About Good Shepherd · Tallahassee, Florida
Good Shepherd Catholic Church is the largest parish in the Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, located on Thomasville Road in northeast Tallahassee, Florida. Founded in 1973 from humble door-to-door beginnings of just 34 families, it has grown into a dynamic community of more than 2,900 families on a 15-acre campus. Its mission is centered on prayer, the Eucharist, and ministry, organized through over 85 ministries in four areas: Leadership, Prayer and Liturgy, Fellowship and Evangelization, and Mercy and Justice. The parish identifies itself as a 'community of small communities' and offers daily and Sunday Masses in both English and Spanish, robust youth ministry (Life Teen and EDGE), religious education for children and adults, and devotional life including adoration and confession.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- The Good Shepherd (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael Foley (Fr. Michael Foley)
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Why belong here
Good Shepherd welcomes both longtime Catholics and newcomers into a community of more than 2,900 families committed to prayer, the Eucharist, and over 85 ministries. Families find complete faith formation for children (Pre-K through 8th-grade religious education, with referral pathways to Trinity Catholic School and John Paul II Catholic High School), strong youth ministry through Life Teen and EDGE, and ongoing adult spiritual growth. The parish also offers practical, daily supports like a Spanish-language Mass, hearing-assistance via AudioFetch, liturgical and music ministries, mercy and justice outreach, adoration, weekly confession, and a welcoming 'small Christian communities' model that invites every parishioner to find a meaningful place to serve.
Mass times at Good Shepherd
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM (in church)
- Saturday: 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM (Room 201, after Mass)
- Saturday: 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM (Room 201)
- Monday: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Tuesday: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- 1st Friday: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Family Adoration)
- 1st Saturday: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM
About Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd Catholic Church is the largest parish in the Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Since its humble beginnings in 1973, it has grown into a dynamic community of more than 2,900 families on a 15-acre Thomasville Road campus. Its public-facing motto, 'Let us pray,' greets drivers at the church entrance and captures a parish identity centered on prayer, the Eucharist, Small Christian Communities, and ministry. Good Shepherd is governed pastorally by Fr. Michael Foley, assisted by a parochial vicar, a SVD priest for Hispanic Ministry, and five permanent deacons.
History of Good Shepherd
Good Shepherd was born in fall 1972 when Bishop Paul F. Tanner of the Diocese of St. Augustine commissioned Fr. Edward A. Kirby to recruit Catholics across northern Leon County. The parish's first Mass was January 28, 1973, in Maclay School's Great Hall, with 34 families. After relocation to Timberlane School and the June 1974 reassignment of Fr. Kirby, Fr. John V. O'Sullivan took over and steered the parish through its groundbreaking (January 4, 1976) and dedication (July 27, 1976) of the 'Little Brown Church in the Vale.' The same year, Pope Paul VI created the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee — and Good Shepherd's building became its first construction project. Fr. Michael Foley became the third pastor in May 1979, a tenure that has now spanned more than four decades of growth from 110 families to more than 2,900.
- 1972–1973: Fr. Edward A. Kirby founds the parish door-to-door
- 1973: First Mass at Maclay School, Jan. 28
- 1974: Move to Timberlane (now Gilchrist Elementary) School auditorium
- 1974: Fr. John V. O'Sullivan becomes second pastor
- 1975: Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee created
- 1976: 'Little Brown Church in the Vale' dedicated July 27
- 1979 (May): Fr. Michael Foley becomes third pastor (still serving)
Clergy and Staff
The pastoral team is led by Fr. Michael Foley, who has served since May 1979. He is assisted by Fr. Rajasekar Karumelnathan (Parochial Vicar), Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD (Hispanic Ministry), and five permanent deacons: Ed Melvin, Tom McBrearty, Jerry Haynes, Mark Schneider, and Tom Gillis. Staff contacts for faith formation and office inquiries are listed on the parish website.
- Fr. Michael Foley — Pastor
- Fr. Rajasekar Karumelnathan — Parochial Vicar (frrajagsparishtlh.org)
- Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD — Hispanic Ministry
- Deacons: Ed Melvin, Tom McBrearty, Jerry Haynes, Mark Schneider, Tom Gillis
- Diana Grosh — Director of Children's Faith Formation (Pre-School–6th Grade)
- Serena Bynum — Children's Faith Formation Assistant
Faith Formation and Education
Good Shepherd's faith formation covers the whole life span. Children's Faith Formation serves Pre-School through 6th grade (Director: Diana Grosh), registering annually for the upcoming program year. Sacramental preparation, ongoing religious education, and confirmation preparation are coordinated through the parish. School-age partnerships include Trinity Catholic School (Pre-K through 8th Grade, 706 E. Brevard Street, Tallahassee, 850-222-0444) and St. John Paul II Catholic High School (5100 Terrebone Drive, Tallahassee, 850-201-5744).
- Children's Faith Formation (Pre-School–6th Grade)
- Sacramental prep for First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation
- Adult faith formation and continuing education
- Trinity Catholic School referral (Pre-K–8)
- St. John Paul II Catholic High School referral
Youth Ministry
Youth ministry has been a growing priority at Good Shepherd since 1989, when the parish hired its first Youth Minister. Today the parish runs two flagship programs — Life Teen for high-school students (centered on the 6:00 PM Sunday Mass) and EDGE for middle-school students — alongside age-appropriate retreats, service opportunities, and fellowship. Children's Liturgy of the Word is offered during the 10:15 AM and 6:00 PM Sunday Masses for children in grades 1–4, who are invited to the Chapel for a child-friendly, volunteer-led Liturgy of the Word with discussion, returning before Communion.
- Life Teen (high school, centered on 6:00 PM Sunday Mass)
- EDGE (middle school)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (grades 1–4, 10:15 AM and 6:00 PM Sunday)
- Volunteer opportunities for Children's Liturgy leaders
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic Ministry at Good Shepherd is led by Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD (Society of the Divine Word), and includes a weekly Saturday vigil Mass in Spanish at 7:00 PM as well as ongoing faith formation, fellowship, and sacramental preparation for Spanish-speaking parishioners and visitors.
- Saturday 7:00 PM Spanish Mass
- Fr. Paschal Chester, SVD — Hispanic Ministry
- Sacramental preparation and ongoing faith formation in Spanish
Ministries Overview
Good Shepherd describes itself as a 'community of small communities,' with over 85 ministries organized into four categories: Leadership (councils and communities that direct and coordinate parish activity), Prayer and Liturgy (supporting communal worship, liturgical preparation, spiritual growth), Fellowship and Evangelization (faith-sharing, prayer, fellowship, and spiritual renewal), and Mercy and Justice (corporal and spiritual works of mercy, companionship, Catholic social teaching, and advocacy). The Music Ministry is highlighted specifically, glorifying Christ through choir, instrumental, and band offerings that enhance the liturgy.
- Leadership councils and communities
- Prayer and Liturgy ministries
- Fellowship and Evangelization ministries
- Mercy and Justice ministries
- Music Ministry (choir, instrumental, band)
- Small Christian Communities model
Accessibility and Hearing Assistance
The parish offers AudioFetch hearing assistance during Mass. Parishioners and visitors can install the AudioFetch app on their phone before arriving, then connect to the parish's AudioFetch WiFi (no password), open the app, and connect to their Bluetooth hearing aids or earbuds to hear Mass audio directly.
- AudioFetch app available
- Connect to parish WiFi on arrival
- Works with Bluetooth hearing aids or earbuds
Visit and Contact
Good Shepherd is located at 4665 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32309. The Parish Office phone is (850) 893-1837, and office hours are Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, Saturday closed, and Sunday 8:45 AM–12:15 PM. Driving directions from I-10 (either direction), downtown Tallahassee, and the northeast are published on the parish website. The 'Let us pray' sign at the Thomasville Road entrance welcomes visitors, and the parish invites newcomers to explore its many ministries, formation programs, and devotional life.
- Address: 4665 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32309
- Phone: (850) 893-1837
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM; Sun 8:45 AM–12:15 PM
- Directions from I-10, downtown, and northeast on parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edward A. Kirby1972–June 1974
Founding pastor; recruited the original 34 families door-to-door; celebrated first Mass at Maclay School on Jan. 28, 1973; reassigned to St. Patrick's Church in Apalachicola.
- Rev. John V. O'Sullivan1974–May 1979
Designed the master plan for parish growth; oversaw groundbreaking (Jan. 4, 1976) and dedication (July 27, 1976) of the 'Little Brown Church in the Vale,' the first construction project in the new Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee; later became pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish.
- Rev. Michael FoleyMay 1979–present
Third and current pastor; has directed the parish through four decades of growth into the largest parish in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee.