About Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church · Inverness, Florida
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg located at 550 U.S. Highway 41 South in Inverness, Florida. Founded on September 7, 1954, the parish has served Catholics in the eastern half of Citrus County for more than six decades, currently under the pastoral care of Fr. Michael Suszynski with Fr. Peter E. Okojie serving as parochial vicar. The contemporary sanctuary, which seats 950 and features traditional liturgical art, stained glass, a marble Our Lady of Fatima statue and a skylit altar, is paired with a Blessed Mother Chapel seating 150. The parish lives out a 'Where Faith and Family Come Together' mission through active liturgical, faith formation, outreach and fellowship ministries serving Inverness, Floral City, and Hernando.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Our Lady of Fatima
- Rector
- Father James Ruhlin
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Petersburg
Why belong here
Our Lady of Fatima welcomes you to a parish where 'Faith and Family Come Together' — a community that has worshiped and served Inverness for more than 60 years. Daily and weekend Masses, First Friday adoration with Exposition and Benediction, and Saturday confessions make the sacraments easy to access, while ministries such as the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women's Club, Helping Hands Food Pantry and Thrift Store, Divine Mercy & Rosary Makers, Respect Life, the Lazarus funeral ministry, and OCIA for those discerning the Catholic faith give every age and interest a way to belong. The parish actively forms children ages 4 through 8th grade, supports a dynamic middle- and high-school youth ministry, and runs Vacation Bible School and a thriving parish Gift Shop — making it a true spiritual home for Catholics in east Citrus County.
Mass times at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30 AM – 1:45 PM (Exposition and Benediction – First Friday)
Parish History
Catholicism came to Inverness in 1893 with St. Thomas Mission staffed by St. Leo Abbey monks; Bishop John Moore of St. Augustine dedicated the Grace Street chapel that year. After wartime disruptions and Masses in the American Legion Hall and at Good Counsel Camp in Floral City, parishioners donated land at Sportman's Park in 1953. Fr. Ignatius MacCarthy built the first 100-seat chapel, and on September 7, 1954 Our Lady of Fatima was officially established, with its first Mass on November 14, 1954. Over the next three decades the parish constructed two additional church buildings before dedicating the present contemporary sanctuary on June 10, 1988 — the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
- 1893 — St. Thomas Mission, Inverness (St. Leo Abbey)
- 1947 — weekly Mass begins at American Legion Hall
- 1948 — Fr. James Hoge says Mass at Good Counsel Camp, Floral City
- Oct 1, 1953 — land at Sportman's Park deeded to diocese
- Sept 7, 1954 — parish canonically established
- Nov 14, 1954 — first Mass in Sportman's Park chapel
- Jan 1975 — second church built at 550 U.S. Hwy 41 S.
- May 28, 1987 — construction begins on present church
- June 10, 1988 — first Mass in current church (Feast of the Sacred Heart)
Worship & Liturgy
The parish celebrates the Eucharist every day of the week, with a special summer Sunday schedule from June through August. Liturgical ministries are open to all parishioners and form the backbone of Sunday worship.
- Daily Mass Monday–Saturday 8:00 AM
- Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM
- Sunday 7:30, 9:00 and 11:00 AM (summer: 8:00 and 10:30 AM)
- First Friday Adoration 8:30 AM – 1:45 PM with Exposition and Benediction
- Weekday Rosary 7:25 – 7:50 AM
- Liturgical ministries: Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans, Altar Linen, Communion to the Sick & Homebound, Rosary Pray-er
Sacraments
Our Lady of Fatima prepares Catholics of every age for the seven sacraments. Families are encouraged to register early for baptism and First Communion preparation, while teens and adults journey through OCIA (formerly RCIA) and Confirmation classes.
- Infant Baptism (to age 6) — parent class required
- Baptism for children 7+ and adults via OCIA
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion — 2nd-grade program
- Confirmation — two-year preparation beginning in 7th grade
- Adult Confirmation Ministry — six-week sessions, three times a year, for ages 16+
- OCIA — Tuesdays 5:30–7:00 PM, Room 200, Hall A
- Marriage, Anointing of the Sick and Funeral Rites through Parish Office (352-726-1670)
Faith Formation
Three coordinated programs carry the parish's catechetical mission: Children's Faith Formation for ages 4 through 8th grade, a dynamic Youth Ministry for middle- and high-schoolers, and Adult Faith Formation that includes OCIA, Adult Confirmation, and the Divine Mercy Prayer Group. The parish also runs Vacation Bible School each year.
- Children's Faith Formation (4 yrs – 8th grade), dismissed from 9 AM Sunday Mass
- First Holy Communion Preparation Program
- Youth Ministry — middle school and high school community
- Adult Faith Formation: OCIA, Adult Confirmation Ministry, Divine Mercy Prayer Group
- Vacation Bible School (annual)
- Safe Environment Training and background checks required for all catechists
Music & Liturgical Art
John Willette directs the parish Music Ministry, supported by instrumentalists and a Wedding Music team. The sanctuary itself is part of the parish's catechesis: traditional liturgical art and stained glass, a marble Our Lady of Fatima statue flanked by the three shepherd children, a matching baptismal font, and a large skylight above the altar combine to direct mind and heart to the worship of the Triune God.
- Music Director: John Willette
- Music Ministry (vocal choir)
- Instrumentalists
- Wedding Music ministry
- Marble Our Lady of Fatima statue with shepherd children
- Baptismal font of matching stone
- Skylit main altar and tabernacle
- Stained glass throughout the sanctuary
Parish Ministries & Fellowship
Our Lady of Fatima groups its ministries into Liturgical, Music, Hospitality, Service, Education, Outreach, and Funeral service. The parish motto 'Where Faith and Family Come Together' is lived out in the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women's Club, Gift Shop, bingo nights, and the FRIEND ministry.
- Knights of Columbus
- Catholic Women's Club
- Gift Shop
- Greeters and Ushers
- FRIEND (hospitality/companionship)
- Bingo
- Office Volunteers
- Respect Life
- Adult Catechist, Teacher Aide, Youth Catechist
Outreach & Charity: Helping Hands
Helping Hands is the parish's largest outreach: a volunteer-run food pantry and thrift store serving residents of Inverness, Floral City, and Hernando. Assistance is provided directly to qualified individuals, and all operations are funded by donations and thrift-store proceeds.
- Food pantry hours: Monday–Friday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Contact: 352-726-1707
- Accepts canned/nonperishable food and household items in good condition
- Service area: Inverness, Floral City, Hernando
- Operated entirely by volunteers
Funeral Ministry: Lazarus
Jo-Ann Mussa coordinates the Lazarus Ministry, which accompanies families through funeral planning and provides liturgical support during parish funerals. The ministry works closely with the pastor and music director to ensure reverent and prayerful farewells.
- Coordinator: Jo-Ann Mussa (also Liturgy Coordinator)
- Liaison with clergy and Music Ministry
- Contact via Parish Office: 352-726-1670
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by a pastor and parochial vicar supported by a small, dedicated lay staff overseeing liturgy, faith formation, music, and facilities.
- Rev. Peter E. Okojie — Parochial Vicar
- Annette Tremante — DRE & Office Coordinator ([email protected])
- Jo-Ann Mussa — Lazarus Ministry & Liturgy Coordinator
- John Willette — Music Director
- Ted Marcinkiewicz — Maintenance
Getting Involved / Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly invited to participate in any of the parish's liturgical, formation, fellowship, or outreach ministries. The parish office, located at 550 U.S. Hwy 41 S., Inverness, FL 34450, is the central point of contact for all sacramental preparation, registration, and pastoral needs.
- Parish Office: (352) 726-1670
- Faith Formation contact: Annette at 352-726-1670
- Helping Hands: 352-726-1707
- Baptism paperwork: [email protected]
- Office fax: (352) 344-8384
- Diocese: Diocese of Saint Petersburg (Citrus Deanery)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Ignatius MacCarthy1953–1954
Directed building of the first chapel at Sportman's Park (seating 100) and oversaw the parish's first year before its canonical establishment.
- Fr. James Hoge1948–c.1954
Said Mass in the Mess Hall at Good Counsel Camp in Floral City for six years, serving the small Catholic population that would become Our Lady of Fatima.
- Rev. Timothy Cummings
Listed as pastor on third-party parish directory sites; served between the Ruhlin and Suszynski pastorates.
- Fr. James Ruhlin
Signed the pastor's welcome letter on the parish homepage as pastor; preceded the current pastor.