History of Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
1962 - 1973

Parish Formation

On March 1, 1962 the Chancery of the Diocese of St. Augustine appointed Reverend Father Thaddeus P. McHugh to establish a mission in the Normandy area to help meet the needs of Catholics living in the Westside of Jacksonville, Florida. With the help of some prospective parishioners Father McHugh set out to locate a suitable place to celebrate Mass. After considering several locations they settled on Normandy elementary school and the first Sunday Mass was celebrated there on April 8, 1962.

	On February 17, 1963 Father McHugh, along with a building fund committee and about 70 volunteers launched a building fund appeal with the goal of raising a minimum of $50,000.
The building fund committee

Church Building

In the fall of 1963 Father Francis M. Mouch was appointed as the administrator of the newly formed Most Holy Redeemer parish. It was Fr. Mouch who would break ground for the new provisional church on Normandy Blvd., on Palm Sunday, March 22, 1964.

Fr. Mouch also celebrated the first Mass and the first two baptisms in the new church building on August 9, 1964, before being succeeded on August 16, by Father John McCall.

Formal dedication of Most Holy Redeemer took place on September 6, 1964. The celebration was presided over by Monsignor William J. Mullaly of Daytona Beach. Father Francis M. Mouch returned to give the Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Other Firsts

March 31, 1965
First Confirmation ceremony. Administered by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley. There were 78 children and 22 adults.

May 9, 1965
First class of prospective communicants received First Communion. There were 69 people.

1973
The C.C.D. building, which is now the social hall, and the rectory were completed.

New Church Building