A haven in Mascotte

Former nightclub transformed into place where faith thrives

Marisela Silva, a volunteer for and member of the Santo Toribio Romo Mission in Mascotte, walks with four of her five children after Mass Dec. 6. She is grateful for the new mission

FC | TERESA LANTIGUA PETERSON
Marisela Silva, a volunteer for and member of the Santo Toribio Romo Mission in Mascotte, walks with four of her five children after Mass Dec. 6. She is grateful for the new mission, which is only two minutes from her house.

TERESA LANTIGUA PETERSON | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Posted: 12.28.09

MASCOTTE | A nightclub once stood on a depressed stretch of State Road 50 in Mascotte. Now, that building is a mission church of the Diocese of Orlando. A place that used to be a source of ongoing problems for the local community became a blessing.

Santo Toribio Romo Mission is an example of a mission that would benefit from an endowment to be created by the Alive in Christ Capital and Endowment Campaign.

Parishes are the heart of the Catholic community and the primary instruments of the Church to reveal God’s presence in our world. It is in parishes that we are united together as a community of faith. It is here that we participate most fully and intimately in the sacramental life of the Church.

Our plan calls for establishing at least 10 new parishes and missions over the next decade to meet the needs of the diverse and growing Catholic community of Central Florida.

We will create an endowment to provide outright grants to new and existing mission parishes throughout our nine counties that are economically disadvantaged, making it possible for them to advance their programs and ministries and strengthen their role as vibrant centers of Christian life.

“The building used to be a nightclub that attracted drugs and fighting. When we opened the mission, the police sent us a thank-you card,” said Father Raul Valdez, associate pastor of the new Santo Toribio Romo Mission.

The mission began in May 2008 with 300 people gathering weekly outside under a tent for the celebration of Mass. Now, nearly 700 people arrive at the new mission building each week for Sunday Mass. Sometimes, there is standing room only inside the church.

The mission is located in an area of orange groves, and the majority of mission members are immigrants from Mexico, many of whom are migrant farmworkers who tend fields in the area. Because of this, the mission is named after a Mexican martyr who was killed during a time of religious persecution in 1928. He is the patron saint of immigrants.

With no paid staff, Marisela Silva is one of the many volunteers who attend to parish life. She answers phones, cleans, serves as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, and often cooks for lunchtime fundraisers. The new mission is only two minutes from her house, and she is joyful to have a church nearby where she can live her faith, which she says is central to her life.

“My faith and my family are most important in my life and sharing the love of Christ with others,” said Silva.
Silva and her husband left Mexico more than 15 years ago, seeking a better life. She has five children between the ages of 2 and 15.

“This church has made a big difference in our community. We are bringing the Gospel to people who have never been to church, and welcoming back those who left the Catholic Church and are now, thanks be to God, returning,” she explained.

The Santo Toribio Romo Mission is made possible by a partnership between the Diocese of Orlando and Blessed Sacrament Parish in Clermont. The diocese bought the property and members of Blessed Sacrament raised money to repair the building and transform it into a place of worship. They are now raising funds to transform a building located next to the mission into church offices, meeting rooms and housing for priests.

“The mission opens up new horizons for evangelization among people who would not have the opportunity to practice their faith otherwise,” said Father Bob Webster, pastor of Blessed Sacrament. He is also the pastor of Santo Toribio Romo Mission, which is located nine miles away.

Father Valdez provides pastoral care to the mostly Hispanic population, celebrating Mass and overseeing the ministries and the volunteers.

“A lot more people are able to join the Catholic Church because of this mission and they are grateful,” he said.

The first Mass celebrated inside the completed Santo Toribio Romo Mission Church was on Christmas Eve last year. That was also the 75th anniversary of Blessed Sacrament becoming a mission church.

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