About Prince of Peace Catholic Church · Ormond Beach, Florida
Prince of Peace Catholic Church is a welcoming, Eucharistic-centered Roman Catholic parish in Ormond Beach, Florida, serving the Volusia County coast as part of the Diocese of Orlando. Founded in 1966 and originally worshipping in a nearby skating rink, the parish built its first dedicated church in 1969 and moved into its present sanctuary in 1991, with the older church converted into a parish hall. Today the parish is home to roughly 1,800 registered member households, with Mass celebrated in English and Vietnamese, an active social services / food pantry ministry, the Like New Thrift Shop, youth and family life ministries, Eucharistic Adoration, and a growing Vietnamese Catholic community. The parish describes itself as committed to 'joyful discipleship and compassionate service,' sharing Christ's love through worship, outreach, and support.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Justin K. Vakko
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
Prince of Peace offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life — multiple weekend and weekday Masses in English plus a Vietnamese Mass on the 1st and 3rd Sundays — together with weekly Eucharistic Adoration, regular Reconciliation, a religious education program for children, a Youth Ministry, and a robust Family Life Ministry that supports parents and families. The parish is also well known for its hands-on outreach: a long-running Social Services / Food Pantry, the Like New Thrift Shop, and the on-campus Prince of Peace Villas senior housing make it a true community hub for Ormond Beach and the surrounding Volusia County coast. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic, a new arrival, considering becoming Catholic through RCIA, or a Vietnamese-speaking family, there is a clear place here to worship, serve, and belong.
Mass times at Prince of Peace Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday: 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
- Saturday: 9:30 am – 10:30 am
- And by appointment anytime (call 386-672-5272)
Adoration times
- Friday: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm (following the 5:30 pm Mass)
Welcome and Parish Identity
The parish describes itself as 'a welcoming, Eucharistic-Centered community committed to joyful discipleship and compassionate service.' Rooted in faith and prayer, Prince of Peace shares Christ's love through worship, outreach, and support. Its mission statement and homepage welcome invite visitors and returning parishioners alike into the life of the parish.
- Welcoming, Eucharistic-Centered community
- Committed to joyful discipleship and compassionate service
Our History
Founded in 1966 by decree of the Diocese of St. Augustine, the parish first worshipped in a nearby skating rink. Its first church was dedicated in 1969; the present church was completed in 1991 and the original church became the parish hall. The parish's long-running Social Services Ministry began in 1985, Prince of Peace Villas senior housing was added in 1996, and a new Like New Thrift Shop building opened in 2014. The 50th anniversary was celebrated in 2016, and the parish is now preparing for its 60th anniversary and the dedication of Mary's Peace Garden in 2026.
- Founded March 4, 1966 (Diocese of St. Augustine)
- First church dedicated 1969
- Present church completed 1991
- Prince of Peace Villas senior housing opened 1996
- Like New Thrift Shop building completed 2014
- 50th anniversary celebrated March 6, 2016
- 60th anniversary and Mary's Peace Garden dedication planned for March 15, 2026
Parish Staff
Behind the clergy, Prince of Peace is supported by a team of parish and ministry staff who keep the parish office, religious education, music, youth, social services, and maintenance running day to day.
- Helen Falkenberg — Operations Manager
- Carmen O'Reilly — Secretary & Church Environment
- Angela Vivolo — Receptionist & Bulletin
- Sr. Rose Urbanczyk — Director of Discipleship (DOD)
- Harry Wilson — Youth Minister
- Gretel Abad Ostrowski — Social Services
- George Bellefontaine — Director of Music Ministry
- Ray McGuire — Maintenance Supervisor
- Tom Akers — Maintenance Assistant
- Kathy Lowe — Maintenance Assistant
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish runs a year-round religious education program for children, organized by Sr. Rose Urbanczyk, Director of Discipleship. Sessions begin each fall (the 2026–2027 program starts Sunday, September 13) and run alongside the 9:00 am Sunday Mass, with classes from 10:15 to 11:15 am in the Religious Education / Parish Office building. The program embraces 'three Fs: Fun, Friendly, and Faithful to authentic Catholic Doctrine and Tradition.'
- Children's Religious Education — VPK through 5th grade
- PowerUp — Religious Education for Middle Grades (6th–8th)
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation
- Become Catholic — RCIA for adults
Youth, Family Life, and Music
Beyond religious education, the parish supports its younger members and families through dedicated ministries. The Youth Ministry, led by Youth Minister Harry Wilson, gathers the parish's middle and high schoolers, while the Family Life Ministry supports and nurtures families 'so that they may strengthen and grow in their faith through the grace of our Lord.' Music Ministry, led by Director of Music George Bellefontaine, supports the parish's Eucharistic-centered worship. A Moms Ministry also provides community for mothers in the parish.
- Youth Ministry (Harry Wilson, Youth Minister)
- Family Life Ministry
- Moms Ministry
- Music Ministry (George Bellefontaine, Director)
Outreach: Social Services, Food Pantry, and Like New Thrift Shop
Since 1985, Prince of Peace's Social Services Ministry has been a frontline safety net for Ormond Beach, Holly Hill, and unincorporated Volusia County, providing food, temporary shelter vouchers, clothing, bus fares, prescriptions, diapers, and financial assistance to tens of thousands of people in need. The on-campus Food Pantry distributes meals and groceries, and the Like New Thrift Shop (Link New Thrift Store) — housed in its own building since 2014 — helps fund the ministry through sales of donated goods. Gretel Abad Ostrowski coordinates Social Services for the parish.
- Social Services Ministry since 1985
- Food Pantry
- Like New Thrift Shop (own building completed 2014)
- Partnered with Helping Hands on volunteer meal-packaging
- On-campus Prince of Peace Villas senior housing (since 1996)
Sacraments and Devotions
In addition to the regular Mass schedule, the parish celebrates the sacrament of Reconciliation weekly and by appointment, and offers Eucharistic Adoration every Friday evening as a Holy Hour following the 5:30 pm Mass. Arrangements for Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and other sacraments are made through the Parish Office. Adults interested in becoming Catholic are invited into the parish's 'Become Catholic' RCIA process.
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Eucharistic Adoration (Friday evenings)
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — by arrangement through the Parish Office
- RCIA — 'Become Catholic'
Mary's Peace Garden and Campus
A new 6,000-square-foot Mary's Peace Garden is under construction adjacent to the church on Nova Road. Its main feature is a 170-foot-long, cross-shaped concrete paver plaza, surrounded by extensive landscaping, intended as a place for outdoor Marian events, parish services, prayer, and reflection. The garden is funded by a generous bequest from a parishioner, additional donations, and support from the Vietnamese Catholic community, and is scheduled for dedication on Sunday, March 15, 2026 — the same day the parish celebrates its 60th anniversary.
- Mary's Peace Garden — ~6,000 sq ft, cross-shaped paver plaza (170 ft long)
- Adjacent to the church on Nova Road
- Funded by a parishioner bequest, donations, and the Vietnamese Catholic community
- Dedication planned March 15, 2026, with Bishop John Noonan
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Garcia1966 (founding)
First pastor of the parish, remembered fondly by founding families.
- Fr. Bill Zamborskyserved as pastor by 2016
Wrote the 50th-anniversary reflection on the parish's history; described as 'previous Pastor.'
- Rev. Justin K. Vakkoappointed August 2021; incardinated into Diocese of Orlando April 3, 2023
Originally from Cochin, Kerala, India; former Discalced Carmelite; ordained Dec. 28, 1998; previously served in India and in Orlando-area parishes in Winter Haven, Longwood, Orlando, and Ocala; celebrated his Silver Jubilee of ordination in April 2023.