Florida Catholic | St. Charles Borromeo Church Dedicated

St. Charles Borromeo church dedicated

Major renovation creates a new home for parishioners.

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 04.11.08

Bishop Frank J. Dewane is joined by more than 30 priests as he celebrates the Eucharist during the dedication Mass for the church at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Port Charlotte on March 24. The altar and back walls were renovated during the past year.
BOB REDDY | FC

PORT CHARLOTTE | Gloria In Excelsis Deo.

These are words — Glory to God in the Highest — now emblazoned above the altar at St. Charles Borromeo Parish as they show the spirit and resilience of this community.

During the dedication Mass for the church, that spirit shone forth when the parishioners gave their pastor, Father John Ludden, a standing ovation for leading them on a journey of renewal that began after Hurricane Charley in 2004. It was something parishioners agreed he deserved as they had just finished the Mass that officially dedicated their church on the day after Easter.

BOB REDDY | FC
Father John Ludden, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Port Charlotte, lights one of the candles during the March 24 dedication Mass.

“You have glorified God, you have been faithful to his word. God’s church is alive,” Father Ludden said.

The church went through a variety of renovations with new interior artwork, a new altar, new stained-glass windows reflecting the Stations of the Cross around the church and the life of St. Charles Borromeo. The renovation project was called “Transforming Tomorrow, Embracing Today.”

Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated the Rite of Dedication of a Church with a sprinkling of the walls and people with holy water. He later smeared the new altar and four points on the walls with the chrism oil blessed during Holy Week. Father Ludden lit a candle under the spots where the walls were blessed with the oil.

The solemn and beautiful ceremony had an excitement about it; with a new interior of the church that was brighter and reflective of the fresh beginning being celebrated, few in the pews could hold back the beaming smiles.

Bishop Dewane said the parishioners made the rededication possible “through your work and you also made it possible through your faith. This is God’s worship space, but nothing is without the people of God.”

The idea for renovating came after the hurricane. Roof repairs and a rebuilding of the school took precedence, but Father Ludden and the pastoral council recognized the need to renovate the church and the “Transforming Tomorrow, Embracing Today” capital campaign was born. It had been more than 25 years since any work had been done.

Father Ludden credited the parishioners with their dedication, commitment and patience while the work was completed. Masses were celebrated for months in the school cafeteria. It took longer to renovate than to build the original church.

The parishioners lined up following the Mass to praise Father Ludden and Bishop Dewane for their commitment to the church.

The $1.5 million sanctuary renovation was just one part in a bigger project that will also include a $4 million parish life center, which will serve as a resource for the parishioners and as a witness to the community.

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St. Charles Borromeo church dedicated

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