About Holy Cross Catholic Church · Orlando, Florida
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish located at 12600 Marsfield Ave in the south Orlando area of Florida, in the 32837 ZIP code near the Hunter's Creek and Meadow Woods neighborhoods. Established in 1992, it belongs to the Diocese of Orlando and is one of the parishes of the Central Southern Deanery. The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Esaú Nel García and Parochial Vicar Fr. José Augusto Cadavid, and serves a large and culturally diverse community with multiple daily and weekend Masses in English and Spanish, a robust PREP religious education program, a 6th–12th grade youth ministry, Peer Ministry, and the full range of seven sacraments.
- Established
- 1992
- Patron
- Holy Cross (the True Cross of Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Esaú Nel García
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
Holy Cross is a welcoming, bilingual Catholic parish where English- and Spanish-speaking families can worship side by side, with daily Mass offered in both languages and weekend schedules tailored to large families and working parents. Beyond Mass, the parish invests heavily in the next generation through its PREP religious education program (Pre-K through 5th grade), a 6th–12th grade youth ministry with Wednesday evening faith formation, Bible study, retreats, peer ministry, mission trips and a biennial national youth conference. With seven sacraments celebrated year-round, weekly confession in both languages, Thursday evening Spanish Mass and Adoration, and an active volunteer corps, Holy Cross offers a full Catholic life — liturgy, formation, service and community — in south Orlando.
Mass times at Holy Cross Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday (Jueves): 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Friday (Viernes): 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
- Saturday (Sábado): 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Saturday (Sábado): 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Sunday (Domingo): 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Adoration times
- Thursday evenings: following the 6:00 pm Spanish Mass (Misa en Español y Adoración)
About Holy Cross Catholic Church
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in south Orlando, Florida, established in 1992 and part of the Diocese of Orlando. Located at 12600 Marsfield Ave (ZIP 32837) near the Hunter's Creek and Meadow Woods neighborhoods, it serves a diverse community of English- and Spanish-speaking families. The parish belongs to the Central Southern Deanery of the Diocese of Orlando.
Parish Staff and Clergy
Holy Cross is led by Pastor Rev. Esaú Nel García, ordained June 21, 1987, and is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. José Augusto Cadavid. The parish team also includes an Operations Manager (Juan Camilo Tobón), faith formation staff, baptism and marriage coordinators, a volunteer coordinator, accounts-payable staff and a maintenance team.
- Rev. Esaú Nel García — Pastor
- Fr. José Augusto Cadavid — Parochial Vicar
- Juan Camilo Tobón — Operations Manager
- Lorna Placa — Administrative Assistant / Receptionist
- Martha Bello — Administrative Assistant / Baptism
- Patricia García — Administrative Assistant / Marriage
- Luz Miriam Mercado — Administrative Assistant / Faith Formation
- Natalia Pedraza — Faith Formation & Confirmation Coordinator
- Sofía González — Volunteer Coordinator
- Mayra Barrow — Administrative Assistant / Accounts Payable
- Jose Sanchez — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Cross runs a robust religious education program for children and youth, organized through its P.R.E.P. (Parish Religious Education Program) and Youth Ministry. PREP offers four session choices for Pre-K through 5th grade families — Monday afternoon, Monday evening, Thursday afternoon and Thursday evening — which are not interchangeable once a child is registered. Sessions walk children through the four pillars of Catholic faith: the Creed, the Sacraments, Christian Life and Prayer.
- PREP — Pre-K through 5th Grade Religious Education
- Four session choices: Mon PM, Mon Eve, Thu PM, Thu Eve
- Catechesis on the Creed, Sacraments, Christian Life and Prayer
- Parent gatherings and family participation encouraged
Youth Ministry (Grades 6–12)
Holy Cross Youth Ministry welcomes all youth in grades 6 through 12 and follows the U.S. Bishops' framework from 'Renewing the Vision.' The ministry's three core goals are: fostering total personal and spiritual growth of each young person; drawing youth to responsible, full and active participation in the Catholic faith community; and empowering young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Activities include Wednesday Evening Faith Formation, Bible Study, Praise & Worship Music, Saturday Service, monthly socials, retreats, peer ministry, mission trips, parent/youth gatherings, a biennial National Catholic Youth Conference and Diocesan/Deanery gatherings.
- Wednesday Evening Faith Formation
- Bible Study & Praise & Worship Music
- Saturday Service opportunities
- Monthly Socials and Retreats
- Mission Trips
- Biennial National Catholic Youth Conference participation
- Diocesan and Deanery Youth Gatherings
Peer Ministry
Open to high school teens who have received the sacraments of Baptism, Communion and Confirmation, Peer Ministry trains students to share their faith journey with peers. The team uses the acronym P.A.I.N.: Pray first; be Approachable, Inclusive and Non-judgmental. New peer ministers participate in a week-long summer training that concludes with a Diocesan Deanery retreat, followed by ongoing monthly training sessions on the first Monday of each month from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm.
- Eligibility: Confirmed Catholic teens actively living their faith
- Summer training week plus Diocesan Deanery retreat
- Monthly team-building: 1st Monday, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
- Ministry to parish, peers and local high school communities
- Contact: Yashira Matos
Sacraments
Holy Cross celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, organized in the Church's traditional categories: Sacraments of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation); Sacraments of Healing (Reconciliation/Penance, Anointing of the Sick); and Sacraments at the Service of Communion and the Mission of the Faithful (Holy Orders, Matrimony). The parish website provides dedicated staff contacts for Baptism (Martha Bello) and Marriage (Patricia García) preparation.
- Baptism — contact Martha Bello
- Eucharist / First Communion — through PREP
- Confirmation — contact Natalia Pedraza
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Thursday, Friday, Saturday (twice), Sunday
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Holy Orders — contact the parish office
- Matrimony — contact Patricia García
Parish Life, Ministries and Volunteering
Beyond faith formation, Holy Cross parishioners are invited to serve as lectors, music ministers, greeters, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and teacher's aides, particularly at the Wednesday evening youth Mass. The parish also runs a Religious Article Shop for devotional items and welcomes new volunteers through its Volunteer Coordinator, Sofía González.
- Lectors and Readers
- Music Ministry / Choir
- Greeters and Hospitality
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Religious Article Shop
- Volunteer Coordination Office (Sofía González)
Diocese and Governance
Holy Cross Catholic Church is a parish in the Diocese of Orlando, specifically part of the Central Southern Deanery. The Diocese of Orlando publishes the parish's official contact information, Mass schedule and parish leadership in its annual Parish Entities directory. The parish is incorporated in Florida as 'Holy Cross Catholic Church Orlando, Inc.' (corporate number N23000003745), with the Diocese of Orlando listed as its registered agent.
- Diocese: Diocese of Orlando
- Deanery: Central Southern Deanery
- Diocesan Address: 50 East Robinson Street, Orlando, FL 32801
- Florida corporation: Holy Cross Catholic Church Orlando, Inc. (#N23000003745)
Contact and Visiting
The parish office at 12600 Marsfield Ave is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm. Visitors are welcome at any of the published Mass or confession times, and additional seasonal schedules (Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas) are posted on the parish website.
- Address: 12600 Marsfield Ave, Orlando, FL 32837
- Phone: 407-438-0990
- Fax: 407-438-4090
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 4:45 pm
- Website: https://www.holycrossorlando.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolyCrossofOrlando/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Esaú Nel GarcíaCurrent pastor
Listed as Pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church in the December 2022 Diocese of Orlando Parish Entities directory; ordained June 21, 1987; president/officer of Holy Cross Catholic Church Orlando, Inc.