Needing more space, St. Francis House (a temporary homeless shelter) was added to the Soup Kitchen and relocated in the city. It continues to be a place of ministry by our parish and its students.
1981 – Fr. John D. Gillespie (current pastor)
was appointed to St. Augustine’s. Continuing Fr. Baker’s work, Fr.
Gillespie also had a vision of a greatly expanded ministry to the
now large parish of St. Augustine’s. He promoted more responsible
stewardship in the parish, over the years increasing the offertory
sixfold. He began to assemble a parish staff of lay ministers and
encouraged their professional ministerial education. Today St. Augustine’s
has eight professional lay ministers and three parish priests. There
are over one hundred ministries and services in the parish.
Under Fr. Gillespie, the parish has included Santa Fe Community
College in its ministry; it sends 265 students to our interparish
school, St. Patrick’s; it acquired the pastoral care of over 200
Hispanic families and students; and adopted a sister parish and
a hospital in the state of Chiapas, in southeastern Mexico. Hurley
Hall, once a convent, then a student residence, and later a staff
residence, was renovated as a ministry and educational building
and was dedicated in 2000, 41 years after Archbishop Hurley built
our present-day church.
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