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Sacred Heart Jump-Starts Wedding Photo Project

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By MICHELLE BEARDEN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 24, 2008

TAMPA - You can never plan too far ahead.

That's what Elaine Carbonneau of Friends of Sacred Heart is thinking these days. She has put out the call for wedding pictures from all ceremonies at her church for a project that won't be unveiled until early 2010.

Why so far in advance? Because she's looking for wedding photos from Sacred Heart and its predecessor, St. Louis Church, that date all the way to 1860.

The photos will be mounted and displayed as part of Sacred Heart's 150th anniversary celebration, two years from now.

"We expect thousands," said Carbonneau, the church's historian. "If they all show up at the last minute, we couldn't handle it. So the sooner we get them, the better."

Sacred Heart, a historical Romanesque building with massive stained-glass windows, is one of downtown Tampa's treasures and one of the area's most popular wedding sites for Catholics. For the past few decades, it has averaged about 90 ceremonies a year.

Before there was Sacred Heart there was St. Louis Church, named for both King Louis IX of France and in memory of the Rev. Luis Cancer, a Spanish missionary martyred near Tampa in the 1500s. Located at present-day Florida Avenue and Twiggs Street, the parish was established in February 1860 with 43 families. A few of those early members came from as far as Pinellas and Manatee counties to attend the new Catholic church.

As Tampa and the parish grew, the small frame church was replaced by the building that stands today. It was renamed and dedicated in 1905.

When supporters of Friends of Sacred Heart first came up with the "colossal collage" wedding picture idea, they wanted to display all the photos on the wall. But Carbonneau soon realized that would not be enough space.

In just a few weeks of promotion, she already has received 33 photos.

"We haven't any idea how many weddings have been performed here," she said. "But we know this has potential to be a huge undertaking, so we're starting early."

Any photos submitted for the project should be copies, not originals. They will not be returned. She prefers photos that are 3 by 6 inches, instead of the traditional 8-by-10. Each should include: full name of groom and full maiden name of bride; date of wedding or approximate year; name and phone number of person submitting the photo.

Electronic copies also will be accepted. They should be high resolution (at least 300 DPI) and can be sent to pictures @sacredheart.org.

Special groups for multigenerational couples who were married at Sacred Heart will be created. All pictures must be submitted at the same time and marked as a group entry.

For information, call (813) 251-2686.

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