WINTER PARK | From its beginnings as a rustic summer camp in the 1960s, the San Pedro Spiritual Development Center in Winter Park has slowly added buildings, programs and ministries over the past six decades to meet the spiritual needs of the faithful in the Diocese of Orlando.
Each bishop has brought a distinct vision to this “gem of the diocese,” perhaps none more so than Bishop John Noonan. Under his direction, San Pedro has overcome natural disasters, refurbished and modernized facilities, established the Queen of Angels Cemetery, and welcomed retired priests to the Emmaus independent living community. For these contributions and more, Bishop Noonan was honored at San Pedro’s ninth annual gala April 25, 2026.
“One of the great blessings of the San Pedro community is that we have the full support of our beloved Bishop John Noonan. He’s been a true friend in every way to all of us here,” said executive director Randall Pinner, presenting Bishop Noonan with a handmade altar set as a token of gratitude. “Over the 16 years of his leadership we have experienced devastating hurricanes, hail storms, some floods, and even a fire in one of our conference spaces. But from these we’ve seen a rebirth at San Pedro with many improvements to our facilities and continued growth.
“On behalf of all of us here at San Pedro, we are extremely grateful for all that you do for us in helping us to continue our mission and to nourish the spiritual life of persons seeking to deepen their relationship with God through prayer, reflection, education and the pursuit of Gospel values.”
Speaking to the 200 guests in attendance, Bishop Noonan remembered first coming to San Pedro in 2010, appreciating all that San Pedro offered, but also envisioning a space that would embody the sacredness of the surroundings. He soon began to gather the people and resources needed to bring that vision to life.
“I wanted something that would reflect what the environment was, in the sense that San Pedro is a holy place, and having it be a place where people want to be here and enjoy it. That it’s a place where people could come and pray and feel that there was an atmosphere here,” Bishop Noonan said.
That these efforts have borne fruit is evident in the number and variety of programs offered at San Pedro. In addition to retreats, classes and prayer opportunities, San Pedro has stayed true to its beginnings and continues to offer a yearly summer camp. In 2025 alone, San Pedro hosted 404 programs with 26,029 guests. The guest services and operations teams served 32,444 meals, cleaned 6,040 guest rooms, and spent 3,573 hours maintaining the landscaping. Video testimonials at the gala gave faces to these numbers, telling stories of lives changed, faith deepened, and vocations discovered by attending San Pedro programs. The money raised by the gala’s live and silent auctions will help ensure Bishop Noonan’s legacy will continue and grow into the future.
“This building and all the buildings on this property are used every weekend for different occasions. What are they used for? They’re used to build up the body of Christ. The seminarians come here, the deacons come here, the priests come here, and the people come here because this is a place where you can find peace and encounter the Lord,” Bishop Noonan said. “That’s really the message of the Gospel. My episcopal motto is, ‘God before me, God with me, and God behind me.’ That’s all I want San Pedro to be. A place where you can come encounter the Lord and feel that presence of the Lord and leave here and know that you’ve had an encounter with God.”
Watch a video honoring Bishop Noonan here.
By Elizabeth Wilson, Special to the Florida Catholic, April 30, 2026