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TRANSFIGURATION
CHURCH
©Church of the Transfiguration
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Our Parish community was formed under the pastoral leadership and vision of Archbishop Joseph Hurley of the Diocese of Saint Augustine when he purchased ten acres of a citrus grove in northern Saint Petersburg off of 38th Avenue in June of 1959. The first Sunday parish liturgy was celebrated in the auditorium of Lealman Junior High School on September 20, 1959. Father Salvatore Profeta was appointed administrator of this small faith community known as the "Catholic Mission of North St. Petersburg".
Archbishop Hurley designated the name of the parish as Transfiguration in November 1959, and the parish was canonically erected the following February. Ground was broken in November 1960 for the church. Until this time, weekday Masses were celebrated in a temporary chapel constructed of salvaged materials from a two-story frame house. Sunday liturgies were still celebrated at the Lealman Junior High School auditorium. The new church was dedicated on Easter Sunday 1961 by Archbishop Hurley.
The parish has been served by two succeeding pastors: Fr Edward Mulligan (1960-1979) and Msgr. John Bolger (1979-1998). The parish is presently with the pastoral leadership to the Mercedarian Friars, and has been since June 1998.
An eight classroom school was built in 1961, and a six bedroom convent in 1965. The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Cork, Ireland) faithfully administered the parish school from 1965 through 1986. Prior to the Sisters' arrival and presently the parish school is served by a generous and deeply committed lay administration and faculty. Today, Transfiguration Parish School has approximately 260 students in an early childhood center and grades K-8. Over 100 students participate in the parish religious education program on Wednesdays, and another 35 participate in our youth group.
The parish boundaries lie in north central Saint Petersburg: From 22nd Avenue North to 54th Avenue North and 28th Street, North to 58th Street North. There are approximately 1,250 households which include seasonal and year round parishioners, retirees, and working families. There is a growing community of people from Hispanic, Tongan and Vietnamese origins.
The greatest attribute of Transfiguration Parish are its people who are so eager to give of time, talent and treasure for the needs and ministries of the parish, which include very active groups: Religious Education, Women's Guild, Educational Support Association, Mothers' Outreach Movement, Knights of Columbus and 43rd Street Seniors, School Advisory Committee, Cursillo Ultreya, Estudio Biblico, Cruzada del S. Rosario, Prayer Group, Rainbows, Tabor Uth, Andrew Ministry, Coro Hispano, Music Ministry, Booster Club, Health Ministry, Outreach to the Needy, Liturgical Ministries, and Parish Pastoral Council. All of the organizations illustrate the multi-faceted diversity of our parish community and consciously strive to recognize and expend themselves as a diverse Christian family.
Transfiguration Parish is people: it is family-witnessed by its loving embrace of its members and those in
need, its education to its youth, its sense of self-effacing service
and its genuine desire to be in the company of Jesus.
Fr. Jerome
Laubacker, O.de M.
Pastor
Peter Nolasco
The man Who knew How to Risk.
Merchants Of Freedom
The Mercedarian Friars