About Ascension · Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Ascension Parish (Church of the Ascension) is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Venice located at 6025 Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Founded in 1955 as a mission of Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Fort Myers and formally established as its own parish on April 25, 1962, it served the island community for six decades before being destroyed by Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022. The parish is historically notable for hosting the cloistered Poor Clare Monastery of San Damiano (Order of St. Clare) on its grounds since 1992. After the hurricane, Ascension parishioners have been welcomed at St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs while Bishop Frank J. Dewane and the diocese plan a new 14,670-square-foot church/Parish Hall designed to seat 738, targeted for groundbreaking in early 2026 and completion in late spring 2027.
- Established
- 1955 (as a mission); 1962 (as a parish, established April 25, 1962)
- Patron
- The Ascension of the Lord
- Rector
- Vacant (Father William L. Adams, S.T.L. — Pastor since 2002 — has since retired in the wake of Hurricane Ian)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
Ascension Parish has long been a small, tightly-knit island Catholic community on Estero Boulevard, anchored by the cloistered Poor Clare Monastery of San Damiano on its grounds — a rare contemplative presence in the Diocese of Venice whose nuns have offered prayers and hosts to the parish for decades. The parish traditionally served both year-round island residents and seasonal visitors with a strong devotional life, including the annual Blessing of the Fleet. Today, even though the church was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022, parishioners are being shepherded by Bishop Frank J. Dewane and the Diocese of Venice through a major rebuild (a 738-seat church/Parish Hall targeted for completion in 2027), with naming opportunities and continued outreach supported through St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs. Visiting or joining Ascension now means joining a parish in resurrection — a community actively witnessing its church rise again as a landmark of faith and recovery on Fort Myers Beach.
Mass times at Ascension
Weekly Mass schedule
History of the Church of the Ascension
The Church of the Ascension began as a mission of Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Fort Myers in 1955, when the original church was dedicated by Bishop Joseph P. Hurley of the Diocese (later Archdiocese) of Miami. A rectory was added but was heavily damaged during Hurricane Donna in 1960. On April 25, 1962, the mission was elevated to parish status. Just eight months later, on December 17, 1962, a fire broke out in the church; Christmas Mass was held amid the charred altar and pews. Groundbreaking for the new church was September 22, 1963, and the new church was formally dedicated January 26, 1964. Over the decades the parish expanded, was renovated (1979), and built a Retirement Center for Priests (1976) that in 1992 became a convent for the Poor Clares. The entire complex was devastated by Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022, and a new 14,670-square-foot church/Parish Hall seating 738 is now planned for completion in 2027.
- 1955 — Mission established under Saint Francis Xavier Parish; original church dedicated by Bishop Joseph P. Hurley
- 1960 — Rectory damaged by Hurricane Donna
- April 25, 1962 — Mission elevated to parish status
- December 17, 1962 — Fire destroys church interior; Christmas Mass held amid ruins
- September 22, 1963 — Groundbreaking for new church
- January 26, 1964 — New church formally dedicated
- 1972 — Land clearing begins for new rectory
- 1975 — Grounds renovated; church exterior painted and restored
- 1976 — Retirement Center for Priests built on parish grounds
- 1978 — Capital campaign launched for renovation and expansion
- May 24, 1979 — First Mass in renovated/expanded church
- December 7, 1979 — Formal blessing of renovated church
- 1988 — Three Poor Clare nuns arrive; San Damiano community begins on parish grounds
- 1990 — Father Thomas Goggin appointed Pastor
- 1992 — Retirement Home for Priests converted to convent for Poor Clares
- 2003 — Old rectory demolished
- 2005 — New rectory completed
- November 2007 — Marble statue of the Ascension (imported from Italy) installed
- September 23, 2009 — Bishop Frank J. Dewane formally establishes San Damiano Monastery as a monastery of the Order of St. Clare
- July 23, 2002 — Death of Father Goggin; Father William Adams becomes Pastor
- September 28, 2022 — Hurricane Ian destroys church, rectory, Parish Hall, and severely damages monastery
- October 2025 — Bishop Dewane announces rebuild plans; conceptual renderings released
Hurricane Ian and the Rebuild
On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian struck Fort Myers Beach with 150 mph winds and a storm surge of 10–15 feet. The surge pushed in the church's front doors, tossed pews like matchsticks, flowed over the altar, and blew out the stained-glass windows. The monastery's eight-foot walls were breached, the generator was knocked out, and the ground floor of the monastery — including a replica of the Porziuncola chapel built by St. Francis of Assisi — was gutted. Pastor Father William Adams, Parochial Vicar Father Grzegorz Klich, and four Poor Clare nuns sheltered on the monastery's second floor and were stranded for 72 hours before rescue on October 1, 2022. Remarkably, the statues of St. Joseph and Our Lady of Guadalupe were found undamaged in the church ruins, and the statue of St. Francis of Assisi floated across the monastery chapel and wedged itself, intact, against the cloister gate. Cleanup began October 10, 2022, with the help of a parishioner who cleared a path onto the property, and diocesan contractors later removed the wreckage of nine houses that had ended up on the property. In October 2025, Bishop Frank J. Dewane announced plans to rebuild on the same site, with conceptual designs by architect Adrian Karapici of AM Design Group. The new structure will be a 14,670-square-foot combined church/Parish Hall seating 738 — significantly larger than the previous church — engineered to withstand 175 mph winds and elevated against storm surge. Notable features include soaring roof lines, a hurricane-resistant glass front with Trinity symbolism, a bell tower with a backlit open cross visible after sunset, a high-vaulted narthex incorporating preserved chandeliers and wooden roof elements from the old church, an enhanced Memorial Garden, a commercial kitchen and partitionable Parish Hall, and an enhanced lake feature. The estimated total cost is $14.5 million (with over $2.5 million already spent on cleanup and site work). Groundbreaking is targeted for early 2026, with completion in late spring 2027.
- Storm date: September 28, 2022
- Storm stats: 150 mph winds, 10–15 feet of storm surge
- Rescue: 72 hours after the storm (October 1, 2022)
- Items found undamaged: statues of St. Joseph, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and St. Francis of Assisi
- Conceptual architect: Adrian Karapici, AM Design Group
- New structure: 14,670 sq ft combined church/Parish Hall, seats 738
- Wind resistance: designed for 175 mph winds
- Estimated total cost: $14.5 million (with $2.5M+ already spent on cleanup)
- Targeted groundbreaking: early 2026
- Targeted completion: late spring 2027
San Damiano Monastery of St. Clare
Since 1988, the parish grounds have hosted the cloistered Poor Clare Monastery of San Damiano (later formally established in 2009 as a monastery of the Order of St. Clare by Bishop Frank J. Dewane). The Poor Clares follow a contemplative life of prayer, solitude and silence in the tradition of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi. Their chapel is a replica of the Porziuncola chapel built by St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, and includes etched stained-glass Stations of the Cross. Three Poor Clare nuns arrived in 1988; by 1992 (under Father Thomas Goggin) the on-site Retirement Home for Priests was converted into a convent for the community. The sisters do not minister outside their residence but dedicate their lives to prayer for others — including the production of monthly shipments of communion hosts for Ascension Parish. After Hurricane Ian, the four resident nuns and Abbess Sister Mary Frances of Jesus Fortin sheltered in the monastery for 72 hours before being rescued. They later expressed determination to rebuild, but ultimately elected not to return to the new Ascension site after Father Adams's retirement.
- Monastery type: Cloistered contemplative community (Poor Clares / Order of St. Clare)
- Community founded on Fort Myers Beach grounds: 1988
- Convent established in former Retirement Home for Priests: 1992
- Formal canonical establishment as Order of St. Clare monastery: September 23, 2009 by Bishop Dewane
- Chapel feature: replica of the Porziuncola chapel of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy
- Resident nuns at time of Hurricane Ian: Abbess Sister Mary Frances of Jesus Fortin; Sister Maria Marra Miltitante Rosales; Sister Maria Ella de Nuestra Senora del Pilar Alindogan; Sister Maria Imelda de Nuestra Senora de la Esperanza Agrabante
- Practice: monthly shipment of communion hosts to Ascension Parish
Clergy and Parish Leadership
Father William L. Adams, S.T.L., succeeded Father Thomas Goggin as Pastor in 2002 after Father Goggin's death on July 23, 2002, and led the parish for two decades — including through Hurricanes Charley (2004) and Irma (2017) — until Hurricane Ian in September 2022. Father Grzegorz Klich served as Parochial Vicar alongside Father Adams at the time of the storm. The parish secretary is Ms. Christiane Johnson. Ascension Parish in Fort Myers Beach, Inc. (corporate entity) lists Rev. Msgr. Stephen McNamara as President/Treasurer and Rev. Volodymyr Smeryk as Secretary/Treasurer — both diocesan officials based in Venice. After Hurricane Ian, Father Adams retired and the parish is currently without a resident pastor; Sacramental needs are being served through St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs.
- Rev. William L. Adams, S.T.L. — Pastor (2002–retirement after Hurricane Ian)
- Rev. Grzegorz Klich — Parochial Vicar (at time of Hurricane Ian)
- Ms. Christiane Johnson — Parish Secretary
- Rev. Msgr. Stephen McNamara — Corporate President/Treasurer
- Rev. Volodymyr Smeryk — Corporate Secretary/Treasurer
Visiting Fort Myers Beach and the Parish Site
Fort Myers Beach is a barrier-island community on Estero Island in Lee County, Florida, known for its white sand, fishing heritage, and the annual Blessing of the Fleet — a tradition Ascension Parish has hosted for decades. The parish sits directly on Estero Boulevard, the island's main north–south thoroughfare. The property was accessible only on foot from Estero Boulevard until October 15, 2022, after Hurricane Ian. The rebuild design preserves the existing Memorial Garden, adds ample parking, new street access, an elevated driveway to the front of the church, and a connected level walkway from the front entrance to the Parish Hall. Conceptual drawings, the livestream recording of the October 10, 2025 Information Session, and a slideshow of the new design are publicly available at the Diocese's Ascension Parish page.
- Address: 6025 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
- Phone: (239) 463-6754
- Local landmark tradition: annual Blessing of the Fleet
- Diocesan rebuild site: https://dioceseofvenice.org/ascension-parish/
- Email signup: https://dioceseofvenice.flocknote.com/thenewascension
Getting Involved and Supporting the Rebuild
Parishioners and benefactors are invited to support the reconstruction of Ascension Parish. Bishop Dewane's October 2025 announcement noted that approximately 850 letters and emails had been sent to parishioners informing them of the plans. Naming opportunities for aspects of the new construction — including the bell tower, sanctuary, narthex, classrooms, and the enhanced Memorial Garden — are available by emailing [email protected]. Information about donations and other ways to give is available through the Diocese of Venice. During the rebuild period, parishioners are encouraged to register with and worship at St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs to maintain Sacramental ties and community life.
- Naming opportunities: email [email protected]
- Donations: via Diocese of Venice 'Ways to Give'
- Parish contact: [email protected]
- Parish phone: (239) 463-6754
- Sacramental home during rebuild: St. Leo the Great Parish, Bonita Springs, (239) 992-0901
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Mission priests (under Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Fort Myers)1955–1962
Original mission church dedicated by Bishop Joseph P. Hurley in 1955.
- First Pastor (at parish establishment)April 25, 1962 – c. 1971
First pastor upon elevation of the mission to parish status on April 25, 1962. Oversaw the 1962 fire recovery, 1963 groundbreaking, and January 26, 1964 dedication of the new church building.
- Rev. Eugene J. McCarthy1971–1990 (19 years)
Ordained June 19, 1960, in Dublin, Ireland; previously Administrator and then Pastor of St. Raphael Parish, Lehigh Acres (1967–1971). At Ascension he oversaw the 1978 capital campaign, the 1979 renovation and expansion, and construction of the Retirement Center for Priests. Was incardinated into the newly established Diocese of Venice. Died May 15, 2023, at age 89.
- Rev. Thomas Goggin1990–2002 (died July 23, 2002)
Converted the Retirement Home for Priests into a convent for the Poor Clare Nuns of San Damiano in 1992.
- Rev. William L. Adams, S.T.L.2002–retirement (post-Hurricane Ian)
Succeeded Father Goggin after his death. Oversaw the 2003–2005 new rectory, the 2007 installation of the imported Italian Ascension statue, and the establishment of San Damiano Monastery as an Order of St. Clare monastery in 2009. Sheltered in the monastery during Hurricane Ian (September 28, 2022); stranded 72 hours before rescue on October 1, 2022. Has since retired and will not return to the new Ascension.
- Rev. Grzegorz KlichParochial Vicar at time of Hurricane Ian (2022)
Served alongside Father Adams and sheltered in the monastery during Hurricane Ian.
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