Oct 22, 2025 WINTER HAVEN  |  What started as the desire for a peaceful place for parishioners to pray at St. Matthew Parish, Winter Haven, is now a certified St. Kateri Habitat, bearing fruit, vegetables, and flourishing with native plants, butterflies, bees, and birds. Two years ago, parish business operations manager Susan Simonson and groundskeeper Bill Ball had…

Oct 22, 2025 ORLANDO  |  The St. Gabriel Call Center at Catholic Charities of Central Florida receives approximately 150 calls for assistance per day for family stability program support. There is not enough time to answer all of them, but two volunteers try and accompany clients as best as possible, with love, compassion, patience, and prayer. Three days…

Oct 22, 2025 ORLANDO  |  The ministry carried out by the Tribunal of the Diocese of Orlando recently closed a generational cycle with the retirements of Father J. Fernando Gil, JCD, judicial vicar, Father Joseph Bellerive, adjutant judicial vicar, and Diana Anderson, tribunal manager. Retiring from one of the busiest tribunals in the country, together they leave a…

Oct 17, 2025 Magnify’s Harvest Ball celebrated the fruits of its work in preparing young people and adults with disabilities to live independently in their community, develop life skills, and work toward competitive and employment opportunities. Held at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, the organization honored Father Derek Saldanha, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish…

Oct 17, 2025 ORLANDO  |  The Diocese of Orlando recognizes five religious sisters as they celebrate their jubilee anniversaries. Since they arrived in the diocese to present day, they bring a diversity of gifts from education to serving immigrants and caring for the disabled, leaving us richer for their contributions. The following are brief biographies of the jubilarians. 70…

Oct 17, 2025 My Sisters and Brothers in Christ: Where do you want to go? I ask you this often when I visit you at your parishes, because it is an important question and one that demands perpetual attention. Most of you reply to me, “I want to go to heaven!” Yes, as Catholics, heaven is our ultimate…