About Our Lady of the Rosary · Land O Lakes, Florida
Our Lady of the Rosary is a Roman Catholic parish in Land O' Lakes, Florida (Pasco County), part of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Founded in 1952 as a mission church ministered by Benedictine monks from St. Leo Abbey, the parish today serves a growing suburban and bilingual community on a 26-acre campus at 2348 Collier Parkway. Worship is offered in English and Spanish across multiple daily and weekend Masses, with regular Adoration, a robust faith formation program for children and youth, a Music Ministry (English, Contemporary, and Spanish), a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and Mary's House Early Childhood Center.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Rosary
- Rector
- Rev. Justin P. Paskert
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Petersburg
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Rosary offers the rhythm of a large, well-staffed parish: four Sunday Masses and a Saturday Vigil in English, plus a Saturday evening Mass in Spanish, daily Mass Monday–Saturday, generous Adoration on Thursdays, and confessions before every weekend Mass. Families are met with a Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School, Mary's House Early Childhood Center, and Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, and OCIA — alongside outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and dozens of parish committees (Stewardship, Arts & Environment, Maintenance, Breakfast with Santa, Trunk or Treat, Go-Fors office volunteers, and more).
Mass times at Our Lady of the Rosary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 2:30 PM – 3:50 PM (in the main church)
- Sunday: 3:30 PM – 4:50 PM (in the main church)
Adoration times
- Thursday: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- Thursday (First Thursday of the month): 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Thursday (except First Thursdays and some Holy Days/holidays): 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM, in the Chapel
- Friday (First Friday of the month): 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
- Thursday (May–July, in the Church, sign-up required): 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Parish Identity & History
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of St. Petersburg in Land O' Lakes, Pasco County, Florida. It was founded in 1952 as a mission church — at that time under the Diocese of St. Augustine — and was canonically established as a diocesan parish in 1970 when Father Peter Reynolds became the first diocesan-assigned pastor. The current 26-acre campus on Collier Parkway was dedicated by Bishop Robert Lynch on November 27, 1999.
- Founded 1952; first Mass Oct. 5, 1952, at the VFW Hall on U.S. 41
- Patroness: Our Lady of the Rosary — feast day Oct. 7
- Original church on State Road 54 dedicated April 26, 1959, by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley
- Transition from Benedictine (St. Leo Priory) to diocesan clergy in 1970
- Relocated to 2348 Collier Parkway campus and dedicated Nov. 27, 1999
- Immaculata Hall and Mary's House Early Childhood Center completed in 2007
- Mater Dei building completed in 2018 for youth and adult formation
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor, two parochial vicars, a pastor emeritus, a retired priest who assists on weekends, and four assigned/retired deacons — a wider-than-typical team that reflects the parish's size and bilingual ministry.
- Rev. Justin P. Paskert — Pastor
- Rev. Connor D. Penn — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Thomas A. Gabriel Omiunu — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Raju Chebattina — Pastor Emeritus; also assists with OCIA and Convalidation
- Rev. Christian Galvan — Retired, Weekend Assistance; handles confidential annulment inquiries
- Deacon Kenneth Anderson — Assigned
- Deacon Jose Solorzano — Assigned
- Deacon Joseph Grimaudo — Assigned
- Deacon Bill Ditewig — Retired
Parish Office & Support Staff
A director-led staff team runs faith formation, youth, music, stewardship, facilities, and the parish office.
- Connie Whittington — Director of Children's Ministry
- Maria Rodriguez — Faith Formation Assistant
- Jane Moran — CGS (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd) Assistant
- Carmen Anderson — Director of Youth Ministry
- Johnny Aldas — Youth Minister
- Scott Famulare — Youth Ministry Assistant
- David Sanborn — Director of Evangelization & Stewardship
- Jessica Kroger — Director of Music Ministry
- Jonathan Rine — OLOR Contemporary Worship Ministry
- Jose Diaz — Spanish Music Ministry
- Wendy Ottenwalder — Director of Seniors Ministry
- Carol Gray — Parish Secretary
- Tony Sievert — Director of Facilities & Maintenance
- Bob Bowman — Director of Early Childhood Center (Mary's House)
- Johnny Aldas — listed in Maintenance
- Monica Erickson, Corrine Ertl — VPK Teachers (Mary's House)
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–12:30 PM; closed on major holidays)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a multi-track Faith Formation program for children and youth, including weekly Young Disciples classes, Sacramental Preparation, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), Vacation Bible School, and confirmation-track formation through the Youth Ministry. Sacramental Preparation is offered twice a year, so children can celebrate in May or December.
- Children's Ministry (Connie Whittington, Director)
- Young Disciples — weekly religious education class
- Sacramental Preparation for First Reconciliation & First Eucharist (typically 2nd grade or older, after at least two years of formation)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS)
- OCIA for Children & Youth (with Fr. Raju)
- Vacation Bible School (annual, completed K–5; evenings in the Church)
- Faith Formation Assistant: Maria Rodriguez
Mary's House Early Childhood Center
Mary's House is the parish's Early Childhood Center, completed in 2007 alongside Immaculata Hall. It offers a VPK program and is directed by Bob Bowman. Members of Our Lady of the Rosary can register with the school and receive a pastor-signed form giving a discount to area Catholic schools.
- Director of Early Childhood Center: Bob Bowman
- VPK program — Monica Erickson, Corrine Ertl, and additional VPK teachers
- Discount program with partner Catholic schools: Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School (Lutz) and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School
Youth Ministry
A full-time Director of Youth Ministry, a Youth Minister, and a Youth Ministry Assistant run the parish's middle- and high-school faith formation, supported by the Mater Dei building completed in 2018.
- Director: Carmen Anderson
- Youth Minister: Johnny Aldas
- Youth Ministry Assistant: Scott Famulare
- Uses the Mater Dei building for youth and adult formation
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Music ministry at Our Lady of the Rosary includes a traditional English choir/director, a contemporary worship ensemble, and a separate Spanish music ministry — covering the parish's bilingual weekend Masses.
- Director of Music Ministry — Jessica Kroger
- OLOR Contemporary Worship Ministry — Jonathan Rine
- Spanish Music Ministry — Jose Diaz
- Arts & Environment Committee — decorates the church for Advent, Lent, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, All Saints, Corpus Christi, Thanksgiving, Veteran's Day, Memorial Day (contact Jessica Kroger, 813-230-8469)
Stewardship & Parish Life Committees
Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure is the parish's organizing framework. A Stewardship Committee and Director of Evangelization & Stewardship coordinate the annual Time and Talent Fair, the Family Fest, and Covenant Cards. Dozens of volunteer committees channel parishioners into everything from office help to grounds care.
- Director of Evangelization & Stewardship: David Sanborn (stewardshipladyrosary.org, 813-536-0988)
- Stewardship Committee
- Maintenance Committee — annual review of facilities & grounds, Arbor Day, "Whacker Saturday"
- Go-Fors — weekly office volunteers answering phones/door and running errands
- Breakfast with Santa Committee (December)
- Trunk or Treat Committee (last Friday in October — parish "holy-ween")
- Parish Finance Council (currently recruiting members)
- Seniors Ministry (Wendy Ottenwalder)
Outreach & Charity
Outreach centers on a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and an active Catholic-education support system. The pantry operates two mornings a week on the parish campus.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry — Thursdays & Fridays 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM (closed major holidays)
- Catholic-school tuition discount for registered parishioners (Mother Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School)
- Healing Mass listed on the parish calendar
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments, with specialization in family-friendly preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, marriage preparation, convalidation for civilly married couples, and confidential help with the annulment / declaration-of-nullity process.
- Baptism — Infant baptism preparation through the parish office
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — Sacramental Preparation (May or December)
- Confirmation — through youth/young adult formation
- Marriage — Marriage Preparation required; contact parish
- Convalidation — contact Fr. Raju (813-949-4565)
- Annulments / Declaration of Nullity — confidential help from Fr. Christian
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- OCIA — for adults, and a separate children's/youth track with Fr. Raju
Facilities & Campus
The 26-acre Collier Parkway campus has grown to include the main church, offices, rectory, parish hall, early childhood center, and dedicated youth/adult formation building.
- Main church (dedicated 1999)
- Immaculata Hall (completed 2007) — used for VBS and formation
- Mary's House Early Childhood Center (completed 2007)
- Mater Dei building (completed 2018) — youth and adult formation
- Multipurpose building, rectory, and large parking area (1999 build-out)
- Director of Facilities & Maintenance: Tony Sievert
- Chapel open daily 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Livestream & Online
Selected Masses are livestreamed on YouTube for parishioners at home or in the hospital. Livestreamed Masses include the weekday 5:30 PM, the Saturday 6:00 PM Spanish Vigil, and the Sunday 11:30 AM.
- Daily 5:30 PM Mass (Mon–Fri, most days) — via YouTube only
- Saturday 6:00 PM Spanish Vigil Mass
- Sunday 11:30 AM English Mass
- Note: 5:30 PM daily Mass temporarily ending April 30, 2026
Getting Involved
Becoming active at Our Lady of the Rosary typically starts with the parish's Time & Talent Fair and Covenant Card, and continues through registering for one of many ministries or volunteering with one of the parish committees.
- Stewardship/Evangelization office — David Sanborn, 813-536-0988
- Volunteer — Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Music, VBS, Go-Fors, Maintenance Committee
- Parish Finance Council — currently recruiting members
- Hispanic Ministry opportunities through the Spanish Music Ministry and Saturday 6:00 PM Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Abbot Francis Sadler, O.S.B. (celebrant of first Mass)1952
Celebrated the parish's first official Mass on Oct. 5, 1952, at the VFW Hall on U.S. 41.
- Benedictine pastors (St. Leo Priory)1952–1970
First handful of pastors were short-term Benedictine Brothers from St. Leo; last was Rev. Edward Martineau.
- Rev. Peter Reynolds1970
First diocesan-assigned pastor, ending the era of Benedictine staffing.