About Santo Toribio Romo Mission · Mascotte, Florida
Santo Toribio Romo Mission is a Catholic mission church located at 1043 East Myers Blvd in Mascotte, Florida, serving the western portion of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community based in nearby Clermont. It was established in 2008–2009 under the Diocese of Orlando and is named for Saint Toribio Romo González, the Mexican Cristero War martyr who is widely venerated as a patron of migrants. The mission reflects its namesake's special connection to the Hispanic community: weekend Masses are offered predominantly in Spanish, and the congregation includes many Mexican and Central American families in the Mascotte area.
- Established
- 2008
- Patron
- Saint Toribio Romo González
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Wajda
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
Santo Toribio Romo Mission welcomes Catholics from across Mascotte and western Lake County into a small, family-oriented mission community centered on the Eucharist and rooted in Hispanic Catholic devotion. Weekend Masses are offered in both English (Saturday 4:00 pm) and Spanish (Sunday 8:00, 10:00, and 12:00 noon), with additional Spanish Masses on First Fridays, weekly Adoration on Wednesdays and Fridays, and Saturday confessions. As part of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community, the mission shares in a wide range of parish ministries — including liturgical music, the Knights of Columbus, a Spanish-language prayer group (Jesús Amigo que da Vida), faith formation for children and youth, ministry to the sick and homebound, and outreach to the Lake Correctional Facility — making it an ideal place for Spanish-speaking and bilingual families to grow in faith together.
Mass times at Santo Toribio Romo Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm, or by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Friday 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Santo Toribio Romo Mission — A Parish of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community
Santo Toribio Romo Mission serves the Catholic community of Mascotte and the surrounding western Lake County area as a mission church of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community in Clermont. From its establishment in 2008–2009, the mission has provided a worship home for a growing bilingual and largely Hispanic Catholic population. Weekend Masses are offered in English (Saturday evening) and Spanish (three times on Sunday), with additional Spanish Masses on First Fridays and Holy Week liturgies celebrated in Spanish.
Founding and Early History
In January 2008, the Very Reverend Robert Webster became the seventh pastor of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community. One of his first assignments from the Diocese of Orlando was to oversee the construction of a new mission church in Mascotte to serve Catholics in the western portion of the parish territory. The first Mass at Santo Toribio Romo was celebrated on Christmas Eve, 2008 — a date chosen deliberately because it fell exactly 74 years to the day that Blessed Sacrament itself was first established as a Mission parish. The completed mission building was formally blessed by the Most Reverend Thomas Wenski, fourth Bishop of Orlando, on February 15, 2009.
- 2008 — First Mass at Santo Toribio Romo on Christmas Eve
- January 2008 — Fr. Robert Webster appointed seventh pastor of Blessed Sacrament
- February 15, 2009 — Mission building blessed by Bishop Thomas Wenski
- 2020 — Fr. Mark Wajda appointed Parochial Administrator of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community
- December 17, 2022 — Fr. Mark Wajda installed as pastor by Bishop John Noonan
Patron — Saint Toribio Romo González
The mission is named for Saint Toribio Romo González (April 16, 1900 – February 25, 1928), a Mexican Catholic priest killed during the anti-clerical persecutions of the Cristero War. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 22, 1992 and canonized on May 21, 2000 as one of the Martyrs of the Mexican Revolution. He is widely venerated as the patron of migrants, and is popularly believed to miraculously appear to Mexican migrants in danger as they cross into the United States — a devotion that makes Santo Toribio Romo Mission especially meaningful for its Spanish-speaking Catholic community in Mascotte.
- Born April 16, 1900 in Santa Ana de Guadalupe, Jalisco, Mexico
- Died February 25, 1928 (aged 27) during the Cristero War
- Canonized May 21, 2000 by Pope John Paul II
- Feast Day: May 21
- Patronage: Migrants
Clergy and Staff
Santo Toribio Romo Mission is served by the clergy of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community in Clermont. The current pastor is Rev. Mark Wajda, who was appointed Parochial Administrator in 2020 and installed as pastor by Bishop John Noonan on December 17, 2022. He is assisted by two parochial vicars, Rev. Juan Osorno and Rev. Roy Eco. Lay staff at the community level support Faith Formation, Hispanic Ministry, Worship, Communications, Facilities, and parish business operations.
- Rev. Mark Wajda — Pastor
- Rev. Juan Osorno — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Roy Eco — Parochial Vicar
- Barbara Hernandez — Administrative Assistant to the Pastor
- Chris Stalnaker — Director of Faith Formation
- Christine Palmer — Assistant Director of Faith Formation
- Sarita Rodriguez — Secretary, Faith Formation
- Teresa Quiñones — Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry
- Anthony Ransom — Director of Liturgy & Music
- Kaitlin Menner — Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Marie Messner — Secretary, Worship
- Luis Ortiz — Business Manager
- Sonia Medina — Facilities
- Gary Navarrete — Facilities
- Erin Lazenby — Assistant, Communications
- Pat Nielsen — Receptionist
Holy Week and Special Liturgies
Santo Toribio Romo is the site for the community's Spanish-language Holy Week celebrations. These include the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday, the Good Friday celebration of the Lord's Passion, and a Holy Week Procession followed by Eucharistic Adoration that continues until midnight.
- Holy Thursday — Mass of the Lord's Supper (Spanish) at Santo Toribio Romo
- Good Friday — Celebration of the Lord's Passion (Spanish) at Santo Toribio Romo
- Semana Santa Procession and Adoration following Mass — Adoration until midnight
Liturgical and Music Ministries
Music and liturgical service at the mission draw from a broader community of ensembles and lay ministers that serve both Blessed Sacrament in Clermont and Santo Toribio Romo in Mascotte.
- Spanish Choir — leads Spanish liturgies in traditional and contemporary Hispanic music; rehearses weekly
- Sanctuary Choir, Contemporary Ensemble, Schola Cantorum (Sunday 12:00 pm at main church)
- Cantor Program, Children's Choir, Resurrection Choir (funerals)
- Instrumentalists
- Altar Servers, Lectors, Sacristans, Ministers of Hospitality
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including to the Sick and Homebound)
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry
Faith Formation prepares children, youth, and families for the sacraments of First Eucharist, Confirmation, and ongoing discipleship. The ministry is supported by a Director, Assistant Director, and secretary and serves both English- and Spanish-speaking families of the community, including those at the Mascotte mission.
- Faith Formation for children and youth (English and Spanish)
- Sacramental preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation
- Youth Ministry (Kaitlin Menner, Youth Ministry Coordinator)
- RCIA — preparation for adults entering the Church, including through the Prison Ministry at Lake Correctional Facility
Parish Life, Hispanic Ministry, and Outreach
Beyond the sanctuary, the mission shares in a robust community life through Hispanic prayer groups, fraternal organizations, and outreach to those in need across Lake County.
- Hispanic Prayer Group 'Jesús Amigo que da Vida' — praise, prayer, and proclamation of the Word (Mondays 7:00 pm in Social Hall)
- Knights of Columbus — supports parish projects, Thanksgiving meals at Santo Toribio Romo Mission, JMJ Pregnancy Center, Special Olympics, and more
- Council of Catholic Women
- Welcome Ministry for new and returning parishioners
- Baptismal Volunteers (English and Spanish, Blessed Sacrament + Santo Toribio)
- Ministry to the Sick — visits nursing homes, assisted living, hospital, hospice, and homebound
- Prison Ministry — Lake Correctional Facility in Clermont (RCIA, counseling, spiritual guidance)
Parish Office and Contact
The mission's mailing address is 1043 East Myers Blvd, Mascotte, FL 34753. The parish phone line (352) 394-3562 rings at the main Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community office in Clermont (720 12th Street, Clermont, FL 34711), which is open Monday–Thursday 9:30 am–4:00 pm and Friday 9:30 am–12:30 pm. Most administrative and Faith Formation contacts are listed on the community website.
- Mission Address: 1043 East Myers Blvd, Mascotte, FL 34753
- Phone: (352) 394-3562
- Website: https://www.mybscc.org/
- Main Office: 720 12th Street, Clermont, FL 34711
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert Webster2008
Seventh pastor of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community; oversaw construction and founding of Santo Toribio Romo Mission in Mascotte.
- Rev. Mark Wajda2020–present
Appointed Parochial Administrator of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Community in 2020; installed as pastor on December 17, 2022 by Bishop John Noonan; shepherds both Blessed Sacrament in Clermont and the Santo Toribio Romo Mission.