About Sacred Heart · Punta Gorda, Florida
Sacred Heart Catholic Parish has been the Catholic presence in Punta Gorda, Florida since 1929, when Father J. Carroll celebrated the first Mass in a small church seating 125 on Christmas morning. It was formally established as a parish in September 1954 and today serves the community from its current church at 211 West Charlotte Avenue in the Diocese of Venice. Its motto — 'It's Not The Building, It's The People!' — captures a parish identity forged through a century of mission life, growth, and rebuilding after Hurricane Charley destroyed the original church in 2004.
- Established
- 1929
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Russell A. Wright (Administrator, effective July 1, 2026)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a long-standing parish rooted in Punta Gorda since 1929, offering daily Mass Monday through Saturday plus three Sunday Masses and weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays — a clear, simple schedule for Catholics wanting the rhythm of daily Mass. The parish runs a Family Faith Formation program with both Sunday-morning and Wednesday-evening sessions, sacramental preparation for Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation, and active deacon ministry. With Father Mario Kono continuing as Parochial Vicar and a new Administrator welcomed in 2026, the community is simultaneously honoring its twenty-two-year pastor Father Jerry Kaywell and looking forward — visitors and new parishioners are warmly invited into a parish whose own motto reminds everyone that 'It's Not The Building, It's The People!'
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment — the parish website invites you to call the office (941-639-3957) to schedule the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Adoration times
- Fridays, 9:00 a.m.–10:10 a.m., every Friday of the month
Our Story — Catholic Presence Since 1929
Sacred Heart's history page tells a nearly century-long story of Catholic life in Punta Gorda. Long before the parish existed, the Catholic people of the area were served by mission priests from Tampa, Sebring, and Arcadia — Fathers Lawrence J. Flynn, P.J. O'Donahue, and John O'Dowd are named among them — and Sunday Mass was even held in the Charlotte Harbor Hotel at the Punta Gorda Mall. Father J. Carroll, formerly of Jacksonville, celebrated the first Mass at the new Sacred Heart Church on Christmas morning, December 25, 1929, in a building that seated 125. The parish motto remains 'It's Not The Building, It's The People!'
- 1929 — First Mass celebrated Christmas morning by Father J. Carroll (125-seat church)
- Pre-parish era — Mission priests from Tampa, Sebring, Arcadia
- Pre-parish Mass celebrated at the Charlotte Harbor Hotel in the Punta Gorda Mall
- Parish motto: 'It's Not The Building, It's The People!'
Buildings, Hurricane Charley, and Rebuilding
The parish's physical plant grew in stages: a 1965 church replaced the 1929 original; a 1972 hall and educational center on Cross Street (US 41 South); a 1976 rectory at 363 W. Charlotte Avenue; and a 1993 extension with the parish hall and administration offices. In August 2004, Hurricane Charley destroyed the church; the extension was repaired and used as the worship space until a new church was completed and dedicated in 2008 under the guidance of Father Kaywell.
- 1965 — original church replaced under Father Quinn
- 1972 — hall and educational center dedicated under Father Pick
- 1976 — rectory built at 363 W. Charlotte Ave. under Father Lawrence
- 1993 — extension with parish hall and admin offices completed
- 2004 — Hurricane Charley destroyed the church
- 2008 — New church completed and dedicated (Nov 23, 2008) under Father Kaywell
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Sacred Heart offers a Family Faith Formation program designed to bring families together in intergenerational faith learning. The parish also prepares children and youth for the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation — in accord with diocesan guidelines. Registration forms and a handbook for families are available through the parish education office.
- Family Faith Formation — Sunday morning and Wednesday evening options
- Sacramental preparation for Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation
- Registration forms available on the parish website under Faith Formation
- Contact the parish education office for program details
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently led by Rev. Russell A. Wright (Administrator, effective July 1, 2026), with Rev. Mario Kono continuing as Parochial Vicar. Two deacons — George Riegger and Michael Guy — minister alongside the priests. A parish secretary supports parish office operations. The community continues to remember Father Jerome 'Jerry' Kaywell, who was pastor for twenty-two years (2008–2025).
- Rev. Russell A. Wright — Administrator (effective July 1, 2026)
- Rev. Mario Kono — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon George Riegger
- Deacon Michael Guy
- Parish Secretary (office staff)
Contact, Giving, and Parish Communications
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 941-639-3957 (fax 941-639-2061) or by email at [email protected]. Online giving is available through SacredHeartFL.churchgiving.com. The parish maintains an active Facebook presence under the handle SacredHeartFL.
- Address: 211 West Charlotte Avenue, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
- Phone: 941-639-3957
- Email: [email protected]
- Online giving: https://SacredHeartFL.churchgiving.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/SacredHeartFL/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William J. O'Farrell1954–
First pastor when Sacred Heart was established as a parish in September 1954.
- Father John Scully
- Father Noah Brunner
- Father Adelbert Polletti
- Father H.J. Sweeney
- Msgr. David Bushey
- Father James Quinn
Pastor in 1965, when the little original church was replaced.
- Father Christopher Konkol
- Father James Henry
- Father Edward Pick
Under his administration in 1972, the hall and educational center on Cross St. (US 41 South) was dedicated.
- Father Francis J. Lawrence
Pastor in 1976, when the rectory at 363 W. Charlotte Ave. was built.
- Father David B. Cronin
- Father Joseph E. Stearns
- Father Robert J. Mongiello
- Father Jerome 'Jerry' Kaywell2008–2025
Appointed pastor in November 2008; guided the rebuilding of a new church completed in 2008 after Hurricane Charley (2004); served twenty-two years until his passing.
- Rev. Russell A. Wright2026–
Appointed Administrator effective July 1, 2026, by Bishop Frank J. Dewane; previously served in the Diocese of Venice at Ascension (Fort Myers Beach), St. Peter the Apostle (Naples), and St. Patrick (Sarasota).