About St. Rose of Lima · Milton, Florida
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 6451 Park Avenue in Milton, Florida, in Santa Rosa County. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee and serves a bilingual community, celebrating Mass in English and Spanish, with an additional weekly Mass offered for military personnel at Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The parish traces its roots to 1883, when the original mission community (St. Ann's in nearby Bagdad) was first established, and was dedicated in its present Park Avenue church in 1992. Today the parish identifies its mission around three goals: Forming Disciples, Inviting Others to the Faith, and Disciples in Action, supported by an active schedule of Masses, Reconciliation, First Friday Adoration, daily Rosary, faith formation, and outreach ministries such as the Ladies Society and Knights of Columbus Council 7027.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- St. Rose of Lima
- Rector
- Reverend Monsignor Michael V. Reed, JCL
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee
Why belong here
St. Rose of Lima is a parish that lives its Catholic life in both word and sacrament. The faithful gather for daily Mass (including a Wednesday evening Mass), Saturday Vigil, four Sunday Masses (one of them in Spanish), Reconciliation every Saturday afternoon and on the first Monday of each month, First Friday Adoration ending in Benediction, and a daily Rosary prayed before each Mass. Parishioners grow together through Faith Formation, become Catholic through RCIA, and put their faith into action via the Ladies Society (Council of Catholic Women), Knights of Columbus Council 7027, the Bereavement, prison, hospital, and homebound ministries, and outreach programs such as Water for Life, support for refugees, and food and homelessness drives. It is a welcoming bilingual community in the heart of Milton that also reaches out to military families through a weekly Mass at NAS Whiting Field.
Mass times at St. Rose of Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (in the Chapel)
- First Monday of each month 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM (in the Chapel)
- By appointment (call the office at 850-623-3600)
Adoration times
- First Friday 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM (ending with Benediction at noon; no First Friday Adoration during Lent)
Mass and Worship Schedule
St. Rose of Lima offers a full schedule of weekend and daily Masses, with a Saturday Vigil, four Sunday Masses (one in Spanish), and daily Mass Monday through Friday plus a Wednesday evening Mass. The parish also takes the liturgy beyond its walls with a weekly Mass at Naval Air Station Whiting Field every Friday at 10:30 AM for military members and their families. A nursery is available at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 4:00 PM (English); 1:00 PM (Spanish)
- Daily Mass: Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 8:00 AM; Wednesday 7:00 PM
- Friday 10:30 AM Mass at NAS Whiting Field
Parish History and Heritage
St. Rose of Lima is the spiritual heir of Catholic worship in Santa Rosa County that stretches back to 1883, when St. Ann's mission church was built in Bagdad with contributions from local families. The Milton community grew under the care of priests from Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach before Archbishop Toolen purchased land on Park Avenue in 1955. The present church was completed in 1958 and dedicated in a new, larger structure in 1992; over the decades the parish has grown from a mission church to a vibrant community with its own school, CCD program, and active lay ministries.
- 1883 — St. Ann's mission church built in Bagdad
- 1948 — Rev. James Gilligan assigned to Crestview/Bagdad
- 1957 — Groundbreaking on Park Avenue
- 1958 — First Mass in new Milton church
- 1968 — 10th anniversary; 300 CCD students
- 1992 — Mass of Dedication in the new (current) church
Our Parish Fully Alive — Mission and Goals
The parish frames its identity around three commitments: Forming Disciples (helping people grow to full maturity in Christ through Scripture and Tradition); Inviting Others to the Faith (sharing the joy of the Gospel in word and deed with the faithful, the lapsed, and those who have never known Christ); and Disciples in Action (living out the baptismal call by serving the poor and neighbors in need).
- Forming Disciples
- Inviting Others to the Faith
- Disciples in Action
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Pastor Reverend Monsignor Michael V. Reed, JCL, supported by Father Raimundo Ribeiro, SVD (Parochial Vicar, assigned July 2025), and a team of permanent deacons. Parish staff includes Karen Bradberry, Parish Coordinator/Assistant to the Pastor, and Kate Lewis, Parish Manager/Bookkeeper (ext. 103), who also coordinates facility rentals.
- Msgr. Michael V. Reed, JCL — Pastor
- Fr. Raimundo Ribeiro, SVD — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Tom Kennell, Deacon Dave Davey, Deacon Jeff Massey, Deacon Phil Czajkowski, Deacon Bill Brandt
- Karen Bradberry — Parish Coordinator
- Kate Lewis — Parish Manager/Bookkeeper
Faith Formation and Becoming Catholic
Religious Education (CCD) has been a hallmark of St. Rose of Lima since the 1960s, with 300 students enrolled by 1968. Today the parish continues to offer Faith Formation for children and youth, complemented by the St. Timothy Youth Room (completed 2021). Adults seeking to enter or return to the Catholic Church participate in RCIA through the 'Becoming Catholic' program linked from the parish website, supported by the wider diocesan catechetical resources and the Formed online platform.
- Faith Formation / CCD for children and youth
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic
- St. Timothy Youth Room
- Formed online faith content
Sacraments — Marriage, Baptism, Anointing
Marriages must be arranged at least six months in advance; Catholic weddings are scheduled throughout the year except during Lent and certain other seasons. Couples should contact Parish Coordinator Karen Bradberry for the full wedding packet. The parish office also prepares families for Baptism and coordinates Anointing of the Sick by appointment, with First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation handled through Faith Formation.
- Marriage: 6-month preparation; Lent excluded
- Baptism: by arrangement through the office
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment
- First Communion & Confirmation via Faith Formation
Ladies Society (Council of Catholic Women)
The Ladies Society is one of St. Rose of Lima's most active ministries. Members serve as lectors and extraordinary ministers, launder the altar linens, and rotate weekly cleaning teams for the church and foyer. In the wider community they are involved in Religious Education, Bereavement, the Burse Club, prison ministry, hospital visits, and visits to the homebound. They host the St. Rose Feast Day and San Lorenzo Feast Day celebrations, run an annual scholarship program, and partner with Catholic Relief Services on 'Water for Life' and refugee aid. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month (except June and July) at 10:00 AM in the St. Michael classroom.
- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers
- Bereavement and Burse Club
- Prison, hospital, and homebound ministry
- St. Rose and San Lorenzo Feast Day celebrations
- Annual scholarship program
- Catholic Relief Services partnerships
Knights of Columbus Council 7027
Founded at the parish in 1978, Knights of Columbus Council 7027 is an active fraternal and service organization that meets in the small white building behind the church. Council planning meetings are held the first Thursday of each month.
- Founded 1978 at St. Rose of Lima
- Council Planning Meeting: first Thursday of each month
- Meets in the small white building behind the church
Ministers of Hospitality and Liturgical Volunteers
Ushers and Ministers of Hospitality are the parish's first welcoming presence at every liturgical celebration. They open doors, greet arrivals, help people find seats, take up the collection, assist at the procession for Communion, and help those with special needs. The ministry is led by Adam Rapach, and members typically serve about 1.5 hours per week at the Mass of their choosing.
- Greeters and ushers at every Mass
- Collection and Communion procession assistance
- Special-needs support for attendees
- Led by Adam Rapach
Parish Office, Facilities, and Outreach
The parish office is open Monday–Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM for lunch) and closed on Friday. The parish hall and education building may be reserved for educational, social, and ministry events; rentals are coordinated through Kate Lewis. Outreach and evangelization efforts include online giving through MyParishApp, parish bulletins and calendars, and partnerships through the Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, including Victims Assistance, Catholic Relief Services, and the local St. Vincent de Paul network.
- Office: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed Fri)
- Hall and education building rentals
- Online Giving via MyParishApp
- Diocesan Victims Assistance and outreach partners
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Gilligan1948–1970
Founded the parish community in Santa Rosa County; named first resident Pastor in 1960.
- Father Lorrigan1970–1982
Succeeded Father Gilligan as pastor.
- Father Todd Hevia1982–1998
Became administrator in January 1982; oversaw new rectory/office (1982) and new church dedication (1992).
- Father Thom Crandall1998–2002
Replaced Father Hevia as Pastor.
- Father Tom CollinsJanuary–June 2002
Temporary administrator.
- Father Steven J. O'ConnorJune 2002–November 2004
Appointed pastor; served with Father Kurian Manikuttiyil as Parochial Vicar (2003).
- Father Dennis J. O'BrienNovember 2004–July 2011
Left to serve in Ecuador with Saint James Society.
- Reverend Monsignor Stephen C. BossoJuly 2011–July 2013
Subsequently returned to St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary as professor of Sacred Scripture and Homiletics.
- Reverend Monsignor Michael V. Reed, JCLJuly 2013–present
"Hometown boy" ordained 1984; became pastor after serving as a priest of the diocese.