Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas

As with the history of any family, life is a mixture of gifts and challenges. So it is with the family of Good Shepherd Parish, Orlando, FL. Speaking as a La Salette Missionary, I see this community as a wonderful mixture of people dedicated to their Catholic faith and their parish community. Their parish life is vibrant, their liturgies prayerful and personal. I thoroughly enjoyed celebrating with them occasionally during my eight years at nearby Blessed Trinity Parish.

 

Fr. Roman Gromala ministered from March 1956 to Dec 1957

From its fledgling beginnings as a small mission in 1956 to its being named a parish on Dec. 21, 1957, this parish has grown and flourished. An interesting historical footnote, found in the parish history collected by Fr. Rene Butler, M.S. for the parish’s 50th anniversary, is about the early history of their first pastor, Fr. William J. Weinheimer. 

 

As a young priest he did his studies at one of the universities in Rome from approximately 1946-1948, while living at the Belgian College there. At the same time he became friends with a young Polish priest who also lived at the College. His name was Fr. Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope John Paul II. Perhaps that was an indication of great potential of his small parish of Good Shepherd.

  

I remember well when Fr. Camillo “Sonny” Avitabile, M.S., was named its eighth pastor in September of 1981. He was just delighted to take on the challenge of serving the Parish Family of Good Shepherd.

 

Façade of Good Shepherd Church, Orlando, FL

Recently when I received pictures from Fr. Joe O’Neil, M.S., their present pastor, of the celebration of the La Salette Feast on Sept. 18th of this year with newly installed Bishop John Noonan, I wanted to share this event with our readers. Of course, the parish has grown to over 6,000 families with nine Masses a weekend because their church only holds about 550 people. 

 

New entrance of Good Shepherd School

Good Shepherd School, begun in 1956 with 150 students in K through 4th grade is now welcoming 519 students for grades K through 8th grade, some with double classes. This is remarkable feat in these very challenging financial times.

 

 

 

Some other parish statistics include:

 

   o children (elementary and high school) in Faith Formation, nearly 700 people; 

   o parish and school ministries, about 100, involving nearly 2,000 parishioners; 

   o yearly: baptisms, 230; weddings, 40; funerals, 100; 

   o average weekend Mass attendance, approximately 3,000 and rising;

   o three main parish language groups: English-speaking, Spanish speaking and Filipinos. 

 

Fr. Joe joyfully shared with me that the longstanding dream of building a new church for their very large parish is close to fulfillment. He stated that they will be breaking ground for a new church on Feb. 19, 2012—the first new church being built while Bishop Noonan is in office. This church has been in the plans for at least 10 years and the parishioners are looking forward to its completion,

Bishop Noonan on Sept. 18, 2011 with Frs. Baiju, Steve, Joe and Terry

perhaps in the Spring of 2013. It will be built in the place of the present office building. (see proposed plans and pictures below).

 

Bishop Noonan, in his homily on Sept. 18th stressed the special charism of reconciliation of the La Salette Missionaries. He thanked them for the 30th years of service in the Diocese of Orlando. 

 

Their web site (www.goodshepherd.org) contains an extensive amount of information and evidences the great future potential that can arise, by the grace of God, from their life as a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, truly gifted parish family. 

 

For slide show including the parish history, Mass with Bp. Noonan on Sept. 18, 2011 and pictures of new church, see below.

 

 

 

 

 

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