At 5900 Oleander Drive in Orlando's Azalea Park neighborhood, Good Shepherd Catholic Church has served Catholic families in east Orange County since Passion Sunday, March 18, 1956. The parish began as the Azalea Park Catholic Mission Church after Archbishop Patrick Hurley of the Diocese of St. Augustine purchased the property in the early 1950s, anticipating the growth of central Florida. The first Mass drew 300 member families, and the parish has been a steady presence on the same street ever since. Today it is a bilingual parish of more than sixty active ministries, served by priests of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette and home to Good Shepherd School.
From Azalea Park Mission to a La Salette Parish
The Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette accepted the call to staff Good Shepherd in September 1981. Since then the order has provided priests continuously. The pastors who have served are Fr. C. "Sonny" Avitabile, M.S. (1981 to 1993), Fr. Gene Barrette, M.S. (1993 to 1997), and Fr. Brian Sheridan, M.S. (1997 to 2010). Fr. Joe O'Neil, M.S., was named pastor in 2010, and Fr. Jim Henault, M.S., was named pastor in November 2016. The current pastor is Fr. Andrew Kollannoor, M.S.
Major milestones have shaped the campus. In 1964, the parish launched a Fall Festival that became an annual tradition for the surrounding community. After the Second Vatican Council, the first Parish Council was formed, lay people became involved in the liturgy, and new ministries such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (now OCIA), and the Parish Picnic were added. A campus Master Plan was created in 2000, and in 2002 a 17,000-square-foot Administration and Learning Center broke ground. In August 2004, Hurricane Charley caused more than $1 million in damages to the parish campus. Good Shepherd celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2007, and in February 2012 broke ground on the new church. Memorial plaques honoring donors were installed in the new church in December 2014, with a later plaque added in 2018 to recognize the original 1956 donors. The 1956 church building was razed in 2017 to make way for a Parish Office Complex with additional parking, and the master plan continues to guide the campus today.
A Bilingual Weekend on Oleander Drive
Good Shepherd offers Mass in both English and Spanish every weekend, with a full weekday schedule as well.
Saturday Vigil Masses are celebrated in English at 4:30 p.m. and in Spanish on Saturday evening. Sunday Masses include English at 7:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 5:00 p.m. (the Life Teen Mass), with Spanish at 9:00 a.m. Daily Mass is offered Monday through Saturday at 9:00 a.m., with an additional Wednesday evening Mass at 6:30 p.m. and a First Friday evening Mass at 6:30 p.m. The Sunday 9:00 a.m. Spanish Mass and the 11:00 a.m. English Mass are livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel for those at home.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered in two forms. On Thursdays the church is open for adoration from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Beginning Friday evening, adoration continues in the chapel from 10:00 p.m. through Saturday morning at 8:45 a.m., providing an overnight vigil of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Confessions are heard after each daily Mass and on Saturday mornings until 10:30 a.m. There are no Saturday afternoon confessions. Confession is also available by appointment during office hours.
The Sacraments and Their Preparation
Good Shepherd prepares parishioners for each of the seven Catholic sacraments. Baptism is celebrated for infants and older children, with English and Spanish baptismal requirements, guides, and the relevant sections of the Code of Canon Law available. Confirmation, First Holy Communion, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick are all celebrated at the parish, with couples and families walked through the preparation expected by the Diocese of Orlando. Information about each sacrament is available from the parish office at (407) 277-3939.
OCIA: The Journey to the Easter Vigil
Adults and older children who wish to become Catholic enter the parish's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, known as OCIA. The journey has four phases: the Period of Evangelization and Precatechumenate, the Period of Catechumenate, the Purification and Enlightenment during Lent, and the Period of Postbaptismal Catechesis or Mystagogy after the Easter Vigil. The program welcomes those who have never been baptized (called Catechumens), Christians baptized in another tradition who seek full communion with the Catholic Church (called Candidates), and already-baptized Catholics who want to complete the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. The OCIA team at Good Shepherd follows the catechumenal model laid out in the ritual book, building in sufficient time for the conversion and faith of those preparing to become strong.
Faith Formation, Vacation Bible School, and the Parish School
The Faith Formation Ministry of Good Shepherd Catholic Church provides lifelong faith formation for all members of the parish community. Its mission is to foster understanding of the Catholic faith, prepare parishioners for the liturgy and sacraments, and nurture a Christian moral life sustained by prayer and community support. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closing for lunch at noon. Registration requires a copy of each student's baptismal certificate and, where applicable, a letter certifying attendance at a former parish religious formation program or Catholic school. Vacation Bible School is offered in the summer for younger children.
Adjacent to the parish, Good Shepherd School serves students in the surrounding Azalea Park area. The school has been part of the parish since the 1960s and currently serves elementary-aged students, with a Pre-School program for the youngest learners. Good Shepherd Catholic School is a vital part of the parish family, and the parish links to Bishop Moore High School as a Catholic high school option in the area.
Life Teen, Edge, and Youth Ministry
Young parishioners in middle school and high school have two dedicated youth programs. Life Teen is the high school youth ministry, gathering around the Sunday 5:00 p.m. Mass celebrated as the Life Teen Mass. Edge is the middle school program, oriented to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. Marisel Colon-Erazo coordinates both programs.
La Salette Laity Ministry
Good Shepherd hosts a La Salette Laity Ministry that invites parishioners to share in the prayer and reconciliation mission of the order. The parish maintains a lending library of La Salette materials, including the La Salette Prayerbook, the La Salette Laity Handbook (in English and Spanish), The Face of the Reconciler, The Story of La Salette, The Missionaries of La Salette from France to North America, Our La Salette Mission to Reconcile Her People with Her Son, All My People, The Holy Mountain of La Salette, The Vision of La Salette, and Food for the Journey. Materials are available through the parish office during office hours.
Stewardship, Sixty Ministries, and the Parish Mission
More than sixty active ministries support the work of the parish. The parish launched its formal Stewardship Program, built around the themes of "Time, Talent, and Treasure," in the summer of 2017 to expand parishioner involvement in the life of the church. English-language ministries and Spanish-language ministries are listed separately, with detailed rosters available from the parish office. The parish describes its overall mission as fostering understanding of the Catholic faith, preparing parishioners for the liturgy and sacraments, and embracing service to the community and society with the missionary spirit of Jesus Christ.
The parish carries out the Safe Environment training and fingerprinting program required by the Diocese of Orlando for anyone working with children and vulnerable persons. Stewardship giving is supported through the parish office, and a weekly bulletin shares announcements, reflections, and the parish calendar.
Clergy and Contact
The pastoral team is led by Fr. Andrew Kollannoor, M.S., pastor. Fr. Frank Cooney, M.S., and Fr. Clemente Mario, M.S., serve as associate priests. Fr. Terry Niziolek, M.S., is retired priest in residence. Three deacons - Rev. Mr. Felix Morillo, Rev. Mr. Hector Rodriguez, and Rev. Mr. Francisco Peralta - assist the priests. Claudio Otaiza serves as Music Director, Marisel Colon-Erazo as Youth Ministry Coordinator, and Laura Mediavilla as Faith Formation Coordinator. The parish office is open during the week, and the address is 5900 Oleander Drive, Orlando, FL 32807. Phone: (407) 277-3939.