About Our Lady of Grace · Avon Park, Florida
Our Lady of Grace is a Roman Catholic parish in Avon Park, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Venice and serving roughly 3,000 parishioners across about 1,300 families in Highlands County. The parish is bilingual, celebrating Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation in both English and Spanish, and ministers to a community that today includes more than 300 children enrolled in its School of Religion. Under its current pastor, Rev. Ronnie B. Sison, the parish continues a steady rhythm of daily and Sunday Mass, sacramental preparation, youth programs, and outreach through its many lay-led ministries. The parish also operates a Religious Education Building (the Sarah MacDonald Religious Education Building), a parish hall known as the Grogan Center, the St. John Bosco Youth Center, and a Memorial Garden with a statue of Our Lady of Grace.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Our Lady of Grace
- Rector
- Rev. Ronnie B. Sison
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
Our Lady of Grace is a bilingual, family-sized Catholic parish of about 1,300 families in Avon Park with a wide range of lay-led ministries — from Music, Family Life, Respect Life, Prison, and Hispanic Ministry to the Knights of Columbus, Women's Guild, and an Emergency Prayer Chain — so newcomers can find a way to serve that matches their gifts. With daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday, two Sunday Masses, a Saturday Vigil in both English and Spanish, and a robust Religious Education program serving more than 300 children, the parish offers a stable place to pray, raise a family, and grow in faith together.
Mass times at Our Lady of Grace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM (English)
- Saturday 6:30 PM (Spanish)
Adoration times
- First Friday 8:00 AM (Mass and Holy Hour)
Parish History
Our Lady of Grace began as a small mission church in Avon Park in the 1950s, growing from a 'postage-stamp' missionary outpost into the spiritual home of about 1,300 families. Early Catholics in Avon Park had to travel to Sebring or Wauchula for Mass; during the World War II era, Mass was offered at the Tourist Club and upstairs in the Brickel Building on Main Street. Father Emil Heiring of St. Catherine Parish launched the Avon Park mission in 1956, the church was completed in January 1957, and the first Mass was celebrated on February 3, 1957, followed by formal dedication on May 12, 1957. The Diocese of Venice lists the parish's founding year as 1954. Through the decades, a succession of pastors expanded and remodeled the campus, adding classrooms, a rectory, a social hall, the Grogan Center parish hall, the Sarah MacDonald Religious Education Building, the St. John Bosco Youth Center, a Memorial Garden, and a covered church entrance, while accommodating a growing bilingual community. The parish marked its 50th Anniversary with a special Mass on February 4, 2007.
- First Mass: February 3, 1957
- Dedication: May 12, 1957
- 50th Anniversary Mass: February 4, 2007
- Father Emil Heiring began plans for the mission in 1956
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Religious Education program (School of Religion) at Our Lady of Grace partners with parents as the primary educators of their children, offering catechesis from Kindergarten through 8th grade that encompasses preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion. The Confirmation program is a two-year process for young adults in grades 9–12, and all sacramental preparation includes meetings with the pastor. With more than 300 children currently enrolled, the parish considers religious education a high priority and strives to nurture every child's relationship with Jesus.
- K–8 Religious Education / School of Religion (300+ children)
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation
- Two-year Confirmation program for grades 9–12
- Sarah MacDonald Religious Education Building — eight classrooms and Religious Education office
OCIA (RCIA) — Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the parish's process for welcoming non-baptized men and women into the Catholic Church. It includes several stages marked by study, prayer, and rites at Mass. Catechumens grow in conversion through study of the Gospel, profession of faith, and the reception of the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist, following the ancient practice of the Church restored by the Second Vatican Council. The parish encourages anyone interested in becoming Catholic — or returning after time away — to contact the parish office.
- OCIA process for unbaptized adults
- Preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
- Restored by Vatican II as the normal path for adult initiation
Youth Ministry
The parish invests heavily in its young people. After Father Nicholas McLoughlin's appointment in 2007, the Youth Area was moved into the former schoolhouse, which was renamed the St. John Bosco Youth Center, and a lighted soccer field was added beside it. In 2009 a fenced playground was built next to the Religious Education Building to give young children a safe place to play. The parish Music Ministry also includes a Life Teen Choir for younger musicians.
- St. John Bosco Youth Center
- Lighted soccer field
- Fenced playground (added 2009)
- Life Teen Choir (Music Ministry)
Liturgical Ministries
Our Lady of Grace is served by an active group of lay liturgical ministers. Music is described as integral to every liturgical event, with the assembly's voice as the primary voice; the Music Ministry welcomes new members to the Adult Choir, Family Mass Singers, Life Teen Choir, and Cantors. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist at all weekday and weekend Masses and bring Communion weekly to the homebound, hospitals, and nursing homes within parish boundaries. Altar servers (including adult servers at weekday Masses), Lectors, and Ministers of Hospitality (ushers) round out the liturgical team, greeting, seating, and guiding the faithful through the celebration.
- Music Ministry — Adult Choir, Family Mass Singers, Life Teen Choir, Cantors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (weekday, weekend, hospitals, nursing homes, homebound)
- Lector Ministry
- Altar Servers (youth and adult)
- Ministers of Hospitality / Ushers
Parish Life and Outreach
Our Lady of Grace's many ministries serve both the parish family and the wider Avon Park community. The Hispanic Ministry bridges English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners; the Community Life Ministry cooperates with other local churches and agencies to address social needs; the Family Life Ministry supports the domestic church; and the Respect Life Committee fosters a culture of life from conception to natural death. The Prayer Chain Ministry offers confidential, immediate prayer for those experiencing personal trials, and the Prison Ministry extends the Church's reach to incarcerated Catholics and their victims. The Women's Guild, open to all women of the parish, meets the second Wednesday of each month from October through April, and the Knights of Columbus Council serves the parish and surrounding community through fraternal and charitable works.
- Hispanic Ministry
- Community Life Ministry
- Family Life Ministry
- Respect Life Ministry
- Prayer Chain Ministry (Emergency Prayer Chain)
- Prison Ministry
- Women's Guild — meets 2nd Wednesday, October–April
- Knights of Columbus — Our Lady of Grace Council
Stewardship, Finance, and Scholarship
The Stewardship Ministry helps parishioners share their gifts of time, talent, and treasure; the Finance Ministry advises the pastor and Parish Council on income, expenditures, quarterly reports, and the annual operating and capital budget. The Scholarship Ministry awards annual scholarships to parish youth pursuing higher education and helps fundraise for those awards; the Social Ministry also directs proceeds to the Conroy Scholarship Fund and to the South Florida State College Sarah MacDonald Our Lady of Grace Scholarship Fund.
- Stewardship Ministry
- Finance Ministry
- Scholarship Ministry for parish youth
- South Florida State College Sarah MacDonald Our Lady of Grace Scholarship Fund
- Conroy Scholarship Fund
Parish Campus
The Our Lady of Grace campus has grown around the original 1957 church on East Main Street in Avon Park. The 825-seat church (remodeled in 1993) anchors the property, which also includes the Grogan Center parish hall, the Sarah MacDonald Religious Education Building, the St. John Bosco Youth Center with lighted soccer field, a Memorial Garden with a statue of Our Lady of Grace (completed 2006), a covered church entrance (added 2001), a schoolhouse (2003), a parish center with elevated stage and state-of-the-art kitchen (2004), staff houses, and a landscaped lawn planted with palms, oaks, and shrubs. A fenced playground added in 2009 sits next to the Religious Education Building.
- Church (seating for 825)
- Grogan Center (parish hall)
- Sarah MacDonald Religious Education Building (eight classrooms)
- St. John Bosco Youth Center with lighted soccer field
- Memorial Garden with statue of Our Lady of Grace (2006)
- Fenced playground (2009)
- Parish center with kitchen and stage (2004)
- Covered church entrance (2001)
Visit and Contact
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church is located at 595 E. Main Street, Avon Park, Florida 33825, in the Eastern Deanery of the Diocese of Venice. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM, and can be reached by phone at (863) 453-4757 (fax 863-453-2620) or by email at [email protected]. Pastor Father Ronnie Sison offers a special blessing to all the children and youth of the parish before the conclusion of Mass — a cherished tradition at Our Lady of Grace.
- Address: 595 E. Main Street, Avon Park, FL 33825
- Phone: (863) 453-4757
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–2:30 PM
- Deanery: Eastern (Diocese of Venice in Florida)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Emil Heiring1956–(retired)
Pastor of St. Catherine Parish who launched plans and fundraising for the Avon Park mission; named Administrator of Our Lady of Grace in 1961 and built a small adjoining rectory.
- Father Armand Gregoire
Succeeded Father Heiring as pastor.
- Father Antonio Pons
Replaced metal chairs with pews, remodeled the sanctuary, added a three-bedroom rectory and a social hall with three classrooms.
- Father George Frazer1974–
Arrived as pastor in March 1974; added a conference room and two classrooms.
- Father Gerald Grogan1979–
Became pastor March 17, 1979; oversaw south-end church extension with faceted-glass windows, two staff houses, and two portable classroom buildings (1988); the parish hall is named the Grogan Center in his honor.
- Father Nicholas McLoughlin2007–
Affectionately 'Father Nick'; appointed pastor March 8, 2007; renovated the former parish hall into the Sarah MacDonald Religious Education Building, established the St. John Bosco Youth Center with lighted soccer field, and built the 2009 playground.
- Rev. Ronnie B. SisonInstalled November 21, 2021
Installed as Pastor by Bishop Frank J. Dewane on Nov. 21, 2021; oversaw replacement of the church and hall roof and a renovation of the church interior with new flooring and altar space.