About Our Lady of the Angels · Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Our Lady of the Angels is a Catholic parish in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Venice in Florida. It was established in 1999 as a Mission of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Sarasota and was formally erected as its own parish in 2002. Today it serves more than 3,200 registered families — the first Catholic community east of Interstate 75 in Manatee County — with daily and weekend Masses, perpetual adoration, a robust faith formation program, and active ministries for adults, youth, and families. Bishop Frank J. Dewane installed Father Sebastian Szczawinski, S.A.C., as pastor on February 19, 2023.
- Established
- 1999
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Angels (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Sebastian Szczawinski, S.A.C. (installed Feb. 19, 2023)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Angels is a young, rapidly-growing parish where new families are easy to find. It offers daily Mass, perpetual Adoration (7:00 AM – 9:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel), a deep bench of formation for every age — OCIA, faith formation K–8, Confirmation prep, Totus Tuus summer program, Vacation Bible School, Little Saints, a Young Adults group, and Walking with Purpose women's Bible study — alongside traditional devotions like daily Rosary, Stations of the Cross on Fridays, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. With on-campus construction of a new Parish Activity Center and rectory underway, the parish is explicitly investing in its next decade of ministry for Lakewood Ranch and eastern Manatee County.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – 8:30 AM (in the St. Joseph Chapel, after 8:00 AM Mass)
- Wednesday – 8:30 AM (in the church confessional)
- Friday – 8:30 AM (in the church confessional)
- Saturday – 8:30 AM (in the church confessional)
Adoration times
- Monday – Sunday, 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel
Welcome to Our Lady of the Angels
On the parish homepage the community writes: 'Whether you are just beginning your search for God or are already a follower of Christ, there is a place for you at Our Lady of the Angels. Here, questions are welcomed. The seeds of lifelong discipleship are planted. Friendships are formed. Come and see for yourself how God is doing some very exciting things in the hearts and lives of the people who call Our Lady of the Angels their home!' Father Sebastian Szczawinski, S.A.C., is identified on the front page as Pastor.
- Pastor's welcome message on the parish homepage
- I'm New page for first-time visitors (olangelscc.org/i-m-new)
History of the Parish
The parish grew from a Feb. 7, 1999 Mission Mass of 96 people in shared Lutheran worship space into a 3,200+ family community with a 1,074-seat church dedicated in 2018. See the history field above for the full story.
- 1999 – Established as Mission of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Sarasota
- 2002 – Formally erected as a Parish
- 2003 – Multi-purpose building opened (dedicated Oct. 4, 2003)
- 2018 – Current Parish Church dedicated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane
- Feb. 24, 2024 – 25th anniversary Mass celebrated
Parish Staff and Clergy
The pastoral team is led by Father Sebastian Szczawinski, S.A.C. (Pastor), with Father Patrick Long serving as Parochial Vicar and Father William Sanderson assisting as Weekend Celebrant. Four deacons — Tom Harencher, Jack Milholland, John Schaefer, and Bill Hickey — minister at the parish. Lay staff include Gia Havener (Director of Music & Liturgy), Debbie Jackson (Assistant Director of Religious Education), Lucy Tamajon (Coordinator; involved in OCIA), and office staff Kathy LaStella, Diane Solano, Karen Barbarito, Holly Joyce (also marriage coordinator), Doug Powell, and David Grejda.
- Father Sebastian Szczawinski, S.A.C. — Pastor (installed Feb. 19, 2023)
- Father Patrick Long — Parochial Vicar
- Father William Sanderson — Weekend Celebrant
- Deacon Tom Harencher (OCIA contact: [email protected])
- Deacon Jack Milholland
- Deacon John Schaefer
- Deacon Bill Hickey
- Gia Havener — Director of Music & Liturgy
- Debbie Jackson — Assistant Director of Religious Education
- Lucy Tamajon — Coordinator (OCIA: [email protected])
- Holly Joyce — Parish office / Marriage coordinator ([email protected], ext. 106)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish describes faith formation as 'a life long journey' and offers programs for every age — children, youth, and adults. The Religious Education hub links to OCIA (for non-Catholics and Catholics needing sacraments of initiation), Adult Faith Enrichment, Children's Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation, and Middle/High School Youth Ministry including Confirmation prep.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — one-year process, Sept. to Pentecost
- Catechists for K–8 Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
- Confirmation Preparation (Middle & High School)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (ages 5–7, during 9 AM Mass, Sept.–May)
- Totus Tuus summer youth program
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
- Little Saints — preschool moms, 2nd Tuesday at 10 AM
- Walking with Purpose — Women's Bible Study
Get Involved: Ministries and Volunteer Opportunities
The parish's 'Get Involved' page lays out time commitments and roles across catechesis, youth ministry, family ministry, and outreach. The site stresses that parish life runs on volunteer catechists, mentor couples, hospitality teams, and prayer supporters.
- OCIA team (2–3 hrs/week, Sept.–Pentecost)
- Catechists (1¼ hrs/week)
- Adult Faith Enrichment volunteers (1½–2 hrs/week)
- Youth Ministry Core Team (2 hrs/week), Hospitality (2 hrs/month), Service (2 hrs/month), Prayer Angels (ongoing)
- Children's Liturgy (1 hr/week, Sept.–May)
- Ministry of Moms — MOMs (1¾ hrs/bi-weekly)
- Young Adults (1 hr/week)
- Totus Tuus / VBS (5 hrs/day for one week in summer)
Sacraments
Our Lady of the Angels prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments. Baptism is celebrated on Saturdays at 2:30 PM and Sundays at 12:00 PM, with a mandatory prep class on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall; parents must be registered and active parishioners. Matrimony requires contacting the parish office (Holly Joyce, [email protected], ext. 106) at least six months in advance and completing the Witness to Love marriage preparation program, which pairs the engaged couple with their own chosen mentor couple. Anointing of the Sick is offered to those in danger of death from illness or old age; the parish also provides Viaticum for the dying.
- Baptism – Sat 2:30 PM, Sun 12:00 PM; prep class 2nd Tue, 7:00 PM
- First Reconciliation & First Communion (children)
- Confirmation (youth)
- Matrimony – 6+ months advance; Witness to Love required
- Anointing of the Sick
- Viaticum for the dying
- OCIA for adult initiation
Marriage Preparation — Witness to Love
Witness to Love (WTL) is a virtues-based marriage renewal and prep model that pairs each engaged couple with a mentor couple of their choosing — a parish couple they both admire. The mentor couple walks the engaged pair through six WTL chapters with monthly meetings, plus a theology meeting with a priest and Natural Family Planning instruction. After the wedding, mentor and newly-married couples are encouraged to keep meeting at least every two months at Sunday Mass.
- Step 1 – Contact parish office at (941) 752-6770
- Step 2 – Complete parish & diocesan paperwork
- Step 3 – Meet with priest; complete premarital inventory
- Step 4 – Choose mentor couple for WTL
- Step 5 – Monthly mentor-couple meetings using WTL workbooks
- Step 6 – Attend parish/diocesan couples retreat
- Step 7 – NFP online course recommended
- Step 8 – Theology meeting with priest (at WTL Ch. 5)
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
OCIA (formerly RCIA) is for non-Catholics seeking full initiation through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist; for Christians baptized in another tradition seeking full communion; and for Catholics baptized as infants but not yet confirmed or receiving First Eucharist. The program runs one year of classes and discernment, September through Pentecost. A Baptism certificate is required at registration. Contacts: Deacon Tom Harencher ([email protected]) and Lucy Tamajon ([email protected]).
- One-year commitment of classes and preparation
- Sept. to Pentecost schedule
- Deacon Tom Harencher – [email protected]
- Lucy Tamajon – [email protected]
Buildings, Campus & Growth
The parish campus sits on State Road 70 East in Lakewood Ranch and includes the current 1,074-seat Parish Church (dedicated 2018) plus the original 2003 multi-purpose building, now repurposed as the Parish Hall. A $9.7 million expansion broke ground in November 2023 to add a 12,580-square-foot Parish Activity Center with ten rooms for ministries and programs (replacing three portable buildings) and a duplex on-campus rectory for the priests, who previously lived at Rosedale Country Club. Construction is expected to take 12–16 months.
- Current Parish Church dedicated 2018 by Bishop Dewane (~21,060 sq ft, 1,074 seats, ~$8M)
- Original 2003 multi-purpose building now used as Parish Hall
- New 12,580 sq ft Parish Activity Center (10 rooms) — under construction
- Two-unit on-campus rectory — under construction
- $9.7M project cost; ~$4M raised as of 2023
Contact and Parish Office
Parish office hours are Monday 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM (by appointment only) and 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM; Tuesday – Thursday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM; and Friday 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM. The mailing address is 12905 State Road 70 East, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202.
- Phone: (941) 752-6770
- Fax: (941) 752-6821
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: olangelscc.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/olangelscc/
Diocese of Venice in Florida
Our Lady of the Angels is one of more than 60 parishes in the Diocese of Venice in Florida, which covers the ten-county southwestern region of the state. It sits in the Diocese's Northern Deanery. The current diocesan bishop is Most Reverend Frank J. Dewane, who dedicated the current church in 2018 and installed Father Sebastian Szczawinski as Pastor in 2023.
- Diocese: Diocese of Venice in Florida (venice.diocese.org)
- Bishop: Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane
- Deanery: Northern
- Year Founded (Diocese record): 1999
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Franciscan priests (Third Order Regular)1999 – c. 2002
Served the Mission of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs from its founding in Feb. 1999 until the parish was formally erected in 2002.
- Father Dan SmithAdministrator, prior years – died 2016
His memory was honored at the 2018 church dedication; major design elements of the new church and his personal chalice reflected his vision.
- Father ScheipArrived early 2017 – prior to 2023
Served as Parish Administrator; proclaimed 'Bishop we made it!' at the conclusion of the 2018 dedication of the current church.
- Father Sebastian Szczawinski, S.A.C.Installed Pastor Feb. 19, 2023 – present
Installed by Bishop Frank J. Dewane; previously served as Administrator of the parish.