About Blessed Trinity Catholic Church · Ocala, Florida
Blessed Trinity Catholic Church is a large Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Orlando seated atop the highest point in Ocala, Florida, where its current church — dedicated in April 1974 — serves nearly 1,000 worshippers across seven weekend Masses. The parish traces its roots to 1883, when a small clapboard mission church named St. Philip Neri was built a few blocks east of the present-day Marion County courthouse; it was rechristened Blessed Trinity when the second church opened in January 1922, and it moved to its present SE 17th Street hilltop campus in the early 1960s. Today Blessed Trinity is the hub Catholic parish for Marion County, overseeing two mission churches — Christ the King in Citra and Misión Católica La Guadalupana in western Ocala — and operating the parish school, the Brother's Keeper social-outreach and soup-kitchen ministry, faith formation, Life Teen and EDGE youth ministry, perpetual adoration, and a sister-parish relationship in Uganda.
- Established
- 1883
- Patron
- Blessed Trinity (the Holy Trinity — Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
- Rector
- Father Patrick J. Sheedy
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
Blessed Trinity offers the full sacramental and devotional life of a large, active diocesan parish — seven weekend Masses (including a Spanish Mass and a Sunday-evening Life Teen Mass), a daily Mass schedule, perpetual adoration open 24/7, Saturday confessions, sacramental prep, RCIA, and Catholic school from Pre-K through 8th grade — set on an iconic hilltop campus in Ocala. Members serve through a deep bench of ministries: Brother's Keeper (soup kitchen, thrift store, rental and emergency assistance), Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, Legion of Mary, parish prison and jail ministry, a parish mission team, Habitat for Humanity, faith formation, Life Teen and EDGE youth ministry, and a sister-parish relationship in Uganda, making it easy to find a way to give back while worshipping in a vibrant, multicultural faith community.
Mass times at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM (Blessed Trinity)
- Saturday 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM (Blessed Trinity)
- Tuesday 6:30 PM (La Guadalupana mission)
- Sunday 6:30 PM (La Guadalupana mission)
- Tuesday 7:00 PM (Christ the King mission)
- Sunday 7:00 PM (Christ the King mission)
- Wednesday 5:15 PM (Christ the King)
- Sunday 9:45 AM (Christ the King)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year in the parish adoration chapel
History of Blessed Trinity
Blessed Trinity traces its roots to 1883, when a small clapboard A-frame mission named St. Philip Neri was built on Magnolia and Monroe streets, a few blocks east of the present-day Ocala courthouse. In 1892 the mission was elevated to parish status under its first permanent pastor, Fr. Bernard O'Reilly, and by 1910 the growing congregation began searching for a new site. The parish's second church opened in January 1922 on Oklawaha Avenue and Tuscawilla Street under the new name Blessed Trinity, and in 1928 the parish opened Trinity Academy — the community's first private school — on Fort King Street. In the mid-1950s the parish began looking for a single campus to combine the school and church, eventually acquiring 18 acres of former subdivision land on a clay hill on SE 17th Street. Construction plans announced in 1959 covered the church, rectory, school with a cafetorium and convent. The current church on the hilltop was dedicated in April 1974 and still serves the community today, with a capacity of close to 1,000 worshippers across seven weekend Masses. The parish history page, drawing on Jane Quinn's 1978 parish history book, is a primary source for these dates and is regularly cited by the Diocese of Orlando.
- 1883 — St. Philip Neri mission church completed (Magnolia & Monroe streets)
- 1892 — elevated to parish status; Fr. Bernard O'Reilly first permanent pastor
- 1922 — second church opens; parish renamed Blessed Trinity
- 1928 — Trinity Academy opens as the community's first private school
- Late 1950s — 18 acres on SE 17th Street acquired for a unified campus
- 1959 — campus construction plans announced (church, rectory, school, convent)
- April 1974 — present hilltop church dedicated
Campus and Architecture
The current church sits on the highest point in Ocala — a clay hill on SE 17th Street that the parish describes as 'a city set on a mountain.' The 1974 church was built as the centerpiece of a unified parish campus that also includes the rectory, the school with cafetorium, and a convent for the religious sisters. The complex has been reconfigured multiple times; most recently in 2019 the parish reorganized its older buildings to house youth and Hispanic ministries and accommodated a new soccer field under pastor Father Patrick Sheedy.
- Cruciform 1974 church seating approximately 1,000
- Chapel of the main Church used for daily Mass
- Separate Perpetual Adoration chapel (24/7 exposition)
- Community Center (used for baptism classes and Pre-Cana)
- King of Kings Ministry Building (Life Teen Life Nights)
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
Blessed Trinity is pastored by Father Patrick J. Sheedy and is supported by associate pastors, a priest in residence, and a team of deacons. The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparatrix and the Misioneras Catequistas serve the parish and its Hispanic apostolates from on-campus communities.
- Pastor: Father Patrick J. Sheedy ([email protected], x3209)
- Associate Pastor: Father Zbigniew Stradomski (x3227)
- Associate Pastor: Father William Burns (x3207)
- In Residence: Father Joseph Maniangat (351-595-5605)
- Deacons: Heriberto Berrios, James Maubach, Stephen Floyd, Rodulfo Reverol
- Religious sisters on campus: Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparatrix; Misioneras Catequistas
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation for children in grades K–8 is offered in both English and Spanish in the Blessed Trinity School classrooms on Sunday mornings. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is made in 2nd grade, and Confirmation is conferred by Bishop John Noonan at Blessed Trinity. Faith Formation Office contact: Ana Venegas, 352-629-8092 ext. 3222, [email protected].
- Sunday-morning Religious Education (K–8) in English and Spanish
- First Reconciliation / First Communion preparation in 2nd grade
- Confirmation preparation with evening class option for high-school students
- RCIA and adult faith formation available through the Faith Formation Office
Schools
Blessed Trinity Catholic School (Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade) is one of the primary educational ministries of the parish and has served families in Ocala and neighboring towns for over 90 years. The school's mission is to inspire a lifelong pursuit of learning and living the Catholic faith, and its five core values are faith, character, academics, leadership and stewardship. The school has historically been staffed in part by religious sisters, including the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of Saint Benedict (Covington, Kentucky).
- Blessed Trinity Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th grade)
- Originally Trinity Academy (opened January 1927/1928 on Fort King Street)
- Located on the same SE 17th Street campus as the church
- Phone: (352) 622-5808
Youth Ministry: Life Teen and EDGE
Blessed Trinity has been a Life Teen parish for more than 20 years. The Sunday-evening Life Teen Mass at 5:00 PM is followed by a Life Night at the King of Kings Ministry Building. EDGE is the parish's middle-school youth group for grades 6–8, gathering twice a month for fellowship, spiritual formation and topical discussion.
- Life Teen — Sunday 5:00 PM Mass plus Life Night; retreats, mission trips, XLTs, Bible studies
- EDGE — twice-monthly middle-school group (grades 6–8)
- Youth Ministry Coordinator: Lydia Ross ([email protected])
Brother's Keeper — Social Outreach
Brother's Keeper is the social-service outreach arm of Blessed Trinity, assisting the needy and marginalized of Ocala and Marion County since the early 1970s. Its soup kitchen serves a noon meal 365 days a year, including Christmas and Easter, and more than 98% of those served are not members of the parish. The thrift store helps fund operations so that donated dollars go directly to the poor.
- Brother's Keeper Soup Kitchen (lunch 365 days/year)
- Brother's Keeper Thrift Store
- Rental Assistance / Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing
- Emergency Services (utility, prescriptions, food, etc.)
- Volunteer roles: Receptionist, Interviewer, Donation Sorters, Furniture Loader, Data Entry, Warehouse Help
- Web: bkocala.org
Parish Ministries and Groups
Beyond Brother's Keeper, the parish runs a broad slate of ministries that serve both parishioners and the wider Marion County community, from fraternal organizations to prayer and care ministries. The annual Time & Talent stewardship booklet lists contact people and time commitments for each.
- Knights of Columbus (Tom Cernera, 352.812.5297)
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
- Legion of Mary
- Covenant Mission Team
- Ministry to the Sick
- Bereavement Ministry
- Prison and Jail Ministry
- Habitat for Humanity of Marion County
- Elder Care Volunteer
- Holiday Help / Food Pantry Assistance
- Fair Trade Coffee Cart
- Summer Camp for schoolchildren
- Adopt a Parking Lot Island / Warehouse Help
Sacraments
The parish prepares children and adults for the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) and supports couples and families through marriage preparation and ministry to the sick. Baptism classes are required for parents and godparents before scheduling.
- Baptism — English class 2nd Tuesday 7:30 PM (Community Center); Spanish 2nd Saturday 9:00 AM (Guadalupana)
- First Reconciliation / First Communion — 2nd-grade prep
- Confirmation — conferred by Bishop Noonan at Blessed Trinity
- Marriage — Pre-Cana classes required; contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment; Ministry to the Sick visits the homebound
Mission Churches and Hispanic Ministry
Blessed Trinity is the hub parish of Marion County and oversees two mission churches: Christ the King in Citra and Misión Católica La Guadalupana in western Ocala. A Spanish Mass is celebrated at Blessed Trinity on Sunday at 1:00 PM, and faith formation classes are offered in Spanish at the parish and its missions. The parish also partners with Hispanic ministries on its Ocala campus.
- Christ the King (14045 N Hwy 301, Citra, FL) — Masses Wed 4:00 PM (English) & 7:00 PM (Spanish); Sat 7:00 PM (Spanish); Sun 10:15 AM (English)
- Misión Católica La Guadalupana (11153 West Hwy 40, Ocala) — Mass Sat 7:00 PM (Spanish); Sun 7:00 PM (Spanish); Daily Tue 7:00 PM (Spanish)
- Community Center / Guadalupana offices: 4482 / (351) 595-5605
- Faith Formation in Spanish at both missions (K–2 and Confirmation grades 7–8)
Devotions and Special Programs
The parish is known for its Perpetual Adoration chapel and hosts a number of traditional Marian and Eucharistic devotions. Recent parish bulletins have advertised First Saturday Devotion in honor of Our Lady of Fatima and the First Friday Communion of Reparation Prayer Vigil of the Alliance of the Holy Family International.
- Perpetual Adoration chapel (24/7)
- First Saturday Devotion (Our Lady of Fatima)
- First Friday Communion of Reparation Prayer Vigil (Alliance of the Holy Family International)
- Sister-parish relationship in Uganda
Visit, Contact and Practical Info
The parish office and church are located at 5 SE 17th Street, Ocala, FL 34471, with phone (352) 629-8092 and email [email protected]. The office is the main contact for scheduling sacraments, registering for faith formation, requesting Mass intentions, or coordinating use of parish facilities.
- Address: 5 SE 17th Street, Ocala, FL 34471
- Phone: (352) 629-8092 — Fax on file in bulletin
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation: Ana Venegas, ext. 3222, [email protected]
- Life Teen: Lydia Ross, [email protected]
- School: (352) 622-5808 — btschool.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Bernard O'Reilly1892–
First permanent pastor when St. Philip Neri was elevated to parish status in 1892.
- Fr. Dominick Bottolacio
Served the Ocala mission at the turn of the 20th century and helped from the Ocala mission to the early stations that became St. John the Baptist, Dunnellon (per Diocese of Orlando history).