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Church of the Little Flower, Coral Gables, Fl
Church of the Little Flower was established in 1926 at the request of a small group of Catholics in the new community of Coral Gables. The Most Reverend Patrick J. Barry, Bishop of St. Augustine, announced that the new Parish was to be named in honor of St. Theresa of Lisieux, also known at “The Little Flower”. Masses were celebrated in the convent library of St. Joseph Academy, a boarding school that the Sisters of St. Joseph had built and opened in the church grounds in 1925, while selflessly served the parish for 65 years.
The first structure built was the parish center and auditorium which served as a temporary church, was designed to have a seating capacity of 800, and built by O’Neill-Orr Construction Company of Miami. In January, 1928 formal dedication and blessing of the building took place in a ceremony conducted by Bishop Patrick J. Barry and recognized as “One of the most noteworthy and significant events in the history of Coral Gables” by The Miami News.
Little Flower parishioners assisted in the Civil Defense Program during World War II. Following the war, an evident growth prompted Barry & Kay Architects to revisit the 1927 original church plans and update them in 1951to built the present church dedicated by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley, of St. Augustine.
Little Flower Parish has provided Evangelization and RCIA programs, Parish Renewal, Pre-Marital and Baptismal Preparation, Senior Citizens outreach, Eucharistic Ministry, Lectors, St. Vincent de Paul, Emmaus Retreats, Catechesis, all furthering the sacramental life of the church.
In 1991, the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles assumed the responsibility of the parish school.
Throughout its history, Little Flower parish has aimed and continues to serve the People of God within the Archdiocese of Miami.
Church of the Little Flower Pastors:
Rev. Msgr. Thomas P. Comber, 1926-1960
Rev. Msgr. Peter J. Reilly, 1960-1978
Rev. Msgr. William F. McKeever, 1978-1982
Rev. Msgr. John W. Glorie, 1982-1989
Rev. Kenneth D. Whittaker, 1989-1992
Rev. Msgr. Xavier Morras, 1992-2002
Rev. Arthur Dennison, 2002-2011
Rev. Michael W. Davis, 2011 to present
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