A Beach-Side Parish Where "All Means All"
Set on University Boulevard near the Atlantic shoreline, Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish in Daytona Beach that has built its identity around a single, repeated phrase: "all are welcome, and 'all' means ALL." The phrase appears on banners, in ministry descriptions, and in nearly every welcome message the parish puts out. It is more than a slogan. The parish has organized its weekend Masses, its outreach ministries, and even its language around the conviction that the Body of Christ is incomplete without every culture, age, orientation, and circumstance represented at the table.
Father Philip Egitto, the parish's pastor, frames the parish this way: "This isn't your grandmother's Catholic Church." Weekend Masses include live music from a praise band, an inviting café in the breezeway, and a steady flow of community announcements. Parishioners and visitors are encouraged to talk, smile, and introduce themselves. The parish describes itself as a "diverse community called to love the God we cannot see by loving the neighbor we can," and its ministries are designed to put that calling into practice in concrete ways throughout Volusia County.
Weekend Mass and the Rhythm of the Week
The core weekend schedule is simple. Mass is celebrated on Saturday at 4 PM and on Sundays at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. Each gathering lasts about an hour and includes music from the parish praise band, scripture teaching, and time for reflection and connection. The Saturday 4 PM Mass is livestreamed on YouTube, and recordings of past Masses and homilies are kept online for those who cannot attend in person.
Reconciliation is offered on Saturdays at 2:45 PM, after any daily Mass, or by appointment with the parish office. Marriage preparation begins roughly a year ahead of a desired wedding date through a pre-Cana process, and Anointing of the Sick is available on request.
Beyond the regular weekend Masses, four Sundays each month carry a particular cultural emphasis:
- First Sunday: The Harambe Sunday Mass at 10:30 AM honors the traditions, music, and witness of the African American Catholic experience. The parish is also a member of the Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance.
- Second Sunday: The Latino community leads the 10:30 AM Mass, with readings in Spanish and Portuguese, traditional music, and live translation efforts.
- Third Sunday: The Asian Outreach Mass at 10:30 AM incorporates Filipino spirituality, including Scripture readings in Tagalog, honoring what the parish calls the bayanihan spirit of mutual care.
- Fourth Sunday: A Children's Mass features readings and music led by the parish's youngest parishioners, including the Children's Choir.
On the third Sunday of the month at 10 AM, the Multilingual Rosary is prayed in the chapel, with each decade recited in a different language.
What to Expect: Dress, Coffee, and KidZone
There is no dress code at Our Lady of Lourdes. The parish describes itself as a "beach side community," and parishioners arrive in everything from T-shirts and jeans to sandals and more formal attire. (The air conditioning, they note, is kept brisk.) A coffee shop in the breezeway serves hot coffee and other drinks; on Sunday mornings there are bagels and pastries, and on Saturday evenings after Mass the café takes on a "coffeehouse feel" with beer, wine, and occasional live music during what the parish calls Emmaus Evenings.
Children are explicitly welcome. KidZone is a dedicated Children's Chapel available during every weekend Mass where little ones can wiggle, play, and move around while parents still participate fully in the liturgy. The space is designed to be inclusive of children with special needs. Children's Liturgy of the Word gathers children in kindergarten through third grade in the Café Meeting Room during the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass for an age-appropriate Gospel experience, returning to the sanctuary before Communion. A Children's Choir rehearses at 9:45 AM on Sundays and helps lead the 10:30 AM Mass on the fourth Sunday of the month.
ASL interpretation is provided at the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass on the first and third Sundays. The parish's Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministry ensures access to worship and fellowship for parishioners who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Mass is offered in English. While the parish does not celebrate full Masses in Spanish, it provides translated scripture readings in Spanish on the first, second, fourth, and fifth weekends of the month. On the second weekend, the second reading is proclaimed in Spanish as part of the Latino Outreach Mass.
Lourdes Academy: A Parish School Since 1956
Lourdes Academy, the parish school, has been part of Our Lady of Lourdes since 1956. It serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in a Christ-centered environment with a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. The school nurtures the whole child through prayer, the sacraments, service, and worship, while maintaining a strong academic program. Students can take part in athletics, the arts, and more than fifteen extracurricular activities, and they complete hundreds of hours of community service each year through parish projects and local nonprofits.
The school's annual Fall Festival and Italian Festival serve as major fundraisers for the school, drawing together the wider parish and the Daytona Beach community for food, music, and games.
Worship & Waffles, the Praise Band, and Family Faith
On the first Sunday of each month at 9:30 AM in the Lourdes Community Center, the parish hosts Worship & Waffles, a multigenerational, sensory-friendly, and mobility-accessible gathering. The format blends music, an interactive lesson, and a gospel activity, followed by a waffle breakfast. It is led by Hillary Walker and is designed to be a place where people of all ages and abilities can worship together without barriers.
Music at the parish is shaped by a contemporary praise band that leads the congregation each week. The parish shares recordings of past praise band albums and hosts a podcast of Fr. Phil's homily messages. Children's Jam with Praise Band invites kids to choose an instrument at the altar and join the praise band during the closing song of Sunday Mass.
Children's Faith Formation and the Sacraments
Faith formation at Our Lady of Lourdes begins with Baptism. Infant Baptism is celebrated for children up to age seven during any weekend Mass (except during Advent and Lent), and the parish asks families to reach out at least twelve weeks in advance.
For children between the ages of seven and sixteen, the parish follows the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), celebrating Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist together at the Easter Vigil through the Small Group Sacramental Preparation program.
First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation begins in early spring for children in grades two through five and concludes with a group celebration in May. Confirmation preparation is open to seventh and eighth graders, beginning in September and concluding with the celebration of the sacrament, typically with the bishop of the diocese in March.
Adults preparing for First Communion or First Reconciliation are invited to make an appointment with Fr. Phil. The parish also celebrates the Sacrament of Marriage and the Anointing of the Sick.
FLAME: Middle and High School Youth
FLAME is the parish's youth group for students in grades six through twelve. It meets on the first and third Sundays of the month after the 10:30 AM Mass in the Community Center. The format combines meaningful discussion with games, food, music, and service projects. The aim is to give teens "a place to step away from the noise and simply be," to ask honest questions, and to discover how God is moving in their lives. Worship & Waffles and the Children's Choir give younger children an entry into parish life alongside their families.
The Connect Table, Dinner Church, and Small Groups
Newcomers and longtime parishioners meet at the Connect Table in the breezeway before or after Mass. Volunteers there help match visitors with a dinner church, a ministry, a life group, or a service opportunity that fits their interests and schedule.
Dinner Church is a regular practice at Lourdes. Host homes open their tables to small groups of friends and neighbors for a shared meal, a Gospel reflection, and conversation about faith. It is a simple, joyful expression of the parish's belief that something holy happens when people break bread together.
Small groups and ongoing formation opportunities include:
- Book Discussions and Book Club: Reading and reflecting on works of theology, spirituality, and contemporary Catholic thought.
- My Catholic Life: A formation resource that unpacks Catholic teaching in understandable, meaningful terms.
- Starting Point: A small-group experience designed to build relationships and explore faith.
- Living with the Mystics: A Monday evening group exploring the Christian mystical tradition.
- Lectio Divina: A Thursday prayer practice of slow, prayerful reading of Scripture, offered on Zoom.
- Meditation: A regular time of stillness and listening for God's voice.
Age-Based Community: 20s-30s, 50-ish, 60-ish, 70-ish
One of the most distinctive features of the parish is its network of age-based "Connection" ministries, each tailored to the rhythms and questions of a particular life stage:
- 20s-30s Connection: A laid-back community for young adults to grow spiritually, build friendships, and talk about faith in ways that connect to real life. Contact Seth Lee through the parish office.
- 50-ish Connection: Welcoming adults in their 40s, 50s, and 60s for social outings, conversation, and joyful connection. Contact Jose Silva.
- 60-ish Connection: An active community for adults in their 60s, focused on faith, justice, fellowship, and service. Contact Anne Casey.
- 70-ish Connection: A welcoming table for adults around their 70s, with a focus on friendship, service, and the joy of the Gospel in later life. Contact Mary Lewis.
Outreach Ministries: Latino, Asian, African American, LGBTQ+, Veterans, and More
Our Lady of Lourdes organizes its outreach around the conviction that the Body of Christ is not whole without the gifts of every community. The parish maintains dedicated ministries for several groups, each with a specific contact person and a regular rhythm of gatherings:
- Latino Outreach Ministry: Leads the second Sunday 10:30 AM Mass with readings in Spanish and Portuguese. Contact Daiana da Silva and Natalia Montoya.
- Asian Outreach Ministry: Leads the third Sunday 10:30 AM Mass with Tagalog Scripture readings and Filipino hospitality. Contact Joan Ash.
- African American Outreach Ministry: Leads the first Sunday Harambe Mass at 10:30 AM and is part of the Daytona Beach Black Clergy Alliance. Contact Stephanie Speller.
- LGBTQ+ Outreach Ministry: A welcoming space for LGBTQ+ individuals and families to grow in faith and community. Contact Arlene.
- Veterans' Outreach Ministry: Gathers on the last Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the OLL Café for fellowship, prayer, and service projects. All veterans and their spouses are welcome. Contact Dave Hostetler.
- Widows & Widowers Outreach: Monthly events and ongoing fellowship for those who have lost a spouse. Contact Deb Burrnet.
- Young Families Ministry: An inclusive group for families of every shape and size, with regular social events like Copper Bottom Distillery Night. Contact Jeff Dowell.
The parish also has niche community groups like the Fairways to Heaven Golf Connection (1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 3 PM at Crane Lakes Golf & Country Club in Port Orange), an Ukulele Jam for musicians of any skill level, and Fun Fit Mondays for parishioners who want to stay active together.
Care, Healing, and Recovery
The parish runs a network of small groups for those walking through difficult seasons:
- Anxiety & Emotional Support Group: Meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 6:30 PM in the East Wing Living Room, co-hosted by Karla MacIntyre and Pam LeFils.
- Nar-Anon Family Group: A weekly Monday evening meeting at 6 PM in the Café Meeting Room for family and friends of those struggling with drug addiction.
- GriefShare Support: A faith-based grief support program.
- Caregiver Support and Divorce Survival Guide: Ongoing support groups for those caring for loved ones or navigating separation and divorce.
- HIV/AIDS Support: A confidential ministry of presence and accompaniment.
- Divorced, Separated & Remarried Outreach: A welcoming group that meets for dinner and fellowship.
Ministry to the Sick and Homebound extends the Eucharist to parishioners who cannot attend Mass, in their homes, in hospitals, or in care facilities. Fr. Phil and commissioned lay ministers bring Communion, prayer, and companionship to those who request a visit.
All Life Is Sacred: A Pro-Life Witness
The All Life Is Sacred Ministry articulates the parish's commitment to the dignity of human life from conception to natural death. The ministry holds that being pro-life means standing with the unborn, with immigrants seeking safety, with those living in poverty, and even with those on death row. Parishioners regularly travel more than two hours to Florida State Prison in Starke to maintain a prayerful, silent vigil during state executions, witnessing to mercy and the belief that no one is beyond the reach of God's love. The ministry also advocates for immigrants and for the vulnerable.
Service Beyond the Parish Walls
Our Lady of Lourdes partners with a long list of local nonprofits across Volusia County, including the First Step Shelter, Family Renew, the Council on Aging, Halifax Hospital Auxiliary, Habitat for Humanity, the Pregnancy Crisis Center, the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler, the Volusia Literacy Council, Easter Seals, the Halifax Humane Society, and many others. Each organization has a phone number and welcomes volunteers.
Several ongoing ministries focus on direct service to those in need:
- Lourdes Pantry: Open Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8 to 10:30 AM, the parish food pantry serves approximately 500 people each week.
- Helping Hands Ministry: On the third Saturday of every month from 7:30 to 10:30 AM at the Lourdes Pavilion, volunteers provide hygiene items, clothing, and a dignified "shopping" experience for homeless neighbors.
- Homeless Mat Ministry: On the last Monday of each month from 1 to 3 PM, volunteers weave plastic mats and knit or crochet prayer shawls for those in need.
- Breaking Bread Ministry: A network of teams that shop, cook, serve, and clean up for parish meals, the Sunday Café, Saturday Emmaus Evenings, and Meals-to-Go bags for homeless neighbors.
- CarePortal: An online platform connecting real-time needs from local child welfare and family agencies with parish volunteers who can respond quickly. Contact Sara Truhlar.
- Pathway Adolescent Prison Ministry: For ten years, the parish has partnered with Pathway to mentor incarcerated youth in Volusia County, beginning with a two-evening retreat and continuing with twice-monthly mentoring visits. Contact Brian or Lynne Seeber.
- Rummage Sale (A Creation Care Ministry): Held at 1020 N. Halifax Avenue (just north of the church), with shopping hours Fridays and Saturdays 9 AM to 2 PM and donation hours on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
- Plant & Gardening Ministry: Meets the third Saturday of each month at 9 AM to care for the parish grounds.
F.A.I.T.H. Justice Ministry
Our Lady of Lourdes is one of thirty diverse congregations across Volusia County that make up F.A.I.T.H. (Fighting Against Injustice Toward Harmony). Unlike direct service ministries, F.A.I.T.H. focuses on the root causes of community problems through collective action. Parishioners participate in House Meetings, identify priority issues (such as mental health and addiction, criminal justice, education and youth, and eldercare), and gather at a Nehemiah Action Assembly to hold public officials accountable for fair and just policies. The parish's Justice Ministry Team is the local engine for this work.
Mary Ministry and the Multilingual Rosary
The Mary Ministry gathers parishioners around devotion to the Blessed Mother and the practice of saying "yes" to God in everyday life. A monthly Zoom discussion on the first Saturday of each month at 9 AM reflects on passages from Pope Francis and the Virgin Mary. The Multilingual Rosary, prayed weekly on Sundays at 10 AM in the chapel, offers each decade in a different language as a sign of the universal nature of the Church.
Beliefs and the Creed
Our Lady of Lourdes identifies as a Roman Catholic parish. Its mission statement affirms that it is a diverse community called to love the God we cannot see by loving the neighbor we can, that it is called to prayer and action, that all it has is a gift from God, and that the dignity and sacredness of every human life inspires its advocacy for the poor, the oppressed, and the exploited.
The parish professes the Nicene Creed in its worship, affirming belief in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth; in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God; in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life; in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church; in one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins; and in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Leadership Team
The parish is led by:
- Fr. Philip Egitto - Pastor
- Rachel Powell - Director of Worship & Liturgy
- Seth Lee - Pastor's Assistant and Associate Director of Worship
- Hillary Walker - Intergenerational Ministry and Videographer
The parish office can be reached at (386) 255-0433 or frontdesk@ourladyoflourdesdaytona.com. Lisa Cacchione coordinates parish administration, registration, and sacramental records; Linda Thale serves on the office staff.
Giving and Staying Connected
Parishioners can support Our Lady of Lourdes in several ways: through WeShare online giving, through the parish's Zelle account (OLLZelle@ourladyoflourdesdaytona.com), through PayPal, by check mailed or dropped in the Sunday collection, or with cash and checks in giving envelopes at Mass. Gifts support liturgy, online Mass production, Lourdes Academy, Lourdes Pantry, Helping Hands, the Community Breakfast, First Step Shelter, and Family Renew.
The parish shares a weekly email newsletter, a weekly bulletin, and frequent updates on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest. Visitors and newcomers are invited to fill out a Connect Card or a Parish Registration Form online to begin connecting with the parish community.