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The Epiphany Chapel Project Campaign
Providing Spiritual Support to Catholic Families, Individuals and Groups in South Phoenix.
What is the Epiphany Chapel Project?
After 25 years of active service in the Diocese of Phoenix and utilizing extremely limited facilities to welcome thousands of Catholics of all ages, both English and Spanish speaking from parishes around the Valley, the Miles Jesu community of consecrated lay men and priests is preparing to expand and modernize the facilities of its Formation Center in South Phoenix. The Chapel of Our Lady of the Epiphany is the heart of the project.
Our Center is located on a beautiful 17 acre citrus grove at Baseline Road and 20th Street in South Phoenix. Currently, it occupies less than half of the property with old buildings from the 1970’s, while the larger portion of the property remains an active citrus grove. Our present Chapel is a converted dorm room and only accommodates 40 people. There is an attached confessional – added in 2002 – which has received thousands of persons over the years and, together with the Chapel, has been the heart of the Center. The many people waiting for confession sit in a covered porch/walkway outside the Chapel during winter and summer. An old residence is still used for our “House of Christian Formation” apostolate where young men can discern their vocations. One other room serves for classes and overnight lodging for a very limited number of guests.
We are sorely in need of new facilities to accommodate the growing number of the faithful who come to take advantage of our:
- extended confessional schedule
- adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- retreats, classes, and conferences
- youth ministry and street evangelization.
The Plan
Our plan has three phases with a projected cost of $6 million.
Phase 1: Remove the structures which are beyond renovation and build a new, free-standing Mission-style chapel with a capacity for 100 people. This will include our signature-style confessional, offering the option to wait in front of a beautifully decorated sanctuary with the Blessed Sacrament.
Phase 2: Construct a new a multi-use community center (4000sqft) on the northern side adjacent to the new chapel, creating a lovely interior courtyard with a fountain and trees that opens on to the rest of the grove to the south. This will also require a perpetual beautification and maintenance fund.
Phase 3: East of the new chapel, construct a new residence for the men’s community with a wing for the House of Christian Formation. Upon completion of the new residence, we would convert the large L-shaped temporary residence built in 2016 into a retreat house complete with a private chapel, group dining room, full kitchen, several conference rooms, and private rooms for overnight stays.
Chapel Concept
A rendering of the proposed chapel.
Chapel Concept
A rendering of the proposed interior of the chapel.
Chapel Campus
A rendering of the proposed campus.
The History
In 1973 Miles Jesu bought an orange grove as a foundation for a community of consecrated lay men dedicated to living the evangelical counsels. It has been a spiritual oasis for countless people seeking reconciliation, healing, comfort, and peace.
St. Joseph was the first occupant of this property. The statue was delivered from Italy to this property the day before Miles Jesu members moved in.
On this property, the first members lived together, prayed together, worked the orange grove, and helped each other grow spiritually while working in the world with their jobs and professions – sanctifying the world from within.
As a means of support for the mission and the community, people came from all over to get ‘Three Kings Oranges’.
The original chapel was a small, 10′ x 8′ room in a 200 square foot antique house. Today, we are still using a makeshift room as the a chapel.
The Miles Jesu community has always wanted to build a chapel more worthy of Our Lord, and the necessity of it has grown more and more as an increasing number people visit the center each year for spiritual activities.
The new “Our Lady of the Epiphany” Chapel will reflect the lay spirit of Miles Jesu. In the mystery of the Epiphany each are called to be a little part of the great Epiphany of the Lord, as a simple witness of the hope of His coming and the world beyond. In the marvelous event of the Epiphany (Mt. 2:1-12) God manifests Himself to the entire human race. In this event, we celebrate that the Good News of salvation has been intended from the very beginning for all peoples of the world.
How to Support The Epiphany Chapel Project
Thanks to a very generous donor and long-time benefactor, we are able to begin this project. This donor had a special relationship with Fr. Paul Mary Vota, M.J., a priest of Miles Jesu who died of cancer in 2009. He was an exemplary priest and a very holy man. In thanksgiving, the new chapel will be dedicated in the memory of Fr. Paul Mary Vota, M.J.
Here are some ways to help bring our vision to reality.
Donate a brick –create a living memory. Every donation of $1000 will receive a dedication brick with the donor’s name or the name of a loved one durably sandblasted, engraved, and masterly laid around our iconic Miles Jesu St. Joseph monument. The names of those laid in brick surrounding the statue are prayed for at every Mass and every evening after prayers.
Become a “Donate a Brick” Representative. We need help getting the word out about our campaign. If you can help us spread the word, please sign up in the bookstore or send us an email.
Donations. No amount is too great or too small. We welcome all levels of support. Please consider giving a monthly pledge over three years.
$50,000 over three years = $1388 per month
$40,000 = $1111 per month
$30,000 = $833 per month
$25,000 = $694 per month
$20,000 = $555 per month
$15,000 = $416 per month
$10,000 = $277 per month
$5000 = $138 per month
$3000 = $88 per month
Submit your tax-deductible donation here.
Login to Give
When you click the ‘Click Here to Donate’ button above, you can create an account and give online through our easy-to-use giving platform. With an account, you will be able to see a record of your complete giving history and setup/edit reoccurring giving. You can also give without setting up an account and give anonymously or as a guest: however, your giving history/records will not be available with this method. God bless you for your generosity!
40 Years
Fr. Paul Mary Vota, MJ, with his parents outside the current chapel at the Miles Jesu 40th Anniversary celebration
The Current Chapel
The current chapel at a recent Mass. It is regularly at capacity.
Fundraising Progress
Phase 1
Groundbreaking Ceremony & Progress
January 12, 2025 we celebrated the groundbreaking for our Epiphany Chapel – on the 61st birthday of Miles Jesu! Over 300 people attended the Mass and celebration. We are excited and blessed to begin this new phase of our community in Phoenix. Please consider a one-time or ongoing tax-deductible gift to help us complete our Chapel!
Check out the videos below for an overview of the project and tracking progress. Additional photos and video of the progress may be found here.
Click to watch the video of the chapel bell being installed!
The chapel bell was blessed by Bishop Nevares on July 13, 2025. It was made in Mexico, ordered by Fr Salcido, and paid for by two generous benefactors. It weighs 650 lbs. After the blessing, it was installed by the construction crew.
