, ▁because ▁the ▁fac ulty ▁and ▁students ▁at ▁the ▁Kentucky ▁Military ▁Institute ▁had ▁to ▁make ▁a ▁ 3 6 ▁mile ▁round ▁trip ▁journey ▁to ▁attend ▁Mass ▁in ▁Sar as ota . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁Mass ▁in ▁the ▁mission ▁was ▁celebrated ▁in ▁the ▁G ulf ▁Theatre ▁for ▁ 2 0 ▁people . ▁The ▁Rev . ▁Charles ▁Els land er ▁was ▁the ▁past or ▁at ▁St . ▁Mar tha ' s ▁at ▁the ▁time . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁E pi ph any ▁Church ▁was ▁the ▁former ▁chap el ▁from ▁the ▁Ven ice ▁Army ▁Air field . ▁ ▁It ▁was ▁moved ▁from ▁the ▁base ▁to ▁the ▁corner ▁of ▁T ampa ▁Avenue ▁and ▁N ass au ▁Street ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 7 . ▁ ▁It ▁was ▁purchased ▁and ▁furn ished ▁for ▁$ 1 1 , 1 6 5 . 3 0 . ▁ ▁E pi ph any ▁became ▁a ▁parish ▁on ▁March ▁ 7 , ▁ 1 9 5 5 ▁and ▁the ▁Rev . ▁Michael ▁M . ▁Reyn olds ▁was ▁named ▁as ▁the ▁parish ’ s ▁first ▁past or . ▁ ▁St . ▁Rap ha el ’ s ▁Par ish ▁was ▁founded ▁from ▁E pi ph any ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 8 . ▁ ▁Gr ound ▁was ▁broken ▁for ▁a ▁new ▁church ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 9 ▁and ▁it ▁was ▁completed ▁the ▁following ▁year . ▁ ▁The ▁former ▁church ▁was ▁renov ated ▁into ▁a ▁parish ▁hall . ▁A ▁mission ▁was ▁established ▁from ▁E pi ph any ▁in ▁ ▁W arm ▁Min eral ▁Spr ings