Florida Catholic | St. Isabel Church Rebuilt Four Years After Hurricane

St. Isabel church rebuilt four years after hurricane

Parishioners rallied to raise money and build a special house of worship.

BOB REDDY | FLORIDA CATHOLIC VENICE BUREAU EDITOR

Published: 08.02.08

St. Isabel Parish pastor Father Christopher Senk delivers his homily inside the recently rebuilt church on Sanibel. The church was destroyed in 2004 during Hurricane Charley.
BOB REDDY | FC

SANIBEL | Life changed nearly four years ago on this peaceful island off the Lee County coast long known for its shelling and historic lighthouse.

On Aug. 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley came ashore with winds of more than 145 mph and left in its wake a swath of destruction.

Father Christopher Senk, pastor of St. Isabel Parish, evacuated the island ahead of the storm to help his aunt and uncle evacuate from Port Charlotte.

It has been a long road, but it has been worth it. God has brought this parish community together in a way that no one could have.”
— Father Christopher Senk

He left his parish believing that Hurricane Charley would be heading toward Tampa, or anywhere but Sanibel. Images from helicopters flying over Sanibel a day or two later revealed that the roof had been blow off his church.

“I saw the images and knew it was bad, but there was nothing I or anyone else could do,” Father Senk said. “They would not let anyone back on the island for days, so we had water coming through the roof the whole time. It was a helpless feeling.”

The first visit came seven days after the storm as he and a few parishioners who live on the island went to see how extensive the damage was.

“It was heartbreaking,” Father Senk said, referring to their first look at the damaged church. There was standing water, huge holes in the roof, the cupola was heavily damaged, the ceiling that was left was falling apart, pews were damaged and mold was everywhere. The organ, piano and the signature stained-glass windows on the north and south walls were some of the few things that were undamaged by wind or water.

“There was no doubt in the very beginning that we were going to start from scratch. We wanted a better feel for the church and we knew we had a lot of work to do.”

Because of island regulations, the church had to stay within the footprint of the destroyed church, but the parish rebuilding committee had opportunities for some imagination.

It was decided that the new church would have a raised roof and larger cupola. The pillars that had supported the roof were removed and this, in turn, opened up the interior allowing in more light, creating a brighter sanctuary. Work also included upgrading the office area and repairing minor damage to the parish hall and rectory.

“This was a labor of love,” said Shirley Bohnert, a longtime parishioner, as she beamed with pride outside of the newly completed church. “I have been here as we rebuilt this beautiful church, piece by piece.”

Bohnert was at the first post-Charley Mass on Aug. 22, 2004, with about 70 other islanders. “We knew Charley couldn’t stop what we have here. We are a parish, not just a building.”

The parish hall had relatively minor damage and immediately became the de facto worship space while the reconstruction of the church progressed.

Father Senk said that the rebuilding process was made more difficult because of the isolation of the island. Only islanders were initially allowed on and much of the media coverage of Charley was focused on Charlotte County.

“We felt forgotten,” he said. “But this parish rallied to come together and we now have something that everyone is a part of.”

Construction setbacks inflated the initial one-year construction completion estimates and subsequently the project costs to about $6 million.

Father Senk credits his parishioners, both full-time and part-time, with their commitment to getting back into the church while putting up with dust, noise and seemingly endless delays.

The restored church is reinforced and is almost entirely new, with the exception of the stained glass.

“We tried to rebuild in a way that represented where we are,” Father Senk said. “Something that was particular to the island.”

The new church doors have a large shell over them. There is a large bronze crucifix above the altar and bronze Stations of the Cross around the walls, as well as a new large bronze of St. Isabel and of Jesus sitting on a bench and St. Francis of Assisi standing in a new garden.

One item that makes the new church unique to Sanibel is a large bronze on the exterior east-facing wall, depicting Jesus walking along a shell-covered beach with children and the historic Sanibel Lighthouse in the background.

The church was completed just in time for Easter 2008. With the blessing of Bishop Frank J. Dewane to celebrate the Eucharist in the new church and an occupancy permit, the parishioners finally had a permanent place to worship.

Father Senk said there will be a formal dedication of the new sanctuary during the high season to ensure all parishioners are able to participate.

Nearly four years after Hurricane Charley, some work needs to be completed, including landscaping and touch-up work around the church.

“It has been a long road, but it has been worth it. God has brought this parish community together in a way that no one could have.”

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