St. Charles Borromeo: a fast 50 years

The Port Charlotte parish celebrates its golden jubilee, recalls sacraments, storms and other joys and trials

FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF REPORT

Posted: 06.19.09

COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF VENICE
St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Port Charlotte celebrated 50 years as a parish on June 7. Renovations to the current church were completed in 2008 after Hurricane Charley damaged the church roof, the school and parish ministry building.

PORT CHARLOTTE | Things move fast at St. Charles Borromeo Parish.

A request to establish a parish was answered within a few months and the first church was built in 25 days and dedicated 51 days after the parish was established.

So much more has happened in the 50 years since St. Charles Borromeo was established May 29, 1959, by Bishop Coleman Carroll as part of the Archdiocese of Miami. Weddings, baptisms, first Communions, confirmations, funerals – the important moments in the spiritual lives of the parishioners – took place within the parish.

The parish history and special milestones were commemorated June 7 with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane.

He was joined by current and former priests of the parish, including current pastor Father Thomas Heck and parochial vicars Fathers Simeon Jeannot and Leo Smith; former priests included Fathers John Ludden, Leo Riley and Bryan Finerty.

“This is not about a building; it is about faith and you as a Catholic community,” Bishop Dewane said.

Building a church from the ground up has not been easy, he added. But what kept the community alive through the years has been its love of Christ.

Bishop Dewane made a special point to ask the parishioners to thank those who have built what they have, and also thank the priests and other religious who served the parish for the contributions they have made to the faith.

In 1959, 300 Catholics in Port Charlotte requested their own parish. Passionist Father Hilary McGowan was named first pastor and a church was built and opened by July 1959.

According to parish historians, the altar for the first Mass was borrowed from the Sacred Heart Convent in nearby Punta Gorda because the new altar had not arrived in time for the dedication. The Sacred Heart choir also participated in the liturgy that day. The original church had room for about 500 parishioners.

Through the years, several additions were made to the original church. However, the parish population tripled. It became apparent that the “small” church on Easy Street could no longer accommodate the quickly growing parish.

The parish became part of the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1968 and then in 1984 was folded into the newly established Diocese of Venice.

A new church with seating for 1,200 people was dedicated in 1978. Additions through the years helped the parish continue to grow and thrive.

Hurricane Charley struck in August 2004 damaging the school, parish ministry building and the roof of the church. After those repairs were completed, it was decided to renovate the church, which was dedicated in March 2008.

Father Heck replaced Father Ludden in February 2009.

“The story of the parish is more than an account of how a piece of farmland was transformed with new buildings,” Father Heck said. “Rather, it is a story of people, the people of God – bishops, priests, sisters, men, women, and children, who formed a community of worship and service. As members of this community of faith, we not only look back at our roots, but also recognize the continuing growth of a vibrant community, united in the Eucharist and in service.”

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