PIERSON | San José Mission is small, but has big heart. The faithful’s zeal for the Lord recently turned into beautiful renovations of the sanctuary.

“We are a community with low income, but with heart and love, miracles happen,” said Father Ramon Alfredo Ortiz, administrator.

The plans to update and expand the church were on the community’s wish list for some time. Recognizing there were others in even greater need, the community raised funds to help Father Ortiz serve on occasional missionary trips. Most recently, they raised $5,000 for him to assist in recovery efforts after the hurricane disaster in Acapulco.

When it was determined the funds were not needed, parishioner Angeles Velasquez humbly asked if the resources could be used to improve and maintain their mission buildings. With some extra donations and volunteers chipping in time and talent, the sanctuary was transformed, and the building was painted inside and out.

New lighting graces the ceiling, sconces are home to statues of Mary and St. Joseph, tile replaces an aging vinyl floor, new Stations of the Cross — each donated by a different family — adorn the walls. Parishioners are thrilled to have a new perpetual Adoration chapel that doubles as a space for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Father Ortiz even fashioned a new baptistry using ingenuity and creativity.

The renovations took only three months to complete. “We have been blessed. This is a simple, but beautiful result,” Father Ortiz said, adding the dedication of Nov. 9, is especially significant as it fell on the memorial of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. “(W)e are a temple of the Holy Spirit and the Lord prepared these sacred places to prepare a dwelling place with Him in eternity. So, we thank Him for the gift of faith in each one of us,” he said.

Addressing the congregation Father Ortiz said, “Thank you all for giving with love and faith and believing, in the name of the Lord we can do great things.”

After the Mass, Velasquez, described the renovation as the “fruit of our commitment, our sacrifice.” Velasquez arrived in the United States 32 years ago, and joined the food ministry 25 years ago. She is committed to the ministry that raises funds for the mission.

“The least I can do for Father God is to offer these small sacrifices,” she said. “I offer this work from my heart because there is so much to be grateful for. It gives me great joy to do this.”

Present for the blessing by Bishop John Noonan was Alicia Figueroa who recalled the early days of the mission in the 1970s. She remembered participating in Mass, sitting on the lawn of their neighbor’s home while a visiting priest celebrated Mass on her porch. She recalled not knowing St. Peter Parish was 20 miles south in DeLand. Most of the community were day laborers in local fern farms and many did not have transportation, so traveling 20 miles into DeLand was not really an option.

Later, the growing immigrant community celebrated Mass at Trinity Methodist Church in Seville, until they each donated $500 to get the mission built in Pierson.

Also present at the blessing of the updated sanctuary was Gladys Alvarez, wife of the late Deacon José Miguel Alvarez, who was among the first deacons to serve the community. She recalled raising her children there before moving closer to Orlando.

“For me it is an honor to have been part of this community,” she said, recalling how her husband became a deacon in 1985, grateful to serve the small mission church.

As Bishop Noonan and Father Ortiz cut the ribbon, a joyful mariachi band followed parishioners in to see the enhanced space. “The Church lives as a sign and testimony of love through which God takes care of His people,” said Bishop Noonan. “This chapel is your home every day because the Lord is here with you. Without faith, there is no future. Your faith has made this possible.”

By Glenda Meekins of the Florida Catholic staff, November 14, 2024