San Pedro Center’s beautiful lakefront setting exudes peace and tranquility. The property is on 480 acres of protected wetlands and lush Florida forest. It is a place apart from the noise and demands of daily life and a perfect space for those seeking time to deepen and enhance their relationship with God.

The land on which San Pedro sits was purchased in the 1940’s and 50’s by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley, the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine. With an uncanny ability to predict the growth patterns of the State, he bought up key parcels of real estate with sites for future parishes in mind. Nicknamed “ten-acre Joe”, the Archbishop turned out to be prescient in his choices of land.  San Pedro was named after the Spanish explorer Don Pedro Menendez who would become the first Spanish governor of St. Augustine. Fr. Hubert Reason was named the first director of San Pedro. Under his leadership the dorms and main hall were built with plans for use as a Catholic summer camp. When Fidel Castro came into power in the 50’s, the camp side was turned into housing for some of the first  Cuban refugees.

Since 1979, Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular (T.O. R.) Have provided the presence of a living, praying community at San Pedro. Under their direction, the Center provides retreats, spiritual formation programs and educational courses for the Catholic people and parishes of the Diocese of Orlando.