About St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church · Apopka, Florida
St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Apopka, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Orlando. The parish was founded in 1962 as a mission of St. Mary of the Lake in Eustis and has grown from humble beginnings in local schools and a veterans' home into a thriving community serving about 200 families and beyond. Since July 2017, the parish has been served by the Vocationist Fathers (Society of Divine Vocations, S.D.V.), with a Parochial Administrator currently leading the community alongside a Parochial Vicar, three deacons, and a robust lay staff. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with daily Mass, multiple weekend Masses, perpetual-style Adoration, and a wide range of ministries spanning faith formation, food outreach, Scripture study, and devotional groups.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. Mathew Vettath Joseph, S.D.V. (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a welcoming, bilingual parish where English and Spanish speakers worship side by side, with daily Mass, multiple Sunday Masses in both languages, weekday Adoration, and Saturday confessions in English and Spanish. The community is grounded in faith formation for children and adults — from Catholic Youth Enrichment (Pre-K through 6th grade) and First Communion preparation, to RCIA, Little Rock Scripture Study, and a parish subscription to FORMED.org. Outreach is part of daily life here, with ministries like the Food Pantry, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Rosary Makers, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, and a Secular Franciscan Order that reflect a parish committed to serving both its neighbors and the broader Apopka community.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 pm – 4:45 pm (English)
- Saturday 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm (Spanish)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 12:00 pm (following the 8:00 am Mass)
- Youth and Young Adult Adoration — third Wednesday of the month, 7:30 pm, at San Pedro Spiritual Development Center, 95 Bishop Grady Lane, Winter Park, FL
History of St. Francis of Assisi Parish
St. Francis of Assisi Parish began in 1962 as a mission of St. Mary of the Lake in Eustis, FL. The first Masses were celebrated at Apopka Memorial High School in 1963, then at the Veterans Memorial Home on Park Avenue, where about 200 families worshipped until 1967, when the Apopka Catholic Mission of the Diocese of St. Augustine was built on Highway 441. The parish was named for St. Francis of Assisi, the medieval founder of the Franciscan movement, and has been staffed successively by diocesan priests, the Franciscans (OFM), and since 2017 the Vocationist Fathers (Society of Divine Vocations, SDV).
- 1962 — Mission founded from St. Mary of the Lake, Eustis
- 1963 — First Mass at Apopka Memorial High School with Fr. Michael McReynolds
- 1967 — Mission church built on Hwy. 441; Fr. Joseph P. Moran and Fr. Paul Couming assigned
- 1972 — Franciscan friars take over; parish named for St. Francis of Assisi
- 1974 — New rectory dedicated (now Parish Office)
- 1979 — Parish Center dedicated
- 1988 — Current church dedicated, seating ~630, set back from the highway
- October 8, 2017 — 50th Anniversary celebrated
- October 29, 2017 — Fr. Stephen Ehiahuruike, SDV, installed as pastor by Bishop John Noonan
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Vocationist Fathers of the Society of Divine Vocations (S.D.V.), alongside three deacons, an administrative assistant, maintenance staff, a Faith Formation coordinator, and a Director of Music.
- Fr. Mathew Vettath Joseph, S.D.V. — Parochial Administrator
- Fr. Ferdinandus Sadiman, S.D.V. — Parochial Vicar
- Dcn. Ruthven Jackie
- Dcn. Greg Kandra
- Dcn. George Torres
- Caroline McCauley — Administrative Assistant
- Mercedes Henry — Faith Formation
- Julie Campese — Director of Music
- Carmen Arzola & Gerardo Briones — Maintenance Staff
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Francis of Assisi spans children, youth, and adults through Catholic Youth Enrichment (CYE), sacramental preparation, the Baptismal Catechumenate for unbaptized adults, Inquiry for baptized Christians, and Sacramental Preparation for baptized Catholics seeking Communion and Confirmation. The parish also subscribes to FORMED.org for Catholic media in English and Spanish.
- Catholic Youth Enrichment (CYE) — Pre-K through 6th grade
- First Communion and Reconciliation — 2-year preparation for grades 2–12
- Baptismal Catechumenate (RCIA) — year-round process for unbaptized adults and older children
- Inquiry — for baptized Christians interested in Catholicism
- Sacramental Preparation for baptized Catholics (18+, out of high school)
- FORMED.org parish subscription (English and Spanish content)
Scripture Study for Adults
Adults have several ongoing opportunities to engage with Sacred Scripture at St. Francis of Assisi, including a weekly morning Scripture study, the Little Rock Scripture Study program, and various seasonal Bible-study topics offered throughout the year.
- Wednesday Morning Scripture Study — 9:00 am in the Faith Formation Building, Room #4
- Little Rock Scripture Study — Thursday evenings 7:00–8:30 pm, $20 fee
- Seasonal Bible studies such as 'Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible,' 'Eucharist,' and 'A Biblical Walk Through the Mass'
- 'Come and See' — Sunday mornings at 9:00 am (bilingual)
- FORMED.org independent or blended study
Parish Ministries & Organizations
A wide range of lay-led ministries serve the spiritual, charitable, and community life of the parish, including prayer, service, fellowship, and cultural groups. The parish website lists contact leaders for each ministry.
- Knights of Columbus — Joe Chessa
- Council of Catholic Women — Kathy Leigh
- Secular Franciscan Order — Anne Larsen
- Legion of Mary — Clarcienne Prosper
- Rosary Makers & Prayer Shawl Ministry — Sandy Bove
- Prayer Chain Ministry — Kathy Leigh
- Food Pantry — Paulette Chessa
- Grupo Renovación Carismática — Juan Carrillo
- Coro del Domingo (Spanish choir) — Minerva Colon
- Lectores (Spanish lectors) — Antonia Lopez
- English Lectors — Susan Densmore
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Ed Conway
- Altar Servers — Melinda St. Germain
- Ministers of Hospitality
- Talleres de Oración y Vida — Lili Matta
- Movimiento Juan XXIII — Jose Quen
- Filipino Community – San Lorenzo — Joselito Tolentino
- Gift Store — Ana Membreño
- Building & Facilities — Raymond Bradick
- Finance Committee — David Branson
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
St. Francis of Assisi welcomes those exploring the Catholic faith through the Baptismal Catechumenate (a year-round process for the unbaptized), Inquiry for baptized Christians from other traditions, and Sacramental Preparation for baptized Catholics seeking to complete their initiation through Holy Communion and Confirmation.
- Baptismal Catechumenate — for unbaptized adults, teens, and older children
- Inquiry — for baptized Christians (18+, out of high school) curious about Roman Catholicism
- Sacramental Preparation — for baptized Roman Catholics seeking Holy Communion and Confirmation
Office Hours & Practical Information
Parish office hours and Faith Formation office hours are published on the parish website. The office closes for lunch midday on weekdays.
- Parish Office: Monday–Thursday 8:30 am – 4:00 pm; Friday 8:30 am – 3:30 pm; closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 pm
- Faith Formation Office: Tuesday–Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Address: 834 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka, FL 32703
- Phone: (407) 886-4602
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael McReynolds1963
Celebrant of the first Masses as a mission of St. Mary of the Lake, Eustis
- Fr. Thadeus McHugh
Served the growing mission community
- Fr. William Trainer
Also pastor of St. Mary of the Lake, Eustis
- Fr. Joseph P. Moran1967–1972
Assigned when the Apopka Catholic Mission was built on Hwy. 441
- Fr. Paul Couming1967–1972
Served alongside Fr. Moran
- Fr. Arthur Butler, OFM1972–
First Franciscan pastor; parish named for St. Francis of Assisi
- Fr. Finian Riley, OFM1972–
Migrant ministry of the Diocese of Orlando, served English and Spanish-speaking communities
- Fr. Thomas J. Burns, OFM1979–February 1989
Became pastor after one year as assistant; oversaw 1988 church dedication; appointed pastor of All Souls, Sanford
- Fr. Stephen Ehiahuruike, SDVOctober 29, 2017–
First Vocationist pastor; installed by Bishop John Noonan
- Fr. Mathew Vettath Joseph, SDV
Appointed Parochial Vicar in 2017 with the Vocationists; currently serving as Parochial Administrator