The Diocese of Saint Petersburg is the first diocese in Florida and the Southeast to welcome the Institute, which was founded in 1990 by two French priests.

Canon John O’Connor, a warm and welcoming priest who owns an orange tabby cat, was appointed by the Institute to serve as first rector of the Shrine, located in the Seminole Heights area of Tampa. 

The Institute is a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, approved by the Vatican, dedicated to the liturgy celebrated according to the Roman Missal of 1962. 

“The Institute seeks to attract souls to the truth of the Catholic Faith through the method of St. Francis de Sales, emphasizing how this truth radiates beauty, is abundant in good, and is encouragingly accessible,” said Canon Matthew Talarico, U.S. Provincial Superior of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Canon Talarico is based in Chicago, home of the U.S. Apostolate of the worldwide Institute, which is based in Tuscany, Italy. 

The Institute’s priests are called canons, which refers to a member of the clergy who lives in community according to a specific rule. The brothers are called oblates, which refers to being dedicated or offered to God’s service within a religious community. The sisters are called Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus. There is also a lay branch called the Society of the Sacred Heart. They describe themselves as a spiritual family.

“As a family of prayer, the Institute’s members gather around the altar to pray the liturgical Hours each morning, at midday, if possible, and every evening, thereby offering adoration to God, which is the first purpose of the Institute, and living a common life, which fosters the sanctification of the clergy. From the altar, the clergy of the Institute go out to serve the spiritual needs of the faithful according to the missionary spirit of St. Francis de Sales. This includes bringing the Sacraments to the sick and homebound, catechetical formation, preaching parish missions and retreats, spiritual direction, daily confessions, youth activities, and chaplaincy in schools, among others,” said Canon Talarico.

Canon O’Connor felt drawn to the Institute while studying at Franciscan University of Steubenville. As a student, he attended a Mass by Canon Talarico celebrated in the pre-Vatican II liturgy.

“I just fell in love with the beauty of the chant and the mystery and awe of the Mass,” said Canon O’Connor. 

Trusting in the Lord’s providence, he began to discern joining the Institute. 

“I just said to the Lord, ‘If you open a door, I'm going to keep walking through until you close it, and that will be the sign, it's not meant to be.’ Well, it just kept working,” said Canon O’Connor, who was ordained for the Institute in 2016. 

He grew up in a devout Catholic family from New Jersey that attended daily Mass. He served as an altar server, and from a young age, he felt a calling to the priesthood. 

“I just really thought the priesthood was amazing — to be saving souls and serving Christ. I thought that was really awesome,” said Canon O’Connor.

Prior to his assignment in Tampa, Canon O’Connor has served at parishes/oratories in France, Ireland, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Rockford, Illinois. He speaks fluent French and conversational Italian. He reads Latin.

“I am confident that the priests and brothers of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, who have successfully served in dioceses around the United States, are well suited to provide pastoral care and foster the spiritual mission of Epiphany of Our Lord Shrine,” said Bishop Parkes.

Epiphany of our Lord — then and now

Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church was established in 1961 to serve the Seminole Heights area of Tampa during a time of rapid development in the area. The parish was originally entrusted to the pastoral care of the Redemptorists, a global Catholic community of priests and brothers, officially known as the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, founded in 1732 by St. Alphonsus Liguori. 

In the early months, Mass was celebrated at local civic and community centers. The first Mass in the newly built church was celebrated on Christmas day in 1962. The pews had not yet arrived, so chairs were borrowed from two local funeral homes.

On March 25, 2025, Bishop Gregory Parkes announced Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church would become a diocesan shrine effective July 1, 2025, to care for the spiritual needs of the faithful who find solace in the liturgy celebrated according to the 1962 Roman Missal. The Roman Missal is the liturgical book that guides the celebration of the Mass. 

Epiphany of Our Lord Shrine is a place of pilgrimage for those throughout the Diocese of Saint Petersburg who are devoted to the liturgical fruits of the antecedent liturgy and the incarnational spirituality of the Epiphany — when the Heavenly Father manifested through signs and wonders the newborn Christ as a light to the nations.