Church of the Little Flower (Coral Gables, Florida)

Church of the Little Flower

A view of the altar of Church of the Little Flower halfway down the very long nave, reputedly the longest in the Archdiocese of Miami

The Church of the Little Flower is a Catholic Church located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami at 1270 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, Florida. Established in 1926, it is one of the oldest in the metropolitan Miami area and is considered an historic landmark.^[1] The Church property contains a K-8 school and a reception hall that is frequently used for lectures, concerts and wedding receptions. Because of its beauty, its very long nave (main aisle) and professional choir, the Church is a popular site for weddings. It is located less than 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the famous Biltmore Hotel.

History

The church was established in 1926 at the request of a small group of Catholics in the community of Coral Gables then in the Diocese of St. Augustine. The Most Reverend Patrick J. Barry, Bishop of St. Augustine, announced the new parish was to be named in honor of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as "The Little Flower". Masses were celebrated in the convent chapel of St. Joseph's Academy, a boarding school that the Sisters of St. Joseph had built and opened in 1925 at 2701 Indian Mound Trail until the temporary church was built in 1928. In 1932, St. Joseph's Academy, the parochial school associated with the parish church, was renamed to St. Theresa School.

The first structure built was the parish center and auditorium, which had a seating capacity of 800. It was formally dedicated in January 1928 by Bishop Patrick J. Barry. Rev. Msgr. Thomas P. Comber was the first pastor. This building functioned as the church until the present church was built in 1951 and dedicated by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley of St. Augustine. This church has a seating of 900. Rev. Michael W. Davis is the current pastor.

A major renovation was made in 1987 to the 10,000-square-foot (930 m²) church. It included a new air conditioner, doors, pews, marble floor, and lighting fixtures. The old church building was renamed Comber Hall in memory of Msgr. Thomas P. Comber. The priests moved into a new rectory, which was located directly across the street from the old rectory.

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 Morrás (1992–2002)
• Rev. Arthur Dennison (2002–2011)
• Rev. Michael W. Davis (2011–Present)

Gallery

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  A view of the confessionals and statue of Mary and Jesus just to the side of the main altar

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  Statue of Jesus and the stairs that lead up to the balcony inside the Church

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  A statue of St. Therese who is also known as the Little Flower

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  A full view of Comber Hall with partial view of the main church building

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  Comber Hall

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Church of the Little Flower (Coral Gables, Florida).

• Church of the Little FlowerwWebsite

Archdiocese of Miami Archbishops Coleman Carroll Edward Anthony McCarthy John Favalora Thomas Wenski Auxiliary Bishops Norbert Dorsey Felipe Estévez Gilberto Fernandez John Fitzpatrick René Gracida John Nevins John Noonan Agustin Roman Thomas Wenski Peter Baldacchino Churches Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Mary, Miami Parishes Church of the Little Flower, Coral Gables Basilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea, Key West St. Dominic Church, Miami Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Miami St. Patrick Catholic Church, Miami Beach Saint Edward Catholic Church, Pembroke Pines Education Higher Education Barry University St. Thomas University Seminary St. John Vianney College Seminary High Schools Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School, Miami Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame High School, Miami Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School, Southwest Ranches Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, Miami Cardinal Gibbons High School, Fort Lauderdale Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart, Miami Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School, Hollywood Christopher Columbus High School, Miami Immaculata-Lasalle High School, Miami Monsignor Edward Pace High School, Miami Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami St. Brendan High School, Miami St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale Grade Schools St. Theresa School, Coral Gables Saint Mary's Cathedral School, Miami St. Patrick Catholic School, Miami Beach Priests Ambrose Battista De Paoli Fernando Isern Robert Nugent Lynch Miscellany Academy of the Assumption Catholic Health Services Florida Catholic Catholicism Portal

Coordinates: 25°44′39″N 80°16′55″W / 25.744169°N 80.281827°W / 25.744169; -80.281827