WINTER HAVEN | Father Glenn Lopez served as a hospital chaplain in California when he reached out to fellow priest, Father Ramón Bolatete about coming to serve in the Diocese of Orlando. Little did he know his application would be accepted immediately and he would be in Orlando six weeks later. On May 10, 2026, Bishop Noonan installed the Filipino cleric as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Winter Haven.

The third of eight children, he grew up in Loon, Bohol province, Philippines. Living across the street from his parish, Nuestra Señora de la Luz Church (Our Lady of Light), he began altar serving at age 7, rising before dawn to assist at Mass before school. “Our pastor was a role model for us, and I wanted to be like him,” he told Florida Catholic after his incardination in 2022. “I have wonderful memories of my childhood.” 

The Lopez children grew up in a devoted Catholic household guided by the loving care of his mother, Maria Paz, who passed on Mother’s Day, the day of his installation. He returned from her bedside only two days prior.

When Bishop Noonan informed him he was to be made pastor of St. Joseph, he requested the date be Mother’s Day. It was an important day for him and his installation reflected her love of Christ and how she helped form her children to do the same.

He said becoming a diocesan priest was his “first love”. “I wanted to serve the people in my community and to be involved in the life of the people. That is really what my heart was beating for. When I got here, I thought, ‘This is it.’” Now, he has a permanent community that greets him with open arms.

In the standing-room-only congregation, he felt warmly welcomed. Priests and friends traveled from across the diocese to celebrate with him and accompany him in the bittersweet moment.

Bishop Noonan pointed out St. Joseph’s is the “most diverse” parish in the diocese and is the only parish offering Mass in four languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Creole. Father Lopez noted the diversity reflects the “unity and peace” to which we are all called. He urged his parishioners to exemplify the love of Christ in the world as witnesses of faith.

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, May 15, 2026