Church Of The Little Flower

The Church of the Little Flower is one of the most famous churches in South Florida. It stands right in the middle of the residential part of Coral Gables FL, one of the most historic and vital cities in South Florida.

The Church Of The Little Flower At A Glance

The church, located just down the road from the iconic Biltmore Hotel, is recognized for its architectural splendor, marble sanctuary, and splendid reredos.

The Latin phrase engraved above the magnificent cross, “Ego sum lux mundi,” is a verbatim quote from Jesus Christ. It is indicated in the Gospel of John, which means “I am the Light of the World.” A lighted cross is seen above the Church of the Little Flower’s Spanish Renaissance dome every night until dawn.

The 3,200 families attending mass at the Church of the Little Flower can affirm the beautiful liturgies. The liveliness of the civic society and the warm welcome extended to people wanting to join the church. This is true for everyone coming to this church to get married, have their children baptized, or worship the Lord while on vacation.

History Of The Church Of The Little Flower

In 1926, Archbishop Patrick Barry chose “Church of the Little Flower” to honor Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. They are fondly known as “The Little Flower,” as requested by a group of Catholics in Coral Gables FL.

A parish hall and auditorium, the first facility established by Little Flower, opened in 1928, functioning as a temporary church. As the Catholic population swelled in the 1930s, masses had to be held at the Tower Theater.

During WWII, parishioners supported the Civil Defense program by teaching first aid, sewing bandages, and acting as aerial attack and fire wardens. In 1951, the parish built its much-awaited church after the war.

For 65 years, the Sisters of Saint Joseph worked at St. Theresa School. The Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Los Angeles in 1991 took it over.

The parish has over 50 structured ministries, events, and spiritual formation activities. It includes the Church of the Little Flower charities, the growing Emmaus program, the English and Spanish marriage covenant retreats, and the adult literacy programs.

Church Of The Little Flower – The Cultural Transformation

The Church of the Little Flower, just like Coral Gables, was financed and established by wealthy Americans. Most of its members were Irish Americans, liberals on the political spectrum, and Democrat supporters during most of the 20th century.

A gap started in 1990 between parishioners who did not frequently attend church. As a result, Father Kenneth Whittaker, the parish priest and formerly a Lutheran who had switched to Catholicism, put new regulations into effect.

This includes dismissing students from the parish’s prestigious school for academic and social accomplishment if parents continually miss mass. Enraged parishioners began protesting, and Father Whittaker refused to confirm or baptize children whose parents ignored to attend Mass. As a result, the situation worsened.

After Fidel Castro’s ascent to power in 1959, a massive wave of Cubans migrated to Miami, changing the congregation’s demographics. By 2000, more than 50% of the churchgoers and more than 50% of the students at St. Theresa School were Cuban-American. As a result, the church gained a reputation as a hub of political conservatism. Several of its members are connected to the Republican Party.

Members of the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables FL defined the coming of the Carmelite sisters as a miracle because a renewed spirituality transformed their community. In 1999, more than 40,000 locals and tourists visited the church to honor St. Therese of Lisieux’s relics.

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