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In the early 1980’s, the Tampa Palms area was developed. Then in the late 1980’s, Hunter’s Green community commenced development. In anticipation of a growing population in the area, the Diocese of St. Petersburg began a search for property along Bruce B. Downs to locate a new parish in the Fall of 1991. Nine sites extending into Pasco County were located. The primary rationale for selecting property along Cross Creek was the following: property value; access to existing and potential neighborhoods; characteristics of the site; soil conditions and proximity of other parishes.
Why a Winged Lion?
The 27.428 acres were purchased from APU Cross Creek Inc., who owned about 2000 acres beyond the Cross Creek with the intention of developing the property. The company was unable to do this due to there not being a bridge crossing the creek and there were no existing water and sewer lines beyond the creek.
In 1991, the only developments north of Tampa Palms were Pebble Creek and the early stage of Hunters’ Green. There was no development beyond the creek. What is known as Cross Creek Blvd. stopped at the creek.
On June 9, 1992 the Diocese signed a contract to purchase the property. Closing for the property was on January 11, 1993 with a purchase price of $1,033,000. The diocese stipulated that the money received for the property must be used for constructing a bridge over the creek which was accomplished.
In 1993, with an increased population in the area, Corpus Christi Parish in Temple Terrace established a mission in Tampa Palms with Masses celebrated in a storefront in the Tampa Palms City Plaza. The first Mass was conducted on a Saturday in September, 1993 with 50 people attending. The space was rented from a Baptist Church, which conducted services on Sunday morning. Mass was conducted in the storefront until August, 1996. The offertory was placed in a savings account for a future parish.
Upon the request of the future parishioners, Most Rev. Robert Lynch, Bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg announced a new parish for the New Tampa area in May, 1996 which would be named St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. On June 11th of the same year, Bishop Lynch announced that Father Austin Mullen, pastor of St. Paul in Carrolwood, would be pastor of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. Later in June, the Diocese purchased a house in Hunter’s Green to serve as the parish rectory, and in early July, Father Mullen moved into the house.
A parish office was opened on Amberly Drive in August, 1996 at the Palm Lake shopping area. For a few years daily Mass was conducted at noon in the office.
The first weekend Mass was celebrated on Saturday, August 31, 1996 at the Presbyterian Church on Bruce B. Downs with 250 people in attendance. This continued for one year.
To benefit the parish building fund, a children’s Christmas program was held in December, 1996 at the Hunter’s Green Elementary School. On August 17, 1997 the first tennis social at the Arbor Green Tennis Club and a golf tournament at the Pebble Creek Golf Club were held.
On March 28, 1997, Good Friday Mass was held in a tent on the parish property on Cross Creek Boulevard. Sunday, March 30, Easter Mass was celebrated in the tent on the parish property.
The parish continued to add more families and with the need for additional space, the first Mass was conducted in the auditorium of Wharton High School in September, 1997.
Children received Holy Communion for the first time on May 19, 1997. The first Sacrament of Confirmation was conducted on April 11, 1998.
Also in 1998 the first campaign for funds to build the Family Life Center was launched.
On March 5, 2000 a ground breaking ceremony was held on the parish property for the Family Life Center and construction was started.
In early December, 2000 construction was completed and on December 23, 2000, Bishop Lynch conducted the dedication. At the dedication, Bishop Lynch joked that only Fr. Mullen would plan to dedicate a new church on the day before Christmas Eve.In May, 2003, Father Mullen left St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church to go on a sabbatical. Deacon Frank M. Cavaliere served at the parish during 2002-2003, attending to the needs of the parish community.
In June of 2003 Father David DeJulio was named pastor of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Another campaign to secure funds for the Family Life Center was conducted in 2005. With increased building fund contributions, the building debt was eliminated in March 2009.
In October, 2005, Father David and two parishioners attended the International Stewardship Conference in Boston, and the Stewardship Commission at St. Mark was selected in January, 2006. Since the Fall of that year, members of the Stewardship Commission have participated in the International Stewardship Conferences. They conducted the first Time and Talent Fair in October, 2008 and the first International Festival in September, 2011.
In early 2009, a Planning Committee was formed to discuss construction of a new church. The first campaign began in 2011.
Assisting priests at St. Mark have included:- Father Eric Peters
- Father Dan Greene
- Father John D’Antonio
- Abbott Isaac Camacho
- Father Ed Lamp
- Father Carl Last
In 2009 we were blessed with the ordinations of two of parishioners: Deacon Jose Moronta and Deacon Scott Paine.
In early 2009, a Planning Committee was formed to discuss construction of a new church. The first campaign began in 2011.