St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church

About St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church

St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in southeast Orlando, part of the Diocese of Orlando. The parish's mission is to meet the spiritual, social, and educational needs of the community as a unifying force of the Lord Jesus Christ, embracing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit to mold parishioners into a community centered on God, prayer, and compassion. Its vision is to become a thriving center of worship, service, and fellowship — a nurturing community dedicated to outreach and care, providing a gathering place that embodies the presence of Jesus Christ in the world. The parish credits its special character to the diversity, sense of belonging, and ownership of its people, who continue to distinguish St. Isaac Jogues as a vibrant Catholic force in Central Florida.

Our History

Founded in May 1987 to serve the growing population of southeast Orange County, St. Isaac Jogues has grown from 100 founding families to more than 5,000 today. The parish has been shaped by five pastors — founding pastor Father Robert Hoeffner (1987–1998), Father Robert Markunas (1999–2003), Father J. Fernando Gil, J.C.D. (2003–2005), Father Jose Muñoz (2005–2021), and current pastor Father José Bautista (2021–present) — each leaving a distinct mark on parish life.

• 1987 — Parish established by Bishop Thomas Grady; first Masses celebrated in a VFW building on South Goldenrod Road
• 1988 — Worship moves to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, then to another building now used for child care; first Spanish Mass celebrated
• 1990 — Parish hall with chapel and terrace opens on South Chickasaw Trail
• 1993 — Parish hall expanded with conference rooms and an outdoor pavilion
• 1996 — Parish administration building construction begins
• May 14, 2005 — Bishop Thomas G. Wenski dedicates the new church building
• 2014 — New altar and choir platforms built in the church
• June 2021 — Father José Bautista welcomed as fifth pastor

St. Isaac Jogues — Our Patron

Isaac Jogues was born in 1607 in Orléans, France, and joined the Society of Jesus in 1624. After his ordination in 1636, he was sent at his own request to the missions of New France, and with fellow Jesuit Charles Raymbault was one of the first Europeans to travel as far inland as Sault Ste. Marie on Lake Superior. In 1642 he was captured, tortured, and mutilated by Mohawks; he was later freed by Dutch traders and taken to New Amsterdam (which would become New York), making him the first Catholic priest to visit that city. After recovering in France he returned to the missions in 1644, but in the autumn of 1646 was again captured by a band of Mohawks and martyred on October 18, 1646. He was beatified by Pope Pius XI on June 21, 1925 and canonized on June 29, 1930 as one of the eight North American Martyrs. The parish celebrates his feast day on October 19.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation at St. Isaac Jogues is described as a lifelong process that incorporates the catechetical, liturgical, and pastoral ministries. The parish runs programs for every age and stage, supported by a hybrid model of virtual, on-site, and family sessions, and uses the Loyola Press Finding God / Encontrando a Dios curriculum for grades K–8. Sacramental Catechesis is treated as a separate process from general religious education and is offered for Reconciliation, Holy Communion, and Confirmation.

• P.R.E.P. (Parish Religious Education Program) for pre-K through 8th grade
• Youth Ministry for 9th–12th grade (meets Sun 7:00–9:00 p.m. in the Social Hall)
• Young Adult Ministry — focused on spiritual formation, vocational discernment, and peer leadership
• Adult Faith Formation using the Symbolon program
• Special Needs / Disabilities faith formation
• Hybrid format: virtual sessions, on-site sessions, and family sessions

Sacramental Preparation

Sacramental Catechesis is a process of conversion into Christ for each person and the entire parish community. From September through May, dynamic speakers lead the process with activities and reflections designed to include the whole family. Presentations and materials are bilingual, and parents and students are expected to attend regularly. There are four sessions for Reconciliation, four for Eucharist, and six for Confirmation, with a mandatory orientation before sessions begin.

• First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — Loyola Press God's Gift program, on-site sessions
• Confirmation Preparation — 'Confirmed in the Spirit' bilingual program by Loyola Press, multimedia + on-site sessions
• Baptism Classes for Parents & Godparents of Infants — held in English and Spanish
• RCIA / Catechumenate for adults and children age 7+ (Inquiry, formation, preparation for Baptism/Confirmation/Eucharist at the Easter Vigil)
• Adults seeking to complete the sacraments of initiation (Confirmation, Eucharist) welcomed year-round; contact Mike Baker

Liturgical Ministries

Parishioners of all ages serve at the altar and around the liturgy in a wide range of capacities. These ministries help the parish sustain its bilingual Mass schedule and reverent worship.

• Altar Servers
• Art & Environment
• Audiovisual Ministry
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
• Hospitality (Greeters / Ushers)
• Lectors
• Music Ministry
• Sacristans
• St. Therese's Guild (Sacred Linen)

Community Outreach & Pastoral Care

St. Isaac Jogues carries out an active mission of charity and pastoral care, both within the parish and to the wider Central Florida community. Outreach ministries serve the food-insecure, the bereaved, the imprisoned, those with disabilities, those seeking employment, and the most vulnerable neighbors. Pastoral care ministries accompany the sick and grieving, and special-needs ministry extends formation and fellowship to parishioners with disabilities.

• Food Pantry — distributes parish-donated non-perishable food to those in need in the area
• Community Service Ministry — connects parishioners with organizations supporting vulnerable populations
• Bereavement Ministry
• Ministry to the Sick
• Prison Ministry
• Special Needs / Disabilities Ministry
• Job Ministry
• Culture of Life
• New Beginnings — Spanish-language support group for separated, divorced, and widowed
• Parish Event Logistics

Pastoral Movements & Spiritual Growth

The parish hosts a number of Catholic movements and prayer communities that accompany parishioners in deeper spiritual formation and lifelong discipleship.

• Cursillos
• Emmaus / Emaús
• Juan XXIII
• Renovación Carismática
• Renovación Conyugal
• Talleres de Oración y Vida
• Prayer Groups
• Compass Catholic Ministries

Support & Social Groups

Beyond outreach and formation, St. Isaac Jogues fosters fellowship and mutual support through a variety of social and support groups, with special attention to seniors, women, and those navigating recovery from addiction or loss of a spouse.

• Knights of Columbus
• Women's Guild — meets the third Monday of the month, 7:00 p.m., parish hall rooms 1 & 2
• Generación de Oro (seniors)
• Seniors' Fellowship (ages 55+) — social and religious activities, monthly luncheons
• Theater Ministry — performs plays for Christmas, Holy Week, and other parish celebrations
• Alcoholics Anonymous — meets Mondays and Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. in Modular A on parish property
• New Beginnings — Spanish support group for separated, divorced, and widowed

Parish Stewardship

St. Isaac Jogues frames stewardship as a way of life rooted in gratitude — recognizing that all one possesses (time, talent, and treasure) is a gift from God to be received gratefully, cultivated responsibly, shared lovingly in justice, and returned with increase to the Lord. Parishioners are invited to commit Time, Talent, and Treasure through dedicated commitment forms available on the parish website.

• TIME — offering one's time to God through prayer, Mass, and serving others
• TALENT — grateful and sacrificial use of God-given abilities to serve others and build up the Church
• TREASURE — intentional, responsible management of financial and material resources
• Stewardship Committee, Construction Committee, Finance Committee, Retreats Committee, Patron Feast Committee

Our Staff & Clergy

The parish is served by a bilingual pastoral team led by Father José Bautista, who became St. Isaac Jogues' fifth pastor in June 2021. Father Enrique Guerra, originally from Venezuela and ordained in 2007 in the Archdiocese of Barquisimeto, serves as Parochial Vicar. Five permanent deacons — Nelson Garcia, Joselito Rodriguez, Peter McCarthy, and Felix Hernandez (among them) — assist with parish life. Lay staff support parish operations, faith formation, liturgy, and the front office.

• Rev. José Bautista, JCL — Pastor (ordained 1991 by Bishop Norbert Dorsey; from Colombia; previously Director of the Hispanic Ministry Office 2001–2006)
• Rev. Enrique Guerra — Parochial Vicar (ordained 2007, Archdiocese of Barquisimeto, Venezuela)
• Deacon Nelson Garcia, Deacon Joselito Rodriguez, Deacon Peter McCarthy, Deacon Felix Hernandez
• Mike Baker — Parish Operations Manager ([email protected], (407) 792-4808)
• Jorge Coriano — Parish Secretary ([email protected], 407-792-4893)
• Marisol Ortiz — Office Clerk ([email protected])
• Rosanna Cuello — Liturgy Office Secretary ([email protected], (407) 792-4789)
• Ms. Luz (Luly) Jusino — Director of Faith Formation ([email protected], 407-792-4591)

Getting Involved

St. Isaac Jogues invites parishioners and newcomers to register with the parish, participate in the many ministries listed above, and commit to the parish through Time, Talent, and Treasure. The parish encourages everyone to take the next step from attending Mass to belonging to a community of faith and service.

• Parish Registration via the parish office / website
• Sign up for a ministry — many groups list ministry contacts and meeting times on the website
• Complete a Commitment of TIME, TALENT, or TREASURE form
• Join a Prayer Group, Retreat (Cursillo, Emmaus), or Faith Formation class
• Contact the parish office at (407) 249-0906 for more information