Introduction
The Blessed Sacrament Congregation welcomes you to St Francis' Church, the oldest Catholic Church in Victoria and Melbourne's first cathedral. The foundation stone for the church was laid on 4 October 1841 the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi. Completed in 1842, St Francis' Church is of National Significance and is listed with Heritage Victoria, the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and the Australian Heritage Commission. St Francis' Church still serves as a place of worship for the
Catholic Community.

The first Catholic Mass in the Port Phillip District (now Victoria) was celebrated by Fr Patrick Bonaventure Geoghegan OFM in an unroofed store on the corner of Elizabeth and Little Collins Sts on 19 May 1839. In July that year, Fr Geoghegan, the first priest in the district, said a Mass in a timber chapel, which was relocated to the present site of St Francis' Church. Although there have been numerous alterations made to the building and the surrounding grounds including the erection of a replica tower, a gift from the Grollo Family, accommodating the original 1853 bell manufactured in Dublin, the Gothic style church designed by Samuel Jackson still retains its historical, architectural and social significance. St Francis' reminds us of the faith, courage and optimism the first Catholic community had in the future of Melbourne.

For over 160 years St. Francis' Church has been a house of prayer in the heart of Melbourne. As the city has grown and changed, so has St. Francis'. From the begining until now, constant efforts have been made to enhance and adapt the church for each generation of worshippers. Recently completed conservation works have secured the building for the new millennium. These works have been undertaken by the Blessed Sacrament Congregation, to whom the care of this historic church has been entrusted.