About St. Lawrence · Bushnell, Florida
St. Lawrence Parish is a bilingual Catholic community in Bushnell, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Orlando. Originally founded in 1954 as a mission of St. Paul Church in Leesburg, it became an independent canonical parish in 1981 and today celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish. The parish is known locally as the 'little red church' and serves Catholics across Sumter County, including an active prison outreach at the Sumter County Correctional Institution.
- Established
- 1954 (as a mission); raised to parish status in 1981
- Patron
- St. Lawrence
- Rector
- Fr. Waldemar Maciag
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
St. Lawrence welcomes Catholics across Sumter County with Mass in both English and Spanish, an active Hispanic Ministry, and a strong Prison Ministry that has served the Sumter County Correctional Institution for decades. The parish offers faith formation for children, teens, and adults — including OCIA-style preparation for those seeking to become Catholic — alongside ministries for lectors, altar servers, Eucharistic ministers, music, ushers, and the Altar Society. For parishioners and visitors alike, it is a small, multigenerational community where the 'little red church' has grown from a 54-person mission into a 425-seat parish rooted in hospitality and outreach.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Before Mass on Mass days
- By appointment
Parish History
St. Lawrence traces its roots to 1954, when Father Gerard Manning of St. Paul Church in Leesburg gathered seven Catholics in Sumter County to form a 'Catholic study group.' By 1955 the group had grown enough that Father Manning celebrated the first Mass in a Bushnell office building, with 54 people attending. For years the mission was tended by the priests of St. Paul and by three beloved retired priests all named Joseph — the 'Father Joes.' Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley of St. Augustine dedicated the frame, redwood-sided mission church on Highway 301 — the 'little red church' — on May 13, 1960, with 150 congregants and Father Louis J. Bentivoglio present. In 1981 Bishop Thomas J. Grady raised St. Lawrence to a canonical parish and appointed Rev. Andrew Wawrzycki as its first pastor on August 18, 1981. Bishop Grady returned on January 25, 1987, to dedicate a 7,500-square-foot parish center, and from 2017 to 2018 the original chapel was renovated: walls were moved, the sanctuary extended (seating grew from 350 to 425), the kitchen removed, and a new sacristy added.
- 1954 — Mission founded under St. Paul, Leesburg
- 1955 — First Mass celebrated in Bushnell, 54 in attendance
- 1960 — 'Little red church' dedicated by Archbishop Hurley
- 1981 — St. Lawrence becomes a canonical parish; first pastor Fr. Andrew Wawrzycki
- 1987 — 7,500 sq ft parish center dedicated by Bishop Grady
- 2017–2018 — Sanctuary expanded and renovated
Weekday Mass and Holy Days
Weekday Masses are celebrated at 8:30 AM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the First Friday of the month. Christmas has two special schedules: a Vigil Mass on December 24 at 6:00 PM, and Christmas Day Masses at 10:00 AM (English) and 4:00 PM (Spanish).
- Tuesday 8:30 AM
- Thursday 8:30 AM
- 1st Friday 8:30 AM
- December 24 Vigil: 6:00 PM
- December 25: 10:00 AM English / 4:00 PM Español
Faith Formation
St. Lawrence offers a complete Faith Formation program spanning childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, including preparation for those seeking to become Catholic. The parish emphasizes that for all sacraments the family must be registered at the parish. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is a two-year process, and registration takes place during July and August.
Children's Faith Formation & Sacraments
Children's Faith Formation at St. Lawrence includes preparation for Baptism, First Reconciliation, and First Communion. The two-year First Communion program integrates First Reconciliation, and registration is open each July–August. The parish stresses that family registration is a prerequisite for all sacraments.
- Baptism preparation (class and registration form required)
- First Holy Communion (two-year program)
- First Reconciliation (part of First Communion program)
- Family must be registered parishioners
Teen and Adult Faith Formation
Faith Formation for teens and adults runs alongside the children's program, and the parish hosts an inquiry process ('Why Become Catholic?') for adults seeking to enter the Catholic Church. Ana Garcia is listed as the parish contact for Faith Formation inquiries.
- Faith Formation for Teens
- Faith Formation for Adults
- Why Become Catholic? (RCIA / OCIA inquiry)
- Contact: Ana Garcia
Parish Ministries
Parish life at St. Lawrence is shaped by ministries that serve the liturgy, the parish community, and the wider Sumter County area. Coordinators staff each ministry, and many — including the Prison Ministry — reach well beyond the parish campus.
Liturgical Ministries
Volunteers serve the Masses as lectors, altar servers, ushers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and members of the Music Ministry and Altar Society. Coordinators for each ministry are listed on the parish staff page.
- Lectors — Jean Wilson
- Altar Servers
- Ushers — John Holmes
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Jennifer Landry
- Music Ministry
- Altar Society & Sacristan — Kathleen Martin
Hispanic Ministry
St. Lawrence's Hispanic Ministry is led by Sandro Reyna and serves the Spanish-speaking Catholic community in Bushnell and surrounding areas. The parish celebrates a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish at 2:00 PM, as well as a Spanish Christmas Day Mass at 4:00 PM, in addition to sacramental and formation support.
- Coordinator: Sandro Reyna
- Spanish Sunday Mass: 2:00 PM
- Christmas Day Spanish Mass: 4:00 PM
Prison Ministry
Outreach to the Sumter County Correctional Institution began during the early years of the parish and continues today as one of its defining works of mercy. Kathleen Martin coordinates both the Prison Ministry and the Altar Society.
- Outreach at the Sumter County Correctional Institution
- Coordinator: Kathleen Martin
- A continuing ministry since the parish's early decades
Clergy, Staff & Contacts
The parish is led by Fr. Waldemar Maciag as Pastor, supported by a team of volunteer coordinators and a small office staff. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and pastoral emergencies are handled through the main phone line.
- Pastor: Fr. Waldemar Maciag
- Receptionist/Secretary: Mollie Wiegand
- Maintenance Supervisor: John Rouse
- Lector Coordinator: Jean Wilson
- Religious Education Coordinator: Jean Wilson
- Altar Society, Sacristan & Prison Ministry Coordinator: Kathleen Martin
- EMHC Coordinator: Jennifer Landry
- Ushers Ministry Coordinator: John Holmes
- Hispanic Ministry: Sandro Reyna
- Faith Formation contact: Ana Garcia
Visit, Contact, and Office Hours
St. Lawrence invites visitors to come and find them at 320 E Dade Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513. The parish office is open Monday–Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; the office phone is (352) 793-7788 and the fax line is (352) 793-4787. A 'Become a Parishioner' link on the contact page invites newcomers to register with the parish.
- Address: 320 E Dade Ave, Bushnell, FL 33513
- Phone: (352) 793-7788
- Fax: (352) 793-4787
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Emergencies: (352) 793-7788
- Online 'Become a Parishioner' registration
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Gerard Manning1954–early mission years
Pastor of St. Paul Church in Leesburg who organized the original 'Catholic study group' of seven Catholics in Sumter County and celebrated the first Mass in Bushnell in 1955.
- Rev. Andrew WawrzyckiAugust 18, 1981 –
First pastor of St. Lawrence after it became a canonical parish under Bishop Thomas J. Grady in 1981.