Faith On The Road – St. Ambrose (Elkton Florida)

This week’s Faith on the Road takes us to Elkton Florida, just outside St. Augustine. We visit St. Ambrose Catholic Church. Their bulletin reads, “Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Catholic tradition since 1875.” Just thinking that Holy Mass has been celebrated and the Eucharist adored and consumed for the past 147 years is pretty cool. But, then, St. Ambrose is located just outside St. Augustine which is the oldest city in America and the site of the first ever celebration of Holy Mass on the American continent.

This is a small rural church located in the ‘backwoods’ of Florida surrounded by trees covered in Spanish moss. The area around the church carries such a sense of peace and quiet.

The inside of the church is beautiful as you can see from this altar picture. Simple and beautiful, calling glory upon the God Who’s Presence is celebrated and manifested in the Holy Eucharist.

Outside this little church is a small Stations of the Cross garden with a cross shaped walkway with a beautiful Crucifix as centerpiece. The bronze crucifix is beautiful, especially at night as it is lit with subtle blue lighting. Standing guard in the garden as on Calvary are Mary Magdalene, St. John and of course, anywhere her Son is, Our Blessed Mother Mary.

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We celebrated Holy Mass at St. Ambrose on the vigil of the Epiphany of the Lord. In my book, any Catholic Church that stands openly against abortion, has a good priest, gives Communion on the tongue (of which a large number of parishioners received in this manner) and closes Mass with the Prayer of St. Michael the Archangel is worth honoring.

If you’re in northeast Florida, be sure to plan a visit to St. Ambrose for Mass. You can spend time with the Lord in adoration on first Fridays.

Pray for St. Augustine and St. Ambrose church as they stand together for life in their “March for Life” on Saturday January 15. Honoring and protecting life is the central battle of our time.