Father Philip de Carriere
In 1890, the heroic Priest was sent by God from Tampa to give life to our Catholic community in Haines City. At the age of sixty-five Fr. Philip celebrated the very first Mass in Polk County at Haines City at a pioneer homestead where the Landmark College structures stand now, formerly the Palm Crest Hotel and later Hotel Polk until 1959. Patrick Bannon and his wife Annie Mary came to Haines City from New York at the turn of the century. Patrick, Annie, and two Italian workers of the Railroad formed the attending Roman Catholic Congregation in 1890. This saintly Priest heard our First Confessions, administered our First Holy Communions, and preached our First Mission. Fr. Philip performed our First Baptism on May 5th, 1892. The infant baptized, Bridgit Mary Bannon, became our first answered Vocation. She took the name Sister St. Anthony of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Saint Augustine, FL. We give thanks to Almighty God for Father Philip, as he was known during his ministry in Florida, and for that wonderful and blessed year of Grace 1890 when so many religious events happened.