Thirty years later, Pedro Menendez de Aviles came with a fleet of ships. When he sailed on, he left a captain, thirty soldiers and a Catholic priest who later erected a chapel with the intention of ministering to the native Indians. Although the Tocabago Indians drove the Spaniards out, a seed had been planted.
In 1960, a mission began in Safety Harbor, and the first Mass was celebrated in the auditorium of Safety Harbor Elementary School. Approximately 75 Catholic families attended this celebration, and became the first parishioners. The mission thrived and it soon became apparent that a real church was needed.
On July 16, 1961, ground-breaking took place on a beautiful knoll overlooking Old Tampa Bay, close to the site of an ancient Spanish mission, and close to the springs name “Espiritu Santo”. The first Mass was held at Espiritu Santo Catholic Church on Christmas Eve, 1964.
By 1980, the church was bursting at the seams, and a new building was imperative. In keeping with its Spanish history, the architecture of the new church was contemporary Spanish Mission, both inside and out, bringing the beauty of the past into the atmosphere of the present-day place of worship. The old church is now the Parish Center.
On August 19, 2001, Espiritu Santo Catholic School was dedicated. It serves Pre-K3 through grade 8 and evening Religious Education. The former Education Building was remodeled and renamed the St. John Bosco Center to house adult education, organizational meetings and youth programs.
In the life of the Espiritu Santo Catholic community, the seed of faith planted by the missionaries in 1569 has produced much fruit and continues to grow. Today there are more than 4700 registered families at Espiritu Santo.
