About Saint Therese of Lisieux · Saint Petersburg, Florida
Saint Therese of Lisieux Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian Byzantine-rite Catholic parish located at 4265 13th Avenue North in St. Petersburg, Florida. Founded in 1964 under the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic (New Jersey), the parish serves Byzantine Catholics on Florida's Gulf Coast and fulfils the Latin-rite Sunday obligation for visiting Catholics. The current pastor is Father Robert Evancho, and the parish is known for its striking gold-domed church dedicated in 1992, its weekly coffee social after the Sunday Divine Liturgy, and Father Bob's well-loved Samoyed dogs.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- St. Therese of Lisieux
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Evancho (Father Bob Evancho)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic (Ruthenian); geographically located within the territorial Diocese of Saint Petersburg (Latin rite)
Why belong here
Saint Therese invites every Catholic — Byzantine or Latin rite, Orthodox Christian, or visitor — to worship with them; the parish states explicitly that the Sunday obligation is fulfilled when worshiping with them. Members gather for a warm Sunday routine: Confessions and the Rosary at 8:30 am, the 9:00 am Divine Liturgy, then a parish coffee social where new faces quickly become friends. It is a small, close-knit Byzantine community that doubles as an entry point into the Eastern Catholic tradition for anyone curious about icons, the Sign of the Cross made right-to-left, the three-bar cross, and the Divine Liturgy.
Mass times at Saint Therese of Lisieux
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:30 am – 8:50 am (before the Divine Liturgy)
Parish History
Saint Therese was founded on December 20, 1964 when a small group of Byzantine Catholics in St. Petersburg gathered for their first Divine Liturgy in what was then the parish house, under founding pastor Father John Puskar. The community grew steadily over the next decade: a new church building was completed in 1973 during the pastorate of Father Robert Ference, and in 1982 the Branthoover Center was added as a parish hall for meetings, classes and celebrations. Sisters from the Order of St. Basil the Great later joined the parish's ministry. In 1992 the present church — with its distinctive gold dome — was dedicated as 'a very beautiful jewel' and a tribute to the many parishioners who built it.
- 1964 — parish founded; Father John Puskar celebrates the first Divine Liturgy on December 20
- 1973 — second building constructed as the church under Father Robert Ference
- 1982 — Branthoover Center (large parish hall) built for meetings, classes and events
- Sisters from the Order of St. Basil the Great serve the parish
- 1992 — present church dedicated, featuring a gold dome
- Father Edward Cimbala follows Father Ference; Father Robert Evancho is the current pastor
Our Patroness: St. Therese of Lisieux
Although St. Therese is a Western saint, she was chosen as the parish's patroness because the area was considered 'mission territory' when the parish was being planned — there were no Byzantine Catholic parishes south of New Jersey. As the patroness of missions, St. Therese was asked to watch over the new community.
- Patroness of the parish
- Chosen because of her role as patroness of missions
- Original church site was 'mission territory' — no Byzantine parishes south of New Jersey
Byzantine Catholic Identity
St. Therese belongs to the Byzantine Catholic tradition — one of the 23 churches in full communion with the Pope of Rome that together make up the Universal Catholic Church. Members are Eastern Christians who keep their own theology, liturgical language and customs (including making the Sign of the Cross right-to-left and venerating the three-bar cross) while remaining Catholic. The parish's FAQ page makes clear that all properly prepared Catholics are welcome to receive Holy Communion there, that Orthodox Christians are also welcome per their own canons, and that simply attending St. Therese fulfils the Latin-rite Sunday obligation.
- In communion with the Pope; Sunday obligation is fulfilled at the parish
- Sign of the Cross made right to left
- Veneration of the three-bar Byzantine cross
- Sunday worship is called the Divine Liturgy
- Eastern Catholic traditions and Western-rite visitors all welcomed
Clergy and Pastoral Succession
The parish is currently served by Father Robert (Bob) Evancho, who was ordained on June 4, 1979 and is the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic's priest for this community. He succeeded Father Edward Cimbala, who followed Father Robert Ference, who in turn followed founding pastor Father John Puskar. The parish community affectionately counts Father Bob's Samoyed dogs as part of the pastoral household.
- Father John Puskar — founding pastor (1964)
- Father Robert Ference — oversaw 1973 church construction
- Father Edward Cimbala — third pastor
- Father Robert (Bob) Evancho — current pastor; ordained 1979
Service Schedule
The published weekly schedule is centered entirely on Sunday: the day begins with Confessions and the Rosary at 8:30 am, followed by the Sunday Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am. During Great Lent, Wednesday evening services (along with Holy Wednesday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday) move to 6:00 pm, and the Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday and Pascha (Easter) is celebrated at 9:00 am.
- Sunday 8:30 am — Confessions
- Sunday 8:30 am — Rosary
- Sunday 9:00 am — Divine Liturgy
- Lenten Wednesdays / Holy Week services — 6:00 pm
- Palm Sunday & Pascha — Divine Liturgy at 9:00 am
Sacraments and Devotions
The principal Sunday sacrament is the Divine Liturgy. Confession is heard each Sunday morning before the Divine Liturgy. The Rosary is also prayed in the half-hour before the start of Mass, and weekday Great Lent and Holy Week services round out the liturgical year.
- Divine Liturgy — Sunday 9:00 am (fulfils Sunday obligation)
- Confession — Sunday 8:30–8:50 am
- Rosary — Sunday 8:30 am
- Great Lent and Holy Week services at 6:00 pm
- Holy Communion open to all properly prepared Catholics
Parish Life and Activities
Beyond the liturgy, the parish runs a weekly coffee social after the Sunday Divine Liturgy where newcomers are encouraged to stay and meet the community. The Branthoover Center, built in 1982, hosts parish meetings, faith-formation classes, and parish celebrations, and is also available for hall rental to outside groups.
- Weekly coffee social after Sunday Divine Liturgy
- Branthoover Center — built 1982 for meetings, classes and celebrations
- Faith Formation classes held at the parish
- Online Giving available via the parish website
- Hall Rental available for community events
Faith Formation
The parish maintains a Faith Formation program with classes for parishioners, supplementing the liturgical catechesis received at the Divine Liturgy. The Faith Formation page is one of the main menu items on the parish website.
- Faith Formation classes for parishioners
- Catechesis complements the Byzantine liturgical tradition
Building and Grounds
The parish campus includes the original parish house (the first worship space in 1964), the 1973 church building, the 1982 Branthoover Center hall, and the gold-domed present church dedicated in 1992. The gold dome is visible from the surrounding blocks and is the parish's most recognizable exterior feature.
- Original parish house (1964 — first worship space)
- 1973 church building
- Branthoover Center (1982 hall)
- 1992 church with gold dome
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Puskar1964 (founding)
First pastor of the parish; celebrated the inaugural Divine Liturgy on December 20, 1964 in what was then the parish house.
- Father Robert Ference
Second pastor; oversaw construction of the 1973 church building as the parish grew.
- Father Edward Cimbala
Third pastor; succeeded Father Ference prior to Father Evancho.
- Father Robert Evanchopresent
Current pastor; well-known locally for his beloved Samoyed dogs. Ordained June 4, 1979.