I am the president of the Parish Pastoral Council, a planning body that was established in 2007 to help discern the mission and direction of our parish. Our council is comprised of five commissions that oversee the various ministries. We work hand-in-hand with the finance committee and the building committee. I can be reached at 407-273-1125 or council@avaloncatholic.org.

Deacon Jim Multeri – Liturgy & Worship Commission

I am chairperson for the Liturgy & Worship Commission. My wife, Sophia and I are Sacristans (Sacristans are those who maintain all liturgical items like vessels, vestments, etc).  If you have questions or would like information regarding any of the liturgical ministries, feel free to contact me directly at deaconjim@avaloncatholic.org.

Edith Heinsen – Evangelization & Faith Formation Commission

I am the chairperson of the Evangelization and Faith Formation Commission. I also serve as a catechist. I’m excited about working with a great group of people at St. Maximilian Kolbe to help spread the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ. I have a wonderful husband, Henry, and two beautiful children, Blanca and Joshua. Blanca is an altar server. I am bilingual (English & Spanish) y hablo español. I can be reached at 407-926-0915 or eheinsen@cfl.rr.com.

Rod Marris – Family Life & Fellowship Commission

Hi, my name is Rod Marris.  I am the chair of the Family Life and Fellowship Commission. Some of the ministries that fall under this banner include The Newcomer’s Ministry, Hospitality, The Hispanic Ministry, Nametags, Marriage Enrichment and Events Planning. I can be reached at familylife@avaloncatholic.org.

I am the pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church. If you are sick, call me so I can visit you at your home or at the hospital. Look for my pastor potluck calendar at Mass or call me to set a date to bless your home and get to know you 407-482-4282 or frdavid@avaloncatholic.org. My daily prayer for you is that we grow as a grateful and giving parish alive in Jesus Christ.

Deacon Miguel Pagán

I am one of the deacons assigned to St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church. I am also a Captain with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and oversee the Chaplains Program. I represent the Sheriff at these community boards, the Homeless Services Network and the Salvation Army. As a deacon I help Fr. David at Mass. I am a facilitator for the Diocese of Orlando to prepare Ministers to the Sick and Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion. At the parish I assist wherever I am needed the most. I could be reached through my cell phone 407-446-5972 or by email at deaconmiguel@avaloncatholic.org. I am bilingual (English & Spanish) y hablo espanol.

Deacon Jim Multeri

I am a deacon assigned to St Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church.  I am a Systems Engineer with Northrop Grumman Mission Systems located in the Research Park just south of the University of Central Florida. As a deacon, I assist Fr. David at Mass and at Baptisms and with the sacristy.  I am also assigned to Catholic Charities’ Peace and Justice Department to coordinate retreats for the various police and fire departments and within the Diocese, along with the Lay Prison Ministry personnel.  I can be reached via my cell phone – 847-687-3281, or by email at deaconjim@avaloncatholic.org.

Lydia Britton

I am the Director of Music & Liturgy responsible for the celebration of Sunday Mass, Feast Days and Solemnities.  I love liturgy because it encourages people to lift up their hearts in praise.  Our music ministry consists of three mixed choirs and a youth choir.  All attend weekly scheduled rehearsals.  We are called to express our love to God not by singing at liturgy but rather singing the liturgy.  Please contact me if you feel called to worship the Lord through music or would like more information about serving in one of the liturgical ministries: altar servers, lectors, hospitality, Eucharistic ministers. You can reach me at Mass, or call 407-957-3318 or music@avaloncatholic.org. I am bilingual (English & Spanish) y hablo espan*ol. It would be great to have you join us!

Denise Kriscunas

The Director of Faith Formation.  Our Faith Formation programs, Generations of Faith, School of Faith and Sacramental Preparation are designed to facilitate our lifelong journey toward God.  If you have questions or feel called to offer you time and talent to these ministries, please contact me at faith@avaloncatholic.org. “Every day in the temple and at home they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” Acts 5:42Nancy WatsonI am on the Evangelization & Faith Formation Commission. Please call me at 407-381-0967, or email at evangelization@avaloncatholic.org , regarding Generations of Faith, School of Faith, and Sacramental Preparation sessions for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation.  If you feel called to become a member of one of our Faith Formation Ministry Teams I would be happy to discuss opportunities to serve with you.

Tony Roman

I am the Youth Minister for High School students. I am blessed to work with a great team that is also expanding to include a Middle School group. Our main goal is for our teens grow closer to God through works of service, retreats and community events. youth@avaloncatholic.org.

Lisa Lozano-Diaz

I am grateful to support the Stewardship & Development Commission with administrative duties.  My role includes being involved with the Commission Weekends held throughout the year, which allows parishioners the opportunity to meet with members of the various ministries we have at St. Maximilian Kolbe.  I am responsible for the administrative duties of Our Catholic Appeal from the Diocese in February as well as organizing gatherings for our Alive in Christ Capital Campaign, which raises money to build a parish community center.  Please contact me with your questions regarding pledges or Faith Direct, I am more than eager to assist you.  Another part of my role is working with my Commission to bring the annual stewardship report and sacrificial giving to our parish.  Keeping the parish website updated and handling communications is another aspect of my responsibilities.  Feel free to reach me at stewardship@avaloncatholic.org.

Kathy McGuinness

I work under the Family Life & Fellowship Commission and welcome newly registered parishioners to Saint Maximilian Kolbe. I ask about their families’ Sacramental needs and coordinate contact with our specific Ministers. I set up a gathering for our Newcomer Families to meet representatives of our Ministries, so that Newcomers don’t just go to St. Max, they belong to St. Max. You can contact me at 407-455-3404 or outreach@avaloncatholic.org

Ana Sacher

I am a Florida Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in charge of the parish’s accounting and financial recordkeeping.  I work together with the Finance Council to ensure that our parish operates in accordance with diocesan financial guidelines. In addition to our weekly collections, you might wish to consider other ways of sharing your treasures with our parish such as stock donations, estate giving, and so on. For more information, please contact me at bookkeeper@avaloncatholic.org. I am bilingual (English & Spanish) y hablo espanol.

Joanne Daniel

When you call the parish rectory on Monday or Friday, you will talk with me, the parish secretary. Besides all the record keeping for sacraments and registration, I handle the many daily administration details of the parish. You can reach me at 407-482-4282 on Mondays and Wednesdays or office@avaloncatholic.org.

Maxie the Dog

Maxie the Dog is available to sit, shake, lie down, fetch, pray in her paws, heel, play, and eat her dinner in under a minute.

Father David Scotchie was ordained for the Diocese of Orlando in 1993. He was a parochial vicar at Holy Name of Jesus in Indialantic (1993-1998) and at Sts. Peter and Paul in Winter Park (1998-2004) and at St. Thomas Aquinas in St. Cloud (2004-2006). While at Sts. Peter and Paul, he was also the campus minister at University of Central Florida (1998-2004). He attended parochial school at St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs where his family still belongs; and went to Edgewater High School in Orlando, Duke University in North Carolina (B.A. in Physics), the University of Central Florida (M.S. in Human Resources and Change Management), St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana (Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Studies), and Aquinas Institute in St. Louis (Doctor of Ministry in Preaching).

“Anointed by the Holy Spirit, St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church welcomes all to know
Jesus Christ, celebrate the Eucharist, and serve others through selfless stewardship as we follow
the way of the Lord.”

Let me say a few words about each part.

“Anointed by the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the power through whom God the Father created
heaven and earth. Through the Spirit, God the Father recreated us in Jesus Christ. God sends the
Spirit to change the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ so that we become one body,
one spirit in Christ. Anointed by the Spirit in baptism, we share in God’s very life and power.
Everything that follows is possible only because we have been anointed.

“St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church.” We are not individuals. We are one body, one spirit in
Christ. We are the church under the patronage of Maximilian Kolbe.

“Welcomes all.” Like attracts like. We tend to go to restaurants and shop at places where people look
like ourselves and dress like ourselves. The challenge for us is to go beyond our comfort zone and
welcome people who speak Spanish, have different customs, and would not normally be in the same
social setting.

“To know Jesus Christ.” We are not just to know about Jesus Christ. As the Baltimore catechism
called us to know, love, and serve the Lord, we are to know him through scripture, prayer, and liturgy
as our Savior and Lord.

“Celebrate the Eucharist.” The Mass is the source of our life. The Mass is the summit of our life. All
the sacraments and devotions lead to and flow from the Eucharist.

“And serve others”. At the end of Mass, the priest commands the assembly, “Go in peace to love and
serve the Lord.” We are sent into the world to live what we have celebrated. Jesus, the Son of God
himself, did not come to be served but to serve. In serving others, especially the least, we serve side
by side with Jesus Christ.

“Through selfless stewardship.” Our parish is a stewardship parish. That means that we count our
blessings, we care for our blessings, and we share our blessings. The parish tithes ten percent of its
collection to works of charity and justice. Similarly, we strive personally to tithe ten percent of our
income to the work of the church and other organizations.

“As we follow the way of the Lord.” This phrase from the homily at our First Mass has become
something of a parish motto. It sums up the meaning of discipleship. Whether apart or together, our
parish daily lives the death and resurrection of the Lord.

Notice that the parish is organized by the mission statement. “Welcome all” is the ministry of the
Family Life & Fellowship Commission. “To know Jesus Christ” is the ministry of the Evangelization
& Faith Formation Commission. “Celebrate the Eucharist” is the ministry of the Liturgy & Worship
Commission. “Serve others” is the ministry of the Pastoral Care & Solidarity Commission. “Selfless
stewardship” is the ministry of the Stewardship & Development Commission.

As the star led the wise men to Jesus born in Bethlehem, the mission statement is our guiding light.
May it lead us to follow the way of the Lord.

In Christ,

Fr. David