About San Pedro Spiritual Development Center · Winter Park, Florida
San Pedro Spiritual Development Center is a Catholic retreat and conference center in Winter Park, Florida, situated on more than 200 acres of protected Florida wetlands on the shore of Lake Howell. Operated as a ministry of the Diocese of Orlando, it welcomes individuals, families, parish groups, and corporate teams for day visits, overnight retreats, conferences, and youth summer camp. Its mission is 'to nourish the spiritual life of persons seeking to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, reflection, education, and the pursuit of gospel values.' Daily and Sunday Mass is offered in the on-site Mary, Mother of God Chapel, and the campus also hosts the Emmaus independent living community for retired diocesan priests.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- St. Peter (San Pedro)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
San Pedro is a peaceful 200+ acre refuge on Lake Howell designed to help people slow down and encounter God. Whether you join a weekend retreat (Franciscan, Holy Week silent, women's, Lectio Divina, or a Eucharistic Cenacle with the Servants of the Pierced Hearts), a private silent retreat, a youth summer camp week, or simply daily Mass at 7:30 am or Sunday Mass at 10:00 am in the Mary, Mother of God Chapel, the center offers space, prayer, and Franciscan hospitality. Its programs serve every age — from elementary campers to retired seniors — and its staff provides a full guest experience with 48 rooms, dining, a low ropes course, walking trails, and a gift shop, all a short drive from Orlando.
Mass times at San Pedro Spiritual Development Center
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available by arrangement — please check with the Administration Office for additional Masses and confession times (Diocese of Orlando listings mention confession periods around scheduled events).
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration is offered as part of the monthly Eucharistic Cenacle on First Fridays with the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary in the Mary, Mother of God Chapel.
History of San Pedro Center
San Pedro traces its roots to a 1955 land purchase by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley on the shore of Lake Howell, was dedicated as a diocesan summer camp in 1960, and was transformed into a year-round spiritual development center under Bishop Thomas J. Grady beginning in the mid-1970s. Franciscan Friars T.O.R. arrived in 1979 to administer the property, and the chapel, conference facilities, and priests' cemetery were added in the early 1990s. The center has been renovated continuously, with the final 1960s-era building (St. Anthony of Padua Hall) completed in early 2021.
- 1955 — Archbishop Hurley buys Lake Howell land
- 1960 — Camp San Pedro dedicated
- 1961–1962 — Houses Operation Pedro Pan Cuban children
- 1976 — Approved as diocesan spiritual development center
- 1979 — Franciscan Friars T.O.R. arrive
- 1984 — Renamed 'San Pedro Center'
- 1992 — Mary, Mother of God Chapel and priests' cemetery dedicated
- 2005/2008 — Hurricane damage and rebuild
- 2021 — Final renovation of St. Anthony of Padua Hall
Mission & Vision
San Pedro's mission is to nourish the spiritual life of persons seeking to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, reflection, education, and the pursuit of gospel values. Its vision, as a ministry of the Diocese of Orlando, is to form disciples and teach a life of constant conversion through prayer, retreats, education, hospitality, and the exploration of God's gift of creation on these sacred grounds.
- Mission: prayer, reflection, education, gospel values
- Vision: disciples and constant conversion through prayer, retreats, education, hospitality, and creation
Retreats & Programs
San Pedro offers a full calendar of seasonal and themed retreats — including Franciscan weekends, a silent Holy Week retreat, a Lenten Lectio Divina retreat, a Life in the Eucharist retreat with Fr. George Dunne SSS, a women's creative-prayer retreat, and a 'Come & Rest' mental health retreat — alongside private individual retreats, group and parish retreats, virtual offerings, and printable Bible studies.
- Franciscan Weekend Retreat
- Silent Holy Week Retreat: 'Remain Here With Me'
- Lent Weekend Retreat: 'Come Back To Me With All Your Heart'
- Life In The Eucharist Retreat with Fr. George Dunne, SSS
- Women's Retreat: The Art of Prayer
- Come & Rest: A Mental Health Retreat
- Private / individual retreats
- Virtual retreats and printable Bible studies
Summer Scripture Camp
San Pedro Scripture Camp has been welcoming young campers since 1960. Its week-long program builds a community rooted in faith, fun, and friendships, designed for both first-time and returning campers who want a 'home away from home.'
- Week-long summer sessions
- Open to first-time and returning campers
- Running every summer since 1960
Facilities & Grounds
The campus features 48 well-appointed guest rooms, five conference spaces, a full dining room, two multi-use halls, the Mary, Mother of God Chapel, walking paths, a prayer labyrinth, and 90 acres of developed land within 200+ acres of protected Florida wetlands. Amenities include a low ropes course, a Closer Walk meditative trail, lake access with docks, volleyball courts, a soccer field, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
- 48 guest rooms
- 5 conference spaces
- Mary, Mother of God Chapel
- Low ropes course
- Closer Walk 1/3-mile prayer trail
- Lake Howell access with docks
- Volleyball courts and soccer field
- Complimentary Wi-Fi (network: San Pedro TRS-guest)
- Prayer labyrinth
- Two multi-use halls
Emmaus — Homes for Retired Priests
The Emmaus community is an independent living neighborhood for retired priests of the Diocese of Orlando, built on the San Pedro grounds beginning in 2021. Phase one delivered five duplexes and a community area, with ten more units planned for a total of 15 fully furnished, 1,015-square-foot one-bedroom homes (each with porch and carport). Residents participate in San Pedro's sacramental life — daily Mass, Adoration, and Reconciliation — and the San Pedro staff provides housekeeping, maintenance, and security.
- 15 planned one-bedroom homes (5 in phase one)
- 1,015 sq ft with porch and carport
- Walking distance to Mary, Mother of God Chapel
- Open to diocesan retired priests
Gift Shop & Visitor Amenities
The on-site gift shop carries statuary, rosaries, books, jewelry, sacramentals, and other Catholic gifts. The center is open seven days a week, with office hours Monday–Sunday 8:00 am – 4:30 pm and gift shop hours Monday–Sunday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout, and additional towels, linens, and supplies can be requested at the front desk.
- Statuary, rosaries, books, jewelry, sacramentals
- Open daily 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- Front-desk guest support
Giving & Support
San Pedro's faith-based programs and retreats for all ages — from elementary children through retired seniors — are sustained through the generosity of donors. The 'Friends of Distinction' giving program invites supporters to underwrite the center's ongoing spiritual and hospitality mission.
- Friends of Distinction giving program
- Online donation via sanpedrocenter.org
Visit, Contact & Practical Info
San Pedro Center is at 95 Bishop Grady Lane, Winter Park, FL 32792, a short drive from Orlando International Airport and within an hour of Orlando's major attractions. The office can be reached at (407) 671-6322, with an after-hours security line at (321) 303-2780. Private retreats and group bookings can be arranged through the Individual Retreat Request Form on the website.
- Address: 95 Bishop Grady Lane, Winter Park, FL 32792
- Office phone: (407) 671-6322
- After-hours: (321) 303-2780
- Open 7 days a week
- Group, conference, and private retreat bookings available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Hubert Reason1960s
First director of Camp San Pedro; oversaw construction of the original bunk houses and Main Hall and the launch of the youth summer camp.
- Bishop Thomas J. Grady1974–1990s
Second Bishop of Orlando; appointed the task force, chose San Pedro as the diocesan spiritual development center (1976), invited the Franciscan Friars T.O.R. to staff it, and dedicated the renamed 'San Pedro Center' in March 1984.
- Franciscan Friars, T.O.R.1979–present
Order invited by Msgr. Caverly and Bishop Grady to administer and staff the center; arrived February 1979.