Diocese of Orlando History

A TIME FOR GROWTH

The Diocese of Orlando is celebrating its 40th anniversary, 40 years of growing our Catholic community with new churches, new schools and religious formation, 40th years of leading others to a new experience of holiness and greater knowledge of God, 40 years of sharing our blessings and selflessly giving to all those in need. 40 years of Faith!

THE EARLY YEARS

There is a long and exciting history of Catholicism in Florida that precedes the formation of the Diocese of Orlando. In the 16th century, Spanish explorers searching for untold riches in the new world found the Florida peninsula, which they claimed for Spanish royalty. They worked tirelessly to form missions and build churches to celebrate and practice their devout Catholic faith.

In 1870, the Diocese of St. Augustine was formed and, for nearly a century, presided over the entire state of Florida.

Joseph Patrick Hurley was Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Augustine, beginning in 1940. He predicted the future of Florida Catholic growth and initiated a comprehensive plan of real estate procurement for parishes. He employed sophisticated purchasing strategies, such as the use of airplanes to circle cities from the air and gauge suburban sprawl.

In 1958, as the population started to dramatically increase around Miami, the southern half of Florida became its own Catholic territory, the Diocese of Miami.

Ten years later, population numbers justified another split and the central part of Florida became the Diocese of Orlando on June 18, 1968.

FOUR BISHOPS IN FORTY YEARS
Four Bishops have guided the Diocese of Orlando during its 40 year history, directing the remarkable growth and serving as spiritual leaders to the thousands who flock to the area.

BISHOP WILLIAM BORDERS

Between 1968 and 1974, Bishop William Borders chartered new ground as he formed the structure necessary to organize a brand new diocese. Parish councils and education boards were created; there was the first ever participation of laity as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion; a Sisters’ Council was formed to provide support and camaraderie to diocesan nuns; a migrant ministry was launched; and a campus ministry program commenced which received national acclaim.

BISHOP THOMAS GRADY
Between 1974 and 1990, Bishop Thomas Grady was shepherd of the diocese during a period of even more impressive growth. Eighteen new parishes were established and a tourism ministry was born.

In 1975, Bishop Grady recognized the need to minister to the tourist population and named the pastor of Orlando’s Holy Family parish, Father Joseph Harte to become the area’s first tourist minister. In 1979 plans were well under way for the place of worship which would be named under the patronage of Mary, Queen of the Universe. On December 8, 1984, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, ground was broken for the first phase of construction. Within two years, the initial facility was completed.

Bishop Grady also oversaw the establishment of San Pedro Spiritual Development Center, a place of prayer and renewal for Catholics. It is a place apart from the noise and demands of daily life and a perfect space for those seeking time to deepen and enhance their relationship with God.

Bishop Grady displayed concern for all people inside and outside the boundaries of our diocese. In 1983 he established a Mission Office to forge a relationship with a sister diocese in the Dominican Republic.

BISHOP NORBERT DORSEY

Between 1990 and 2004, Bishop Norbert Dorsey continued to add parishes and schools, as well as expand the ministry to the growing Hispanic community by establishing Spanish radio and health clinics for migrant and farm workers. During his tenure, he presided over a diocese that nearly doubled, growing from 230,000 parishioners to 400,000.

Bishop Dorsey initiated a very special project to provide a safe and caring environment for adults who are intellectually and developmentally disabled.

The Bishop Grady Villas residential community sits on eleven acres of Florida’s natural habitat nestled in St. Cloud. The project took about 10 years from vision to reality and is named after Bishop Thomas Grady, who authored a prayer and mission statement for the organization, as well as helped with the design of the complex.

To honor the memories of deceased priests and recognizing the sacrifices they make to serve, Bishop Dorsey established a cemetery for priests located at the San Pedro Center, a lush and wooded retreat facility in Winter Park.

A remarkable event planned under Bishop Dorsey’s leadership was a diocesan wide confirmation held at the Orlando Arena in 1996. Eleven thousand people gathered together for this special celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation. On this memorable day, Catholics came together from near and far to show their unity and passion for their faith.

In 2001, under Bishop Dorsey’s direction, the historic post office on Robinson Street in downtown Orlando was purchased to house the growing Chancery offices. The diocese had previously owned that property and it was the site of Orlando’s first Catholic school. The property was sold due to financial necessity during the Depression. The 2001 purchase, placed Diocesan offices right next door to the Cathedral of St. James.

BISHOP THOMAS WENSKI

In July of 2003, the Holy Father appointed Thomas Wenski as the first Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando. On November 13, 2004, Thomas G. Wenski was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Orlando.

Bishop Wenski is the first Florida-born bishop of the Diocese of Orlando and previously served in the Archdiocese of Miami. He brings to the Diocese a strong record of social justice and spiritual advocacy on behalf of immigrants and the poor.

In 2004, Bishop Wenski convoked the first-ever synod for the Diocese of Orlando. The synod was a coming together of Catholics from throughout Central Florida to discern their most pressing issues.

Listening sessions were held with Bishop Wenski so that he could hear from a diverse group of Catholics about their concerns and hopes for the future.

Bishop Wenski designated 2008 as the “Year of Evangelization,” putting a greater emphasis on deepening the faith of all people.

The highlight of the Year of Evangelization: a celebration event, the “Festival of Faith” May 8-10, 2008.

CATHOLICS IN CENTRAL FLORIDA

As a thriving and growing community of Catholic faithful, the Diocese of Orlando represents many cultural and ethnic groups, believers of all ages, income levels and education. But they all are united in the universal Catholic Church.

In addition to English, Mass is celebrated in seven foreign languages: Portuguese, Filipino, Spanish, Polish, Korean, Vietnamese and Creole. We all call Central Florida home but the Catholic Church is our spiritual home where we share God’s love, experience the sacraments, serve the needy and encourage the distressed. Most of all, we come together for Mass to meet our Savior at the table of the Lord, grow in our relationship with Christ, lead others to holiness and share our blessings.

Catholics of the Diocese of Orlando join together as joy-filled witnesses to hope and are alive in Christ.

Interesting Facts about Bishops

A bishop, from the Greek word episkopos (overseer), is a direct successor to the apostles. Bishops have, by divine institution, taken the place of the apostles as pastors of the church. The ordination and installation of Bishop-elect Victor B. Galeone as the ninth bishop of Saint Augustine focuses a spotlight on symbols of a bishop. In fact, the bishop himself is a symbol and is surrounded by symbols. Let us look at some of them.

The Bishop's Chair
In ancient times, a chair was a sign of authority to teach. The bishop's chair is called a cathedra from the Latin word for chair and it is the presence of the bishop's cathedra in a church that makes it a cathedral. The bishop's chair, then is a symbol of the bishop's teaching office and pastoral power in his diocese. It is also a sign of the unity of believers in the faith that the bishop proclaims as shepard of the Lord's flock.

Coat of Arms
A bishop's coat of arms is distinguished by a sign of his rank. That sign, placed over the shield, is a particular version of an ecclesiastical hat that was worn in processions, as late as 1870. The hat is low-crowned, flat, and widebrimmed. On a bishop's coat of arms, the hat is green and hanging from it are 12 green tassels, six on each side. There's also a processional cross above the shield. The cross on a bishop's coat of arms has one bar; an archbishop's cross has two. The design of the shield itself differs from bishop to bishop.

Mitre
The mitre is the proper liturgical headdress fir all bishops of the Latin rite, including the pope. The word comes from the Greek word mitra, meaning "turban." It consists of two stiffened flaps of material joined by a headband with two fringed strips hanging from the back base of the mitre. The mitre as we know it today developed from the conical head-covering worn by the pope that appeared in the tenth century. At first, it was only used by the pope.

Pectoral Cross
The pectoral cross gets its name because it is worn over the breast, or pectus, hanging from a green cord intertwined with gold threads. There are rules determining whether it is worn over or under whatever the bishop is wearing. If he's in a suit and collar, the pectoral cross is usually placed in the vest pocket with the chain showing.

Crozier
The crozier is a pastoral staff that is conferred on bishops (and abbots) at their installation. In the West, the top of the staff is curved to remind the bishop of the shepards crook and of his pastoral care of the people entrusted to him. It is a sign of the bishop's need to keep watch over his whole flock, sustaining the weak and faltering, confirming the wavering faith, and leading back the erring ones into the true fold. Crosiers dating from as early as the fourth century have been found in catacombs. By the Council of Toledo in 633, the crosier is mentioned as a liturgical implement.

Ring
The bishop's ring is a symbol of the bishop's fidelity to and nuptial bond with the church, his spouse. It signifies the bishop's symbolic marriage to the church or Christ. the bishop's ring is usually made of gold with an amethyst. the bishop's ring was first mentioned as an official part of the bishop's insignia in the early seventh century.

Zucchetto
The zucchetto is a skullcap worn, particularly by prelates, since the thirteenth century. The pope wears a white zucchetto; cardinals, a red zucchetto; and bishops, a purple zucchetto. Everyone else wears black.