A cornerstone. That’s what it felt like. Solid. Enduring. This is Epiphany of Our Lord Church. Right here in Tampa.
Established in 1961 this church started in a recreation center. Imagine the first Mass celebrated amidst basketball hoops and picnic tables. Then a move to a junior high school cafeteria. A humble beginning for a parish that would blossom into a vibrant community. By December 1962 the church held its first Mass at its current location on East Hanna Avenue. The dedication ceremony in 1963 overflowed with 700 parishioners. Their faith built this place brick by brick.
Epiphany of Our Lord Church didn’t just grow in size. It grew in diversity. It became home to a Vietnamese Mission in 1991. A Haitian Mission joined in 2003. The church became a reflection of Tampa’s rich multicultural fabric. The original parishioners Italian and Irish Americans opened their hearts and their church to these new communities. The story of Epiphany is a story of unity. A testament to the power of faith bridging cultural divides.
The school at Epiphany thrived for a while. The Bernardine Sisters of St Francis staffed it. The school expanded from grades 1-5 to a full eight grades. Unfortunately the school’s closure in 1979. Economic realities played a role. The changing demographics of the neighborhood presented a challenge. Many families moved to the suburbs. The convent then became the Parish Rectory. The school’s classrooms became the Parish Activity Center.
But even amid change. Epiphany of Our Lord Church persevered. The Redemptorist order handed over the parish to the Diocese in 1988. Diocesan priests continued to serve. The church kept adapting keeping faith at its core.
In 2015 another significant change arrived. Father Edwin Palka became the pastor. He introduced the Traditional Latin Mass. For five years the Vietnamese Mission and the Traditional Latin Mass co-existed. Busy Sundays became the norm. Then in 2020 the Vietnamese Mission moved to a new location becoming St Joseph Vietnamese Parish.
Today. Epiphany of Our Lord Church continues to thrive. Its interior has been beautifully renovated. A striking Crucifixion scene now adorns the altar wall. The church welcomes all. It’s a place of worship. A center for community. A living testament to the enduring spirit of faith. Look around. Feel the history within these walls. This is Epiphany of Our Lord Church. A place where faith takes root and blossoms.