Epiphany Cathedral (Venice, Florida)
Encyclopedia
Epiphany Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral
located in Venice, Florida
, United States
. It is the seat of the Diocese of Venice
.
. The mission was founded, in part, because the faculty and students at the Kentucky Military Institute
had to make a 36 mile round trip journey to attend Mass in Sarasota. The first Mass in the mission was celebrated in the Gulf Theatre for 20 people. The Rev. Charles Elslander was the pastor at St. Martha's at the time. The first Epiphany Church was the former chapel from the Venice Army Airfield
. It was moved from the base to the corner of Tampa Avenue and Nassau Street in 1947. It was purchased and furnished for $11,165.30. Epiphany became a parish on March 7, 1955 and the Rev. Michael M. Reynolds was named as the parish’s first pastor. St. Raphael’s Parish was founded from Epiphany in 1958.
Ground was broken for a new church in 1959 and it was completed the following year. The former church was renovated into a parish hall. A mission was established from Epiphany in Warm Mineral Springs
. It became San Pedro Parish two years later. As the parish continued to expand Marian Hall was built in 1978 to accommodate more Masses and other parish functions. Ground for the present church was broken in February 1979. It was dedicated by Bishop W. Thomas Larkin
of St. Petersburg on June 29, 1980. The previous church was remodeled for a parish hall and the original church was torn down.
was installed as the diocese’s first bishop. Two years later Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice was founded from Epiphany Cathedral. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Osprey
was founded from the cathedral in 2001. On July 25, 2006 Frank J. Dewane
was ordained coadjutor bishop
of Venice. He was the first bishop ordained in the cathedral.
and taught in the school until 1974. At that time two Benedictines joined the lay teachers on the staff. In 1977 they were joined by three School Sisters of Notre Dame
and two Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
.
Kindergarten was added in 1978. Marion Hall, a multi-purpose facility, was built on the east side of the school in 1979. The following year grades 6-8 were formed into a middle school. A computer lab and a new playground were added in 1983. Pre-Kindergarten was added in 1987. As enrollment increased additions were made to the building. An annex was added to the south-side of the building in 1990. The cafeteria, media center, pre-school classrooms and music room were added between 1991 and 1993. An annex building replaced the former convent and the former rectory in 1996. Santa Maria Chapel was added to the school building in 1998. It was provided by a benefactor. Enrollment declined in the early 2000s and grades were reduced to one grade per classroom. The annex building was given to the parish to use for offices. In 2007 Epiphany School was given a Blue Ribbon of Excellence Award
.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
located in Venice, Florida
Venice, Florida
Venice is a city in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2007 estimates, the city had a population of 21,015. It is noted for its large snowbird population. Its newspaper is the Venice Gondolier Sun...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the seat of the Diocese of Venice
Roman Catholic Diocese of Venice in Florida
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Venice in Florida is a Roman Catholic diocese in Florida. It was founded on June 16, 1984. The Diocese of Venice includes the counties of Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Manatee, and Sarasota....
.
Epiphany Parish
Epiphany Parish can trace its founding to 1935 when it became a mission station of St. Martha Parish in Sarasota, FloridaSarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
. The mission was founded, in part, because the faculty and students at the Kentucky Military Institute
Kentucky Military Institute
The Kentucky Military Institute was a military preparatory school in Lyndon, Kentucky and Venice, Florida, in operation from 1845 to 1971....
had to make a 36 mile round trip journey to attend Mass in Sarasota. The first Mass in the mission was celebrated in the Gulf Theatre for 20 people. The Rev. Charles Elslander was the pastor at St. Martha's at the time. The first Epiphany Church was the former chapel from the Venice Army Airfield
Venice Army Airfield
Venice Army Airfield is an inactive United States Air Force base, approximately 2 miles south-southeast of Venice, Florida. It was active during World War II as a Third Air Force training airfield...
. It was moved from the base to the corner of Tampa Avenue and Nassau Street in 1947. It was purchased and furnished for $11,165.30. Epiphany became a parish on March 7, 1955 and the Rev. Michael M. Reynolds was named as the parish’s first pastor. St. Raphael’s Parish was founded from Epiphany in 1958.
Ground was broken for a new church in 1959 and it was completed the following year. The former church was renovated into a parish hall. A mission was established from Epiphany in Warm Mineral Springs
Warm Mineral Springs, Florida
Warm Mineral Springs is a census-designated place in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,811 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. It became San Pedro Parish two years later. As the parish continued to expand Marian Hall was built in 1978 to accommodate more Masses and other parish functions. Ground for the present church was broken in February 1979. It was dedicated by Bishop W. Thomas Larkin
William Thomas Larkin
William Thomas Larkin was the Roman Catholic bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida....
of St. Petersburg on June 29, 1980. The previous church was remodeled for a parish hall and the original church was torn down.
Epiphany Cathedral
Blessed John Paul II established the Diocese of Venice on June 16, 1984. Epiphany became the cathedral for the new diocese. Bishop John J. NevinsJohn Joseph Nevins
Bishop John Joseph Nevins was the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami and the first Bishop of the Diocese of Venice, Florida . He is also the Titular Bishop of Rusticiana....
was installed as the diocese’s first bishop. Two years later Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice was founded from Epiphany Cathedral. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Osprey
Osprey, Florida
Osprey is a census-designated place in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,143 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
was founded from the cathedral in 2001. On July 25, 2006 Frank J. Dewane
Frank Joseph Dewane
Frank Joseph Dewane is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the second and current Bishop of Venice in Florida.-Biography:...
was ordained coadjutor bishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
of Venice. He was the first bishop ordained in the cathedral.
Parish School
Epiphany School was started by Msgr. George W. Cummings in 1959 with 66 students in four grades. Classes were held at the Kentucky Military Institute until the parish school building was completed. The school building was originally a single story. A second story was added in 1966. Benedictine Sisters taught at the school from 1959-1968. They were replaced by Franciscan Sisters from Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
and taught in the school until 1974. At that time two Benedictines joined the lay teachers on the staff. In 1977 they were joined by three School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame
School Sisters of Notre Dame is a worldwide order of Roman Catholic nuns devoted to primary, secondary, and post-secondary education. Their life in mission centers on prayer, community life and ministry...
and two Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known by their initials BVM, is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the United States by Mother Mary Frances Clarke. BVM Sisters work in twenty-five U.S...
.
Kindergarten was added in 1978. Marion Hall, a multi-purpose facility, was built on the east side of the school in 1979. The following year grades 6-8 were formed into a middle school. A computer lab and a new playground were added in 1983. Pre-Kindergarten was added in 1987. As enrollment increased additions were made to the building. An annex was added to the south-side of the building in 1990. The cafeteria, media center, pre-school classrooms and music room were added between 1991 and 1993. An annex building replaced the former convent and the former rectory in 1996. Santa Maria Chapel was added to the school building in 1998. It was provided by a benefactor. Enrollment declined in the early 2000s and grades were reduced to one grade per classroom. The annex building was given to the parish to use for offices. In 2007 Epiphany School was given a Blue Ribbon of Excellence Award
Blue Ribbon Schools Program
The Blue Ribbon Schools Program is a United States government program created in 1981 to honor schools which have achieved high levels of performance or significant improvements with emphasis on schools serving disadvantaged students. The program centers around a self-assessment conducted by the...
.
Pastors/Rectors
The following priests have served as the pastor of Epiphany Parish and since 1984 as the cathedral rector:- Msgr. Charles Elslander (Mission from Sarasota; 1935-1955)
- Rev. Michael M. Reynolds (1955)
- Rev. Noah E. Brunner (administrator; 1955-1956)
- Msgr. George W. Cummings (1956-1976)
- Rev. Esteban G. Soy (1976-1999)
- Rev. Robert R. Cannon (1999-2003)
- Rev. George Ratzmann (2003-2008)
- Rev. John F. Costello (2008-Present)