When is a church not truly Catholic?
All valid parishes for the Diocese of Orlando are listed on the diocesan Web site — www.orlandodiocese.org. Included in this list of recognized Catholic churches are those in communion with the Holy See that fall under the jurisdiction of Eastern Rite bishops in the United States, such as the Maronite, Ukrainian and Byzantine Churches.
There are churches in Central Florida who use the term “catholic” even though they have not been decreed by the local bishop, are not in communion with the Holy See and do not recognize papal authority. Therefore, attendance at a service on Sunday at one of these churches will not fulfill your Sunday obligation for participation in the Mass. That’s why it is important to check the Diocese of Orlando website or call the Diocesan office at 407-246-4800 to determine if a church is a part of the Diocese of Orlando, the Central Florida region under the leadership of Bishop John Noonan, whose apostolic succession derives from the Twelve Apostles, from the first century to the present day.
Non-Roman Catholic churches in Central Florida are listed below:
Orlando
Sacred Heart Traditional Catholic
Holy Angels Catholic Community
Iglesia Rey de Reyes
Holy Name of Jesus Parish (483/485 Wurst Road Ocoee)
Cocoa
St. Patrick Catholic Anglican Church
Sanford
St. Thomas More Chapel (Society of St. Pius X)
Lakeland
St. Thomas More Old Catholic Mission
Belleview
St. Paul Polish National Catholic Church
Eustis
St. Filumena Roman Catholic Church (Traditional Latin Mass)
Tavares
All Saints Roman Catholic Chapel (Traditional)
Melbourne
Holy Family Traditional Catholic Church
Liberal Catholic Church of St. Pierre
Ocala
The Catholic House Church of Mary and Joseph
St. Cloud
Santas Perpetua y Felicidad Iglesia Católica/Santuario Divino Niño de Jesus
Winter Park
St. Dorothy Catholic Community
King of Kings Catholic Cathedral
Note: The churches above are known to exist in the Orlando Diocese. Others may exist but were not uncovered during research. When in doubt, visit the diocesan Web site, www.orlandodiocese.org, for a full listing of official Roman Catholic parishes in the Orlando Diocese.
