Knights of Columbus Presents – COATS FOR KIDS.Welcome to Espiritu Santo Catholic Church – 2405 Philippe Parkway, Safety Harbor, FL 34695.The first Mass was celebrated in the present-day church.Įspiritu Santo Catholic School was dedicated. The first Mass was celebrated in Espiritu Santo Catholic Church. The mission church of Espiritu Santo was established in Safety Harbor. Pedro Menendez de Aviles came to Espiritu Santo Springs to establish a mission Luis de Cancer arrives and is soon martyred Hernando DeSoto discovers Bahia Espiritu Santoįra. In the life of the Espiritu Santo Faith Community, the seed of faith planted by the Spanish Missionaries in 1539 has borne much fruit and continues to flourish. The school serves Pre-K 3 through the 8th grade and in 2019 was awarded the National Blue Ribbon of Excellence. The Espiritu Santo Catholic School was dedicated in 2001. The original church is now the Parish Center. In 1987, the first Mass was celebrated in the present church, which seats approximately 900. The parish continued to grow rapidly and a new bigger church was needed by the mid 1980’s. On Christmas Eve, 1964, the first Mass was celebrated in Espiritu Santo Catholic Church. The mission thrived and it soon became apparent that a church building and parish hall were needed. Responding to the need for a Catholic parish in the growing community, another mission church was established in 1960 on the present site and the first Masses were celebrated in Safety Harbor Elementary School. Once ships reached this area of the bay, all threats from pirates were gone, and it was commonly referred to as a “Safe Harbor”.Ĥ00 years after the arrival of the Spanish, the seed of faith established by the early mission found expressions under the direction of Msgr. The name Safety Harbor originated from the early 18th century when pirates were a substantial influence in the area. Safety Harbor (formerly known as Worth’s Harbor and Green’s Springs) was first homesteaded by Count Odet Philippe, a French nobleman who is credited with introducing the grapefruit to Florida in 1823.

The Indians soon destroyed the mission and drove the Spaniards out but the seeds of faith had been planted at the spring. He arrives with 30 soldiers and a Catholic Priest whom he leaves behind to continue their work. The first blockhouse mission was finally built in 1567, by Pedro Menendez.

History of ushers in catholic church