Santa Maria del Mar (Diocese of Saint Augustine)

Santa Maria del Mar |ShortName=Santa Maria del Mar |ParishImage=Generic church icon.jpg |ParishLocation=29.48668750000000, -81.13181250000000 |MailingAddress=915 N Central Ave., Flagler Beach, Florida 32136 |Diocese=Diocese of Saint Augustine |Deanery= |City=Flagler Beach, FL |County=Flagler County |AdministrativeSubdivision=Florida |Country=United States |ParishWebsite=http://www.smdmcc.org |ParishFounded=1970 |ParishSchool= |ParishEmailAddress= |Type=Territorial Parish |IsNonParochial= |OperatedBy= |AIConfidence=6 |ReviewLevel=0 }} Santa Maria del Mar is a territorial parish of the Diocese of Saint Augustine, serving Catholics in Flagler Beach, Florida, and the surrounding coastal communities of Flagler County. The parish's name, Spanish for "Saint Mary of the Sea," reflects its location along Florida's Atlantic coastline and honors the Blessed Virgin Mary under a maritime title associated with protection for sailors, fishermen, and coastal residents.

Founded in 1970, Santa Maria del Mar has grown alongside the development of Flagler Beach and the broader Flagler County area, serving as a spiritual home for both year-round residents and seasonal visitors drawn to the Atlantic shoreline. The parish is administered by diocesan clergy and functions as a territorial parish rather than a personal or national parish.

As a coastal congregation within the historic Diocese of Saint Augustine—the oldest diocese in the continental United States—Santa Maria del Mar carries forward the region's long Catholic heritage, which traces back to the earliest Spanish missions in Florida.

History

According to available parish and diocesan records, Santa Maria del Mar was established in 1970 to serve the growing Catholic population of Flagler Beach and its environs. The parish's Spanish name, meaning "Saint Mary of the Sea," was chosen in keeping with the coastal identity of the community it serves, situated near the Atlantic Ocean in Flagler County.

No further detailed founding narrative, including the names of founding clergy or specific construction history, is publicly documented in available sources. The parish continues to serve as one of the territorial parishes within the Diocese of Saint Augustine's coverage of northeast Florida.

Special features

• Location near the Atlantic coastline, reflecting the parish's maritime dedication
• Service to both permanent residents and seasonal visitors to Flagler Beach

Relics

According to established Catholic tradition, the main altar of a dedicated parish church customarily contains relics, as is common practice in Catholic churches. Specific details regarding relics housed at Santa Maria del Mar are not publicly documented in available sources.

Architecture and Art

Exterior features

Specific architectural details of the church building are not publicly documented in available sources. Given the parish's 1970 founding date, the structure likely reflects mid-twentieth-century ecclesiastical design trends common to coastal Florida parishes of that era.

Interior features

No detailed description of the church's interior layout is publicly documented in available sources.

Stained Glass Windows

Specific details regarding stained glass windows at Santa Maria del Mar are not publicly documented in available sources.

Statues and Sculptures

Devotional statuary at the parish likely includes an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, consistent with the parish's Marian dedication, though specific details are not publicly documented in available sources.

Other Artwork

No further devotional artwork is publicly documented in available sources.

Image gallery

`

No gallery has been created yet. Type "Gallery" into the input box to create the page, save the page with the loaded template, and then use the Form tab to start adding photos. No gallery subpage has been created. Please use the input box above to create it.

Media

No media found for this saint.

Related parishes

• St. John the Baptist (Diocese of Saint Augustine, Atlantic Beach)
• Mission of San Juan de la Cruz (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• St. Joseph Carmelite Monastery (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• St. Mary (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• St. Stephen (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• Our Lady of Consolation (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• St. John the Evangelist (Diocese of Saint Augustine, Chiefland)
• St. John the Baptist (Diocese of Saint Augustine, Crescent City)
• Holy Cross (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• St. Ambrose (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• St. Michael (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• Sacred Heart (Diocese of Saint Augustine, Fleming Island)
• Holy Faith (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• Community of the Queen of Peace (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• St. Augustine (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• St. Patrick (Diocese of Saint Augustine, Gainesville)
• Mission of St. Philip Neri (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• Mission of St. Anthony the Abbot (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• St. John the Evangelist (Diocese of Saint Augustine, Interlachen)
• Assumption (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• Blessed Trinity (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• Christ the King (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• Crucifixion (Diocese of Saint Augustine)
• Holy Family (Diocese of Saint Augustine, Jacksonville)
• Most Holy Redeemer (Diocese of Saint Augustine)

External links

• Official parish website

Social media

Official Social Media