First Mass in Florida

In April 1528, Spanish explorer Panfilo de Narvaez arrived here with five ships and 600 men in a quest for gold and power. With him were those who sought to spread Christianity, including eight diocesan priests and five Franciscan priests. One of them, Fr. Juan Xuarez, OFM, had received an appointment as Bishop of Florida. A few days after their arrival, Fr. Xuarez celebrated Easter Mass ashore on the morning of April 16th. After another ten days in the area, which included several violent encounters with the native Tocobaga peoples, Narvaez and half of the crew, including five priests, headed north on land in an ill-fated expedition. Eight years later, in 1536, only four survivors reached Mexico.

St. Petersburg, Florida · United States