St. Joseph Catholic Church
Winter Haven, Florida

t. Joseph Church, at first glance, appears as any building of its time and of its city. A beloved landmark now enveloped by a changing urban setting that may not be as beautiful as the one originally designed. This, however, is a deception. It is, in reality, a feature made of living stones, chosen and quarried by a creator who has preceded His workmanship yet, because of the His own life glowing within, makes of any altered setting, a masterpiece. This means that although St. Joseph Church has a definitive past history, it also has one that will never end.
The history you are about to read was compiled for publication in 2005, recording events that happened before St. Joseph or even Winter Haven existed. Today, another decade of harvest remains to be recorded and decades to come will bear their fruit. What will you bring?
Will you come and be seen, to be recorded in a future parish directory? Will you come and minister, returning gift for gift back to the Giver who blessed you? What will be your gift, your story and your recollections? Come and share them with us.
Contact:
fhall@stjosephwh.org
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Introduction |
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The Seed of Martyrs |
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The First Catholic Comes to Polk County |
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Jesuits Travel to Polk From Tampa |
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The Early Church in Winter Haven |
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Two Early Catholics |
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First Mass Celebrated |
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Early Catholic Education |
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Mrs. Ford DeHaven |
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St. Joseph Named a Parish Church |
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Father Dennis O'Keefe 1923 - 1926 |
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Lyceum Hall |
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History of Two Early Organizations |
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Father Patrick Noland 1928 - 1934 |
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Father John O'Keefe 1934 - 1935 |
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Father Michael J. Brown 1934 - 1942 |