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Diocese of Orlando

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Diocese of Orlando

Dioecesis Orlandensis
St. James Cathedral
Coat of arms
Location
Country United States
TerritoryCounties of Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Marion, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, Polk, Sumter
Ecclesiastical provinceMiami
Coordinates28°32′43.2″N 81°22′40.11″W / 28.545333°N 81.3778083°W / 28.545333; -81.3778083
Statistics
Area24,893[1] km2 (9,611 sq mi)
Population
  • Total
  • Catholics
  • (as of 2022)
  • 5,064,237
  • 400,923 (8%)
Parishes81
Schools38
Information
DenominationCatholic
Sui iuris churchLatin Church
RiteRoman Rite
EstablishedMarch 2, 1968
CathedralSt. James Cathedral
Patron saintMary, Mother of God[2]
Current leadership
PopeLeo XIV
BishopJohn Gerard Noonan
Metropolitan ArchbishopThomas Wenski
Vicar GeneralJohn C. Giel
Judicial VicarMartin Nguyen
Map
Website
orlandodiocese.org

The Diocese of Orlando (Latin: Dioecesis Orlandensis) is a diocese of the Catholic Church in central Florida in the United States. St. James Cathedral serves as the seat of the diocese. The bishop is John Gerard Noonan.

Statistics

[edit]

The Diocese of Orlando encompasses about 9,611 square miles (24,890 km2), spanning the Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Marion, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, Polk, and Sumter counties.[3] The Kennedy Space Center and Walt Disney World are located within the diocese.

History

[edit]

1700 to 1800

[edit]

By the early 1700s, the Spanish Franciscans had established a network of forty missions in what is now Northern and Central Florida.[4] However, raids by British settlers and their Creek Native American allies from the Carolinas eventually shut down the missions.[5]

After the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, Spain ceded all of Florida to Great Britain for the return of Cuba.[6] Given the antagonism of Protestant Great Britain to Catholicism, the majority of the Catholic population in Florida fled to Cuba.[7] After the American Revolution ended in 1783, Spain regained control of Florida in 1784.[8] In 1793, the Vatican changed the jurisdiction for Florida Catholics from Havana, Cuba, to the Apostolic Vicariate of Louisiana and the Two Floridas, based in New Orleans.[9]

1800 to 1900

[edit]

In the Adams–Onís Treaty of 1819, Spain ceded all of Florida to the United States, which established the Florida Territory in 1821.[10]

In 1825, Pope Leo XII erected the Vicariate of Alabama and Florida, which included all of Florida, based in Mobile, Alabama.[9] In 1858, Pius IX moved Florida into a new Apostolic Vicariate of Florida, which in 1870 was converted into the Diocese of St. Augustine.[11][12] The new diocese covered all of Florida except for the Florida Panhandle region. The first Catholic church in Ocala was St. Philip Neri, a clapboard structure built in 1883. Today the parish is called Blessed Trinity.[13]In 1898, St. Paul's Church was dedicated in Daytona Beach, the first Catholic church in that community.[14]

1900 to 1970

[edit]

The first Catholic church in Brevard County was St. Joseph in Melbourne, dedicated in 1914.[15]In 1939 Florida Catholic started publication.[16]Pope Paul VI erected the Diocese of Orlando on June 18, 1968, taking its present territory from the Diocese of St. Augustine and making it a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Miami.[17] He appointed William Borders of the Diocese of Baton Rouge as the first bishop of Orlando. At its formation, the new diocese consisted of 50 parishes with 128,000 Catholics. Soon after his installation as bishop, Borders opened a chapter of the Council of Catholic Women.[18]

In 1969, the Apollo 11 moon mission was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island. According to a diocesan publication, Borders joked to Paul VI that he was now bishop of the moon, citing canon law about newly discovered territories.[19][20][a] Also in 1969, Borders established the Catholic Charismatic Commission to serve Charismatic Catholics. In 1971, Borders initiated a ministry for migrant farm workers in Apopka.[18] He also established that year a Catholic committee on Scouting for parishes sponsoring boy scout and girl scout packs.[18]

Former St. Charles Borromeo Cathedral, Orlando, Florida (2016)

During his tenure in Orlando, Borders oversaw the creation of parish councils and education boards, allowed the laity to serve as extraordinary ministers of the eucharist and formed a Sisters' Council for the nuns of the diocese.[21] A Social Services Board correlated the work of already-existing agencies, and developed an educational program aimed at coordinating efforts in Catholic schools, campus ministry, and religious education. Borders also initiated social outreach centers to the poor.[22]

1970 to 1980

[edit]

In 1974, Paul VI named Borders as archbishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The second bishop of Orlando was Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Grady from the Archdiocese of Chicago, appointed by Paul VI in 1974.[23] Grady converted a diocesan summer camp in Winter Park into the San Pedro Spiritual Development Center.[24] He oversaw the establishment of 18 new parishes..[23] Grady wrote a weekly column for the Florida Catholic.[25]

Archbishop Wenski (2014)
Bishop Noonan (2012)
Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe, Buena Vista (2016)

During Grady's tenure, the diocese saw significant growth. In 1976, St. Charles Borromeo Church in the College Park section of Orlando, the original cathedral, was destroyed by fire. St. James Church in Orlando was designated as the new cathedral.[26] To provide ministerial outreach to vacationers visiting Walt Disney World and the Lake Buena Vista Resort, Grady created a parish in the Lake Buena Vista area.[25]

1980 to 2000

[edit]

Grady in 1983 founded a mission office to coordinate with the Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic.[27]

In 1984, Grady oversaw the beginning of construction of the Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Buena Vista; it was a site closer to the Disney theme parks. The diocese also expanded ministries to migrants and minorities, founded a scholarship program for African American students, and built apartment buildings for the elderly.[25]

The first Catholic Parish in The Villages was St. Timothy, erected to serve the retirees in that community.[28]Grady resigned as bishop of Orlando in 1989. By the time of Grady's retirement as bishop of Orlando in 1990, the Catholic population of the diocese had grown over 76% and the number of parishes had increased by more than a third. [27]

Pope John Paul II in 1990 named Auxiliary Bishop Norbert Dorsey of Miami as the next bishop of Orlando.[29] In August 1993, the diocese dedicated Mary, Queen of the Universe Shrine.[30] In 1996, the diocese held a large-scale confirmation ceremony at the Orlando Arena. Over 11,000 people attended the event.[23]

2000 to 2010

[edit]

The diocese in 2001 purchased the former post office in downtown Orlando for its new chancery. [31]Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Wenski of Miami was selected by John Paul II as coadjutor bishop of Orlando in 2003 to assist Dorsey.[32]

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) at Wenski's request, designated the Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe as a national shrine in 2004.[33] Dorsey's tenure saw further growth especially due to the growing Hispanic community. Radio Paz and health clinics for migrant and farm workers were established to minister to this community. Bishop Grady Villas in St. Cloud was founded by the diocese in 2004 as a residential community in Orlando for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Today it is part of Magnify of Central Florida.[34] Dorsey retired as bishop of Orlando in November 2004. Wenski automatically succeeded him as bishop or Orlando.[32]

Basilica of St. Paul, Daytona Beach (2016)

Wenski convoked the first synod for the diocese in 2004.[23] During his tenure, Wenski created six new parishes and two mission churches.[35] A capital and endowment campaign raised $100 million.[36] In 2006, Wenski celebrated the designation of St. Paul Church in Daytona Beach as the Basilica of St. Paul.[37]

The Spanish language radio station, Buena Nueva FM, and a newspaper, El Clarin, were also started.[38] The USCCB held their spring convocation in the diocese in 2008.[39] Wenski also designated 2008 as the "Year of Evangelization".[23]

2010 to present

[edit]

In 2009, the Vatican raised the Mary, Queen of the Universe National Shrine in Orlando to the status of minor basilicas.[33] That same year, the diocese began both a $150 million capital campaign and an extensive renovation of St. James Cathedral in Orlando.[40]

Pope Benedict XVI named Wenski as archbishop of Miami in April 2010.[41][32] Richard Walsh, pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Winter Park, was elected as diocesan administrator of Orlando until the next bishop was installed. Auxiliary Bishop John Noonan of Miami was Wenski's replacement, nominated in October of 2010.[42][43]

In 2019, referring to the 1969 story about the moon being part of the diocese, a diocesan spokesperson stated that Noonan did not consider himself bishop of the moon or of the International Space Station.[44]

A man set a fire inside Queen of Peace Church in Ocala in July 2020 while the staff was preparing for mass. He first crashed his minivan through the front doors, spilled gasoline on the floor and ignited it, then drove away. The fire was quickly extinguished and no one was injured. The perpetrator, reportedly suffering from schizophrenia, was quickly arrested.[45]

Reports of sex abuse

[edit]

In November 1985, the families of four boys sued the Diocese of Orlando, claiming sexual abuse by William Authenrieth, pastor at St. Mary's Parish in Rockledge. That same year, Bishop Grady permanently removed Authenrieth from ministry; he left the priesthood in 1986.[46] In December 1987, the diocese settled the case with the Rockledge families for $3 million.[47]

In February 1995, a man sued the diocese, saying that he had been sexually abused as a youth by former priest Thomas Pagni. The plaintiff claimed that Pagni, then a mental health counselor in Brevard County, sexually assaulted him for several months in 1992.[48] Pagni was arrested in March 1995 on charges of engaging in sexual activity with a minor and engaging in lewdness.[49] Another victim was added to the criminal case in June 1995. In January 1996, Pagni pleaded no contest to the ten charges against him and was sentenced to ten years in prison.[50]

In 2004, the diocese announced that it had removed from ministry 12 priests accused of committing sex abuse since the founding of the diocese in 1968.[51]

Wladyslaw Gorak (also known as Walter Fisher), pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in South Lakeland, was arrested in October 2004 after breaking down the door at the residence of a female acquaintance and sexually assaulting her. Gorak had transferred to Orlando in 2000 from the Archdiocese of Newark. Despite him having a record of inappropriate behavior with women in Newark, the archdiocese did not mention that to diocesan officials in Orlando. Gorak was sentenced to four years of probation in 2007.[52] The woman later sued the Archdiocese of Newark and received a settlement from them.[52]

Bishops

[edit]

Bishops of Orlando

[edit]
  1. William Donald Borders (1968 – 1974), appointed Archbishop of Baltimore
  2. Thomas Joseph Grady (1974 – 1989)
  3. Norbert Dorsey (1990 – 2004)
  4. Thomas Wenski (2004 – 2010), appointed Archbishop of Miami
  5. John Gerard Noonan (2010 – present)

Other diocesan priests who became bishops

[edit]

Present administration

[edit]

Deaneries

[edit]

The 80 parishes and 11 missions of the Diocese of Orlando are divided into five deaneries:[53]

  • Eastern Deanery (Volusia County) – Daytona Beach
  • Southern Deanery (Brevard County) – Melbourne
  • Northern Deanery (Marion, Sumter, and Lake Counties) – The Villages
  • Western Deanery (Polk County) – Lakeland
  • Central Deanery (Osceola, Orange, Seminole Counties) – Orlando

The diocese has a sister diocese in La Cucarita in the Dominican Republic. Volunteers from the Diocese of Orlando built two churches and one community center in La Cucarita. The medical mission there helped 2,000 patients in 2007.[54][55]

Education

[edit]
Bishop Moore High School

As of 2026, the Diocese of Orlando was operating five high schools, 29 elementary schools, one special education school, and three early childhood centers.[56]

In 2008, the National Catholic Educational Association recognized the diocesan school board as "outstanding", the only diocesan board in the United States to receive that honor.[57] At the same time, the Father Lopez Catholic High School board in Daytona Beach was also recognized as outstanding.[57]

High schools

[edit]

Colleges and universities

[edit]

The diocese supports Catholic campus ministries at the following institutions:

Minor basilicas

[edit]
Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe (2006)

Other

[edit]
  • Immaculate Heart of Mary's Hermitage in West Melbourne is a hermitage with sacramental support from the Ascension Catholic Community.[72]

Newspaper

[edit]

Florida Catholic newspaper is published 38 times a year.[73]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Diocese of Orlando". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  2. ↑ "About Us". Diocese of Orlando, Florida. Retrieved 5 May 2022. Mary, the Mother of God, is the patroness of the Diocese of Orlando and we seek her intercession so that our efforts to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, form leaders, harmonize ministries and enkindle deeper faith will be blessed by God.
  3. ↑ "The Craziest Catholic Rules You've Never Heard Of | The Catholic Talk Show". 2 October 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22 – via www.youtube.com.
  4. ↑ "Expansion of Missions and Ranches". St. Augustine: America's Ancient City. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  5. ↑ "The English Menace & African Resistance". St. Augustine: America's Ancient City. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  6. ↑ "Milestones in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  7. ↑ "Introduction". St. Augustine: America's Ancient City. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  8. ↑ "Introduction". St. Augustine: America's Ancient City. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  9. 1 2 "New Orleans (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  10. ↑ "European Exploration and Colonization – Florida Department of State". dos.myflorida.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  11. ↑ "Saint Augustine (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  12. ↑ "Savannah (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  13. ↑ "About Us". Blessed Trinity Blessed Trinity Church. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  14. ↑ "History | Basilica of Saint Paul". Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  15. ↑ "First Roman Catholic Church in Brevard County Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2024-10-25.
  16. ↑ "Florida Catholic Media". Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  17. ↑ "Orlando Diocese official website". Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  18. 1 2 3 "Bishop William Borders". Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  19. ↑ Bennett, Renae (21 July 2009). "Remembering the Bishop of the Moon". Diocese of Orlando. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  20. ↑ "Does the Church Have Jurisdiction Over the Moon? | EWTN". EWTN Global Catholic Television Network. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
  21. ↑ "History: Bishop William Borders". Diocese of Orlando. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  22. ↑ "Most Rev. William D. Borders". Archdiocese of Baltimore. Retrieved 2013-11-15.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 "Diocese of Orlando History". Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando.
  24. ↑ "About San Pedro Center | Catholic Retreat Center | San Pedro Center | Winter Park, Florida". San Pedro Center. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  25. 1 2 3 Eifling, Sam (2002-04-26). "Bishop Thomas J. Grady, 87". Chicago Tribune.
  26. ↑ "History of the Diocese of Orlando Video".
  27. 1 2 "Bishop Thomas Grady". Diocese of Orlando. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  28. ↑ Byrnes, Laura. "St. Timothy's set to grow again". The Star Banner. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  29. ↑ "Bishop Norbert Mary Leonard James Dorsey [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  30. ↑ "History & Heritage". Mary, Queen of the Universe Orlando, FL. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  31. ↑ "History". Diocese of Orlando. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  32. 1 2 3 "Archbishop Thomas Gerard Wenski [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  33. 1 2 "History & Heritage". web site of the Basilica of Mary, Queen of the Universe.
  34. ↑ "About Magnify". Magnify. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  35. ↑ Powers, Jennifer (May 21 – June 3, 2010). "Extended pastoral reach through new parishes, missions". Orlando, Florida: Florida Catholic. pp. A2.
  36. ↑ Peterson, Teresa Lantigua (May 21 – June 3, 2010). "Alive in Christ Campaign reaches $100 million". Orlando, Florida: Florida Catholic. pp. A3.
  37. ↑ "History". www.stpauldaytona.org. Archived from the original on 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  38. ↑ Goodman, Tanya (May 21 – June 3, 2010). "Helping Spanish-speaking Catholics feel at home". Orlando, Florida: Florida Catholic. pp. A16.
  39. ↑ "USCCB-Spring Meeting 2008".
  40. ↑ Palmo, Rocco (April 20, 2010). "Holy Goalie: A Two-Pole Tuesday". Whispers in the Loggia.
  41. ↑ "Pope Names Orlando Bishop As Archbishop Of Miami, Chicago Auxiliary Bishop As Bishop Of Springfield In Illinois". USCCB.
  42. ↑ Tanya Goodman. "Father Walsh to lead diocese as administrator". The Florida Catholic. Retrieved 2010-07-08.
  43. ↑ "Bishop John Gerard Noonan [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  44. ↑ "Did Apollo 11 mission make Orlando's founding bishop the bishop of moon?". cruxnow.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  45. ↑ "Arrest made in Florida Catholic church burning". EWTN News. 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
  46. ↑ "Lawsuit filed against Diocese of Orlando for alleged sex abuse by priest". WFTV. 2014-08-13. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  47. ↑ "Former altar boy says priest molested him". WESH. 2012-07-23. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  48. ↑ "Former Brevard Priest Faces Sex Assault Suit In the Wake of Charges against the Priest, the Diocese Has Sent a Letter to All Parishes to Be Read at Sunday's Masses, by Jim Leusner and Lynn Bumpus-Hooper, Orlando Sentinel [Florida], February 18, 1995". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  49. ↑ "Former Priest Alleged Molester Released on Bail Thomas James Pagni Iii 45 Maintains His Innocence While His Accuser and Others, Who Contend Pagni Is a Menace Are Upset by His Release, by Debbie Salamone, Orlando Sentinel (Florida), March 18, 1995". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  50. ↑ "Ex-Priest Sentenced to 10 Years for Abusing Boys One of Thomas James Pagni's Victims Wept As He Told the Court of the Loss of His Childhood, by Lynne Bumpus-Hooper, Orlando Sentinel [Florida], February 22, 1996". www.bishop-accountability.org. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  51. ↑ "Orlando Diocese Removed 12 Priests Accused of Sex Violations". The Ledger. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  52. 1 2 Star-Ledger, Jeff Diamant/The (2010-04-09). "Newark Archdiocese settles sexual assault lawsuit filed by Florida woman". nj. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  53. ↑ "Deaneries" (PDF). Diocese of Orlando. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  54. ↑ Wenski, Thomas (2008). Grow. Lead. Share. Diocese of Orlando.
  55. ↑ "Water changes lives in La Cucarita". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  56. ↑ "Diocese of Orlando Catholic Schools | Explore Faith & Education Today". Diocese of Orlando Catholic Schools. Retrieved 2026-07-09.
  57. 1 2 Father Lopez High School and Diocese of Orlando school boards receive national recognition. Florida Catholic. April 11–17, 2008.
  58. ↑ "Bishop Moore Catholic - Orlando, FL". www.bishopmoore.org. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  59. ↑ "Father Lopez Catholic High School". www.fatherlopez.org. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  60. ↑ "Welcome to Melbourne Central Catholic High School". www.melbournecc.org. 2026-02-20. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  61. ↑ "Santa Fe Catholic – Lakeland, FL". santafecatholic.org. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  62. ↑ "Find a School". Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  63. ↑ "Home". Trinity Catholic High School. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  64. ↑ "Home - Catholic Campus Ministries: A Newman's Club | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott". eaglelife.erau.edu. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  65. ↑ "Catholic Campus Ministry | Florida Tech". www.fit.edu. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  66. ↑ "Office of the Chaplain". Florida Southern College. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  67. ↑ "Catholic Campus Ministry". login.microsoftonline.com. Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  68. ↑ "CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY". CATHOLIC CAMPUS MINISTRY. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  69. ↑ "Faith Groups on Campus • Religion and Non-Religion • UCF". Retrieved 2026-04-26.
  70. ↑ "Homepage". Mary, Queen of the Universe Orlando, FL. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  71. ↑ "History". www.stpauldaytona.org. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  72. ↑ "Immaculate Heart of Mary's Hermitage". doc0mr.tripod.com. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  73. ↑ "thefloridacatholic.org | To Educate, Inspire and Enrich". Florida Catholic Media. 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-02-26.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Other bishops made similar claims, notably Archbishop Terence Cooke who had jurisdiction over the Kennedy Space Center as vicar of the Military Ordinariate. The validity of the bishop's Moon argument has been questioned. In any case, the pope has ultimate authority over diocesan boundaries. Additionally, the issue remains moot as long as the moon is uninhabited.
[edit]
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