History

Mass was first celebrated at Hi-Way Theatre. Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley and Father Donald Dailey, the first pastor, breaking ground for Epiphany's Church and Rectory.

Father Donald Dailey, the first Pastor of Epiphany, initiates the first parish census and visitation of each Catholic family within the parish boundaries. Many volunteers assisted, and the census was completed in November 1951.

The first parish social event is a card party sponsored by the Ladies Guild of Epiphany and held at the Italian-American Club, located at 2575 South Bayshore Drive. One hundred and seventy-seven people attended. They raised $223.00, and this was donated to the Chapel-Auditorium Building Fund.

The first wedding in the newly constructed Chapel-Auditorium is held at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. The groom was John M. Gould, Miami, and the bride, Patricia A. Lummus from Rockdale, Florida

Children of parishioners start attending school at St. Theresa, Little Flower in Coral Gables.

Epiphany's first temporary church.

The boys uniforms’ rental for confirmation is $2.25; and the girls' is $2.50.

The first C.C.D. classes are held for forty-six children.

School opens its doors for the first time in the newly constructed seven classrooms in the Epiphany Grade School.

The first Mass is celebrated in the temporary Epiphany Convent located on Snapper Drive

A nursery for the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass was established.

Church of the Epiphany Proposed Building Plan for the second temporary church

Christmas evening mass is the first Mass to be offered in the provisional Church.

Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago, dedicates the provisional Church and the newly finished eight classroom school addition.

Epiphany’s financial report shows that $8,982.99 was raised in 1955 as compared to $2,847.40 in 1953.

An open house is held in the newly completed Convent on the parish property.

School tuition is as follows:

• $ 10.00 per month - one child
• 13.00 per month - two children
• 15.00 per month - three or more children
• 15.00 per month - Kindergarten

The Parish Library is officially opened.

The appearance of the first items to be written in Spanish appears in the Bulletin on this date. The notice read….”El viernes 8 de septiembre a las 8:00 p.m. se celebrara en el Stadium de Miami, situado en la Avenida numero 2301 del N.W. una Misa dialogada en celebracion de la Festividad de Nuetra Senora de la Caridad, Patrona de Cuba.

The confessionals at the rear of the Church on the “Epistle side” are now equipped with a hearing aid for those with impaired hearing.

For the opening session of the Second Vatican Council, school is dismissed for the day.

Reverend John O’Dowd, pastor of the Church of Epiphany since May 1959, is elevated to the rank of Monsignor.

A special Mass is held at Epiphany for the repose of the soul of Pope John XXIII.

The Mass at Christmas is celebrated in English for the first time at Epiphany as a result of the Second Vatican Council.

The new chimes (church bells) will ring daily at 8:00 a.m. to remind parishioners that Mass will start at 8:00 a.m. and will also ring at noon and at 6:00 p.m. for the Angelus.

Bingo begins at Epiphany to benefit Epiphany School.

The first Saturday evening Mass is held at Epiphany at 7:30 p.m. to fulfill the obligation for Sunday Mass.

Renovation of the provisional church starts and masses are celebrated in the Parish Center.

The first official Mass is celebrated in the newly renovated provisional church.

The official opening of the provisional church takes place with Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll presiding.

Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy is the principal celebrant at Epiphany on the occasion of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of Epiphany School.

A Spanish language Mass is held on this day and every Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m.

Monsignor Jude O’Doherty became Epiphany’s fourth Pastor

The Office of Religious Education was established.

Monsignor John O’Dowd Educational Center was opened.

Official groundbreaking ceremony for the building of a new permanent Church

An Endowment Fund was established to ensure the availability of future resources for the school and parish.

Ordination of its first Deacon, The Reverend Mr. Don Livingstone.

The current Church, a national architectural wonder, is dedicated on March 17, 2002.

Reverend José Alvarez became Epiphany’s fifth pastor.