About Our Lady Queen of Peace · New Port Richey, Florida
Our Lady Queen of Peace is a Roman Catholic parish in New Port Richey, Florida, in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, serving roughly 2,000 families on Florida's Gulf Coast. Since its founding in 1913, it has grown from a small mission served by a Benedictine priest who traveled from St. Leo Abbey into a multi-Mass, multi-ministry community offering worship in English and Spanish, a teen Mass, faith formation for all ages, and outreach such as the New Beginnings ESL and citizenship program. The parish describes its worship space as a 'magnificent Church adorned with colorful stained glass entrance doors, windows, Carillon Tower, Stations of the Cross and the Doves of Peace,' and was led for many years by pastor Father Sebastian Earthedath, M.S.T.
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- Our Lady Queen of Peace (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title 'Queen of Peace')
- Rector
- Rev. Sebastian Earthedath, M.S.T.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Petersburg (West Pasco–Hernando Deanery, Pasco County)
Why belong here
Our Lady Queen of Peace is a multi-generational Catholic community that welcomes worshippers in both English and Spanish, with a weekly teen Mass, daily morning Masses, and Saturday confessions twice a day. Beyond the liturgy, the parish invests in formation for every stage of life — baptism classes, First Communion preparation, RCIA for adults, youth ministry, and ongoing faith formation — and its New Beginnings Ministry offers free English-language and American citizenship classes every Tuesday from October to May, helping immigrants integrate and build community. Add in parish social traditions like picnics, social dinners, a carnival, a golf tournament, and an annual pilgrimage, and the parish offers newcomers real spiritual, educational, and human connections.
Mass times at Our Lady Queen of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (noon)
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- By appointment (call the parish office at 727-849-7521)
Welcome & Mission Statement
The parish invites visitors to join 'a loving Community being present at our Eucharistic celebrations and other events' and to 'stay here in solitude to get blessings upon you and your family through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother.' Its mission statement reads: 'Formed by the Word of God, and nourished by the Sacraments, we the servant community of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church, blessed by our diversities, are bound in the Spirit by love, to reach out, respect, and embrace all people.'
Parish History
Our Lady Queen of Peace traces its roots to 1913, when Father Felix Ullrich, O.S.B., began riding in from St. Leo Abbey to offer Mass in the Casey family home in New Port Richey. The parish's first frame church was built on Washington Street in 1918–1919 and survived a hurricane in 1921 that literally lifted and rotated the building. In 1966 the parish moved to its present church on U.S. 19, and the Parish Center opened in 1980. For six decades the parish was administered by the Benedictines of St. Leo Abbey; the transition to direct diocesan administration occurred on June 10, 1975, with the appointment of Father Aiden Foynes as the first diocesan pastor.
- First Mass: 1913 in the Casey home
- First church: March 9, 1919 dedication
- 1921 hurricane damage and rebuild
- Present church: 1966 (dedicated January 15, 1967)
- Parish Center: opened 1980
- New priests' residence: 1983
Centennial & Pastoral Succession
The parish marked its 100th anniversary in 2013 and counted about 2,000 families at that milestone. Eleven Benedictine missionaries from St. Leo Abbey, followed by a succession of diocesan pastors, have led the parish over more than a century, with Father Sebastian Earthedath, M.S.T., serving as pastor since May 2009.
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The pastoral team is led by Father Sebastian Earthedath, M.S.T., pastor since 2009, and is assisted by two parochial vicars and several deacons who support the parish's bilingual and sacramental life.
- Rev. Sebastian Earthedath, M.S.T. — Pastor
- Rev. Joseph J. Kalarickal, M.S.T. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Saji James, M.S.T. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Deacon Eusebio 'Papo' Torres
- Rev. Deacon Felix Montañez
- Deacon Roger Lind (baptism liaison)
- Deacon Juan Valentin (Spanish baptism class)
Parish Staff
Lay staff support the day-to-day operations of the parish office, faith formation office, youth ministry, finances, and maintenance.
- Blanca Colon — Parish Manager
- Debbie Brosseau — Youth Ministry
- Debbie & Mark Clark — Faith Formation
- Hosvanni Marquez — Maintenance
- Randi Hodgson — Finance
Sacraments
The parish offers all seven sacraments and provides detailed preparation programs — including a required monthly baptism class (English) and a parallel Spanish baptism class — plus marriage preparation, First Communion for children (and adults via RCIA), Anointing of the Sick (offered communally on the first Monday after the 8:30 AM Mass, or anytime for those entering the hospital), and discernment guidance for vocations.
- Baptism of children: 3rd Friday baptism class at 6:00 PM in the Faith Formation Building; baptisms on the 4th Saturday at noon
- Baptism (Spanish): 2nd Friday of the month, 6:30 PM, Escuela de Religion — contact Deacon Juan Valentin (727) 372-6163
- First Holy Communion for children: second consecutive year of faith formation; contact Faith Formation (727) 842-9396
- Anointing of the Sick: communal blessing first Monday after 8:30 AM Mass; available on call for hospitals
- Reconciliation: Saturday and by appointment
- Marriage: contact the parish office
- Holy Orders: vocational discernment with Father Sebastian
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a faith formation program for children and adults rooted in the sacramental life of the Church. Sacramental preparation tracks are coordinated through the Office of Faith Formation at (727) 842-9396.
- Children's faith formation (Mark & Debbie Clark)
- First Holy Communion preparation for children
- RCIA for adults seeking Baptism, Communion, or Confirmation
- Youth Ministry (Debbie Brosseau)
- Baptism classes (English and Spanish)
New Beginnings Ministry (ESL & Citizenship)
Founded in 1998, New Beginnings offers free English-as-a-Second-Language classes and American citizenship preparation every Tuesday from October through May, ending with an annual Awards Ceremony. Volunteers teach alongside participating students, and in May 2024 over 100 people gathered at the parish to recognize students who completed the course or passed their citizenship exam.
- Weekly Tuesday classes, October–May
- ESL (English as a Second Language) tracks
- American Citizenship test prep — three students recognized at the 2024 ceremony: Luis Camejo (Venezuela), Claudia Kerr (Honduras), Kacem Mahammedi (Algeria)
- Volunteer director: Lenny Accardo
- Featured in Gulf Coast Catholic, 2024
Parish Life & Social Events
Under Father Sebastian, the parish sponsors recurring social events that have become parish traditions — a way for parishioners to gather beyond the liturgy and connect with one another.
- Social dinners
- Parish picnics
- Parish carnival
- Parish golf tournament
- Annual pilgrimage to Peace Hall
Architecture & Worship Space
The parish describes its current worship space as a 'magnificent Church' adorned with distinctive Catholic artwork and sacred features that have become visual signatures of the parish.
- Colorful stained-glass entrance doors
- Stained-glass windows
- Carillon Tower
- Stations of the Cross
- Doves of Peace
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (727) 849-7521 or [email protected]. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Faith Formation office can be reached at (727) 842-9396.
- Address: 5340 High Street, New Port Richey, FL 34652
- Phone: (727) 849-7521
- Fax: (727) 849-4814
- Office email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9–4; Fri 9–3
- Faith Formation: (727) 842-9396
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Felix Ullrich, O.S.B.1913–1932
Celebrated the first Mass in the area in 1913 in the Casey home; first pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace; served as a missionary from St. Leo Abbey.
- Rev. Paul Keegan, O.S.B.1932–1946
Took over when Fr. Felix became Spanish instructor at St. Leo College Preparatory School.
- Rev. Maurus Cook, O.S.B.1946–1950
Organized the town's first youth club, the interfaith 'Teen Canteen.' Left the parish to re-enlist in the Marines.
- Rev. Gerard Brady, O.S.B.1950–1952
Stayed two years.
- Rev. Aloysius Dressman, O.S.B.1952–1955 and again May 1957–September 1963
Returned for a second stint for a total of nine years; purchased ten acres on U.S. 19 in 1963 for the present church site.
- Rev. Vincent Crawford, O.S.B.1955 (Sep–Dec)
Short-term pastor.
- Rev. Bernard Weigl, O.S.B.1956 (Jun–May)
Short-term pastor.
- Rev. Benedict Weigand, O.S.B.1956 (Jun–Aug)
Short-term pastor.
- Rev. Ignatius McCarthy, O.S.B.Sep 1956–May 1957
Short-term pastor.
- Rev. Michael Leap, O.S.B.September 1, 1963 – June 10, 1975
Last Benedictine pastor; oversaw groundbreaking of the new church, its dedication in 1967, and major modernization of parish facilities.
- Rev. Aiden FoynesJune 10, 1975 – June 1993
First diocesan pastor; oversaw building of the Parish Center (1980) and the new priests' residence (1983).
- Rev. Gerald PowersJune 1993 – 1998
Successor pastor.
- Rev. Ken Slattery2003 – 2006
Pastor in the early 2000s.
- Rev. Sebastian Earthedath, M.S.T.May 2009 – present
Current pastor; led the parish into its centennial year (2013) and launched the New Beginnings ESL/citizenship ministry, social dinners, picnics, carnival, golf tournament, and pilgrimage to Peace Hall.