About Queen of Peace Catholic Church · Ocala, Florida
Queen of Peace Catholic Church is a Latin-rite Catholic parish in Ocala, Florida, in the Diocese of Orlando. Founded in 1984 as a small mission meeting at the West Marion Fire Station, it was formally established as Queen of Peace Parish in 1987 with Fr. Patrick J. O'Doherty as its founding pastor — a role he continues to hold. The parish is known for its cruciform church architecture, a full traditional Latin Mass schedule alongside the Ordinary Form, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and a notably large list of lay ministries and devotional groups.
- Established
- 1984 (first Mass; parish established May 1, 1987)
- Patron
- Mary, Queen of Peace
- Rector
- Father Patrick J. O'Doherty
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
Queen of Peace offers the full rhythm of Catholic life many seekers and transplanted Catholics long for: a daily Mass schedule (including a noon Mass Monday–Friday), a weekly Traditional Latin Mass, Saturday and Sunday Vigil Masses, multiple daily and Thursday confessions, and perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the parish Adoration Chapel. A unusually wide range of lay ministries — Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Secular Discalced Carmelites (Regina Pacis OCDS), Lay Dominicans, Troops of St. George, American Heritage Girls, Grief Support, Parish Nurse, Pro-Life, Prison Ministry, Filipino Ministry, Brothers Keeper, Ultreya, and more — means almost any parishioner can find a community of faith and service here. The parish is grounded in a clear mission: to pray for families, for those who have left the Church, for the salvation of souls, and for the care of the poor.
Mass times at Queen of Peace Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
- Saturday 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the parish Adoration Chapel (contact: Debra Prince, 352-873-0451)
- Morning Prayer Monday–Friday 7:15 a.m.
- Eucharistic Procession on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ (following the 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, then Benediction)
- Holy Hour for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — 7:00–8:00 p.m. (annually)
Parish Story & Founding
In a history written by the pastor himself, Father Patrick J. O'Doherty recounts that Queen of Peace traces its origin to October 21, 1984, when about 250 Catholics gathered at the West Marion Fire Station (Station 21) on State Road 200 in Ocala for their first Holy Mass. Within 21 days the name 'Queen of Peace' was chosen and approved by Bishop Thomas J. Grady. The community outgrew the borrowed space: ground was broken for an all-purpose building on December 8, 1985 (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, Queen of Peace), and Bishop Grady dedicated the building on December 12, 1986. On May 1, 1987 — the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker — Fr. O'Doherty was appointed pastor and the mission officially became Queen of Peace Parish. The parish's founding narrative has a recurring signature image: 'a great big silver wolf whose eyes flashed fire,' standing a short distance away watching everything unfold.
- First Mass: October 21, 1984 (West Marion Fire Station, Station 21)
- Name approved by Bishop Thomas J. Grady within 21 days
- Ground broken December 8, 1985; all-purpose building dedicated December 12, 1986
- Elevated from mission to parish on May 1, 1987 with Fr. Patrick J. O'Doherty as founding pastor
Mission Statement & Identity
The parish's published mission statement is succinct and prayerful: 'To pray for our families, for all who have left the church, for the salvation of our souls and for the care of the poor.' A second refrain runs through the parish's own writing — 'Jesus, I love you. Possess me. Jesus, we love you. Possess us.' — used on the website header and again in the About page's sign-off.
- Pray for our families
- Pray for all who have left the Church
- Pray for the salvation of souls
- Pray and care for the poor
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by two priests listed on the About page. Father Patrick J. O'Doherty, the founding pastor, remains in office and authored the parish's published history. Father Shenoy Thomas, M.C. (a Member of the Congregation of the Missions / Vincentians) serves as Associate Pastor. The office is open Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and can be reached at 352-854-2181 (fax 352-854-7840).
- Father Patrick J. O'Doherty — Pastor (founding pastor, 1987–present)
- Father Shenoy Thomas, M.C. — Associate Pastor
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Phone: 352-854-2181 | Fax: 352-854-7840
Architecture & Building
The parish church is deliberately cruciform in shape — a cross-shaped floor plan chosen to embody, in Father O'Doherty's words, 'a building whose very architecture would say, "If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, let him deny himself, take up his cross each day and follow in my footsteps."' The pastor describes the choice as especially meaningful for an older community that has borne 'the heat of the day and the night in good times and in bad.' He invokes Winston Churchill's epigram 'as we shape our buildings, likewise do our buildings shape us' as a prayer that the building and the community would 'shape you in the image of Jesus, the perfect image of the invisible God.'
- Style: cruciform (cross-shaped) traditional church
- All-purpose building dedicated by Bishop Thomas J. Grady on December 12, 1986
- Intended as visible gospel witness, not just decoration
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Registration forms for First Holy Communion and Confirmation are available in the administrative office or as a downloadable PDF from the parish Contact page. Parishioner registration forms are likewise available in the vestibules, the office, or online. Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick coordinate visits through Greg Purtill.
- First Holy Communion preparation (registration forms in office or downloadable PDF)
- Confirmation preparation (registration forms in office or downloadable PDF)
- Parish registration forms (vestibules, office, or downloadable PDF)
- Anointing / Communion to the sick via Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick
Parish Ministries & Lay Life
Queen of Peace lists an exceptionally wide range of lay ministries on its Ministries page — one of the largest such lineups of any parish website reviewed. They fall into liturgical service (Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans, Ushers, Music Ministry), spiritual/devotional life (Legion of Mary, Lay Dominicans, Secular Discalced Carmelites, Troops of St. George, Ultreya, Sacred Heart Enthronement, Sacrifice Beads, Rosary, Pilgrim Virgin Statue, Prayer Shawl, Perpetual Adoration), formation (Library, Benedictines, Hearts of the Holy Family Homeschool), pastoral care (Bereavement, Grief Support, Samaritans, Parish Nurse, Caregivers Support, Brothers Keeper, Prison Ministry, Ministers to the Sick), parish life (Coffee & Donut Ministry, Knights of Columbus, American Heritage Girls), evangelization and apologetics (Faith in Action, Catholic Core 33 Motorcycle Ministry, Arch Confraternity of St. Stephen), and life issues (Pro-Life, Natural Family Planning).
- Liturgical: Altar Servers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Sacristans, Ushers, Music Ministry
- Devotional: Legion of Mary, Lay Dominicans, Secular Discalced Carmelites, Troops of St. George, Ultreya, Sacred Heart Enthronement, Sacrifice Beads, Rosary, Pilgrim Virgin Statue, Prayer Shawl, Perpetual Adoration
- Pastoral Care: Bereavement, Grief Support, Samaritans, Parish Nurse, Brothers Keeper, Prison Ministry, Ministers to the Sick
- Community Life: Coffee & Donut, Knights of Columbus Council 9649, American Heritage Girls
- Outreach & Formation: Library, Faith in Action, Catholic Core 33 Motorcycle Ministry, NFP, Pro-Life, Filipino Ministry, Hearts of the Holy Family Homeschool
Secular Discalced Carmelites at Queen of Peace
The Regina Pacis OCDS Community, a Secular Discalced Carmelite group, hosts its monthly meeting at Queen of Peace on the first Saturday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Members first attend the 8:30 Mass, then gather in the chapel for Morning Prayer, followed by fellowship, a business meeting, and formation — currently a study of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Formation classes are then broken down by year. Contact Rosemary at 908-510-6027 for more information.
- Meets 1st Saturday of the month, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Begins with parish 8:30 Mass; Morning Prayer in the chapel; fellowship; community teaching; formation classes by year
- Current study: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Knights of Columbus Council 9649
The Knights of Columbus Council No. 9649 is chartered at Queen of Peace. The Council holds its monthly business meeting on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Church hall (Knights must show proof of current membership) and holds social meetings on the fourth Wednesday of most months. Activities are listed in the parish bulletin and on the Ministries page.
- Council No. 9649 at Queen of Peace
- Business meeting: 2nd Wednesday, 7:00 p.m., Church hall
- Social meeting: 4th Wednesday of most months
Music Ministry
Music at Queen of Peace is led by Director of Music Marianne Rozsahegyi. The choir serves through Pentecost Sunday and breaks for the summer (returning in September). The parish also publishes an Online Hymn Board on its website that updates with each weekend's hymn numbers so congregants can save the site to their phone and always have the music ready for Mass.
- Director of Music: Marianne Rozsahegyi
- Choir servers 9:30 a.m. Sunday Mass; summer break June–August
- Online Hymn Board lists each weekend's hymn numbers
Visit, Register & Contact
Queen of Peace is located at 6455 SW State Road 200, Ocala, FL 34476, with phone 352-854-2181 and fax 352-854-7840. The office is open Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. New parishioners can register by downloading the registration PDF, picking up a form in the vestibule, or visiting the office. First Communion and Confirmation registration forms are also available as a PDF from the Contact page. The parish also keeps parishioners alert to a recurring scam: text or email messages from people impersonating parish clergy or staff asking for gift cards or travel money — the Diocese of Orlando does not permit such solicitations by clergy, employees, or volunteers on parish behalf.
- Address: 6455 SW State Rd 200, Ocala FL 34476
- Phone: 352-854-2181 | Fax: 352-854-7840
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Parish registration PDF available on Contact page
- First Communion/Confirmation registration PDF available on Contact page
- Scam alert: parish never solicits gift cards or travel help via text/email
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Patrick J. O'DohertyMay 1, 1987 – present
Founding pastor, appointed on the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, 1987; remains pastor and has authored the parish's published history.