Mission Statement
The parish of St. Patrick is a community of faith, composed of various ethnic, linguistic and racial backgrounds. It is deeply rooted in the Roman Catholic family of believers. The make-up of the parish reflects the catholicity of the church itself. We gather to be nourished by Word and Sacrament, to grow in the life of the gospel by our own witness and service in the name of Jesus Christ. We seek to deepen our faith, hope and charity by ongoing learning and a vibrant sharing in communion and mission, reaching out to one another and offering hospitality to all without exception. We desire to be led by the Spirit, the Scriptures and Church teaching so that we may give evidence of an evangelical response to the ever changing needs of the world at large and our own locale.
St. Patrick Catholic Church History
St. Patrick Catholic Church History
Nestled beautifully on the border of Orange and Lake Counties is St. Patrick Catholic Church, serving Catholics in the greater Mount Dora Area.
St. Patrick Catholic Church was born out of sheer necessity. In 1968, there were more than two hundred Catholics in the area and they had nowhere to worship. Crowded conditions at St. Mary of the Lakes in Eustis made it necessary to establish a “mission” church.
The original property on which St. Patrick Catholic Church was built had been purchased many years before by Archbishop J.P. Hurley of the Diocese of St. Augustine. At the time, the entire state of Florida was one diocese. Prior to the first church being built, parishioners gathered each Sunday morning at the Legion Hall for Mass. The hall was transformed from a bingo parlor to a sanctuary each Sunday, with a heavy table used for an altar being moved in on roller skates. By 1970, it was evident that the families attending this new “mission” church would be able to support a new parish. In September 1971, Father Felix Banos was appointed as Saint Patrick’s first pastor.
On March 19, 1972, Bishop Borders of Orlando presided over the ground-breaking, and on April 29, 1973 a Solemn Dedication of the new church took place and the life of St. Patrick Catholic Church began in earnest.
From those early days of a few hundred families, the parish ministered primarily to seniors and winter residents. A parish hall was dedicated in 1991, including the Early Childhood Learning Center. Over the years many young families have moved to the area and have joined the parish and a vibrant religious education and faith formation program was established. In addition to an extended education ministry, St. Patrick parish created an active music ministry program, including a traditional choir, contemporary choir, cantors, bell choir and a children’s choir. The parish also runs a day-care program for infants from six weeks old to pre-K.
In 1995, Bishop Norbert Dorsey invited the Third Order Regular Franciscan Friars to minister to the good people of Saint Patrick Parish. Fr. Emile Gentile, T.O.R. was the first Franciscan Friar to pastor St. Patrick Parish.
In 2004, a new Church building was built on property above the present “campus” to accommodate the growing number of Catholic families moving into this area. The present Church can comfortably seat 1,200 people and is a beautiful composition of light, with stained & clear glass, which allows the visitor a peaceful place of spirituality and contemplation. The original Church only sat 400 people. It is now called Shepherd’s Gate and houses various faith formation classrooms and meeting rooms.
The parish includes a significant Spanish speaking population, largely Mexican in its composition. The lively celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe each year on December 11 is something to behold with Mariachi players and Aztec dancers.
The parish of St. Patrick Catholic Church is a community of believers who seek to deepen our faith, hope and charity by ongoing learning and a vibrant sharing in communion and mission, reaching out to one another and offering hospitality to all without exception.
Our Pastors:
1971-1976 – Fr Felix Banos
1976-1985 – Fr Brendan Donnelly
1985-1986 – Fr William Authenrieth
1986-1995 – Fr John Ryan
1995-2007 – Fr Emile Gentile, TOR
2007-2016 – Fr Robert D’Aversa, TOR
2016-2017 – Fr Anthony Aarons
2017-2022 – Fr Charles Deeney
2022-2023 – Fr Jimson Varghese, SDV
2023-2026 – Fr Hank Sargado, SDV
2026- Fr. Rowland Onuegbu, SDV