About Saint Agnes · Naples, Florida
Saint Agnes Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Venice in Florida, located at 7775 Vanderbilt Beach Road in Naples, FL. Founded in 1999 as a mission of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and elevated to parish status in 2007, it is now a large, vibrant community of more than 5,200 registered families served by a pastor, three parochial vicars, and four deacons. The parish is led by Very Rev. Robert Kantor, V.F., and centers its life on the Eucharist, offering multiple daily and weekend Masses in English and Spanish, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and a wide range of faith formation, youth, family, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1999
- Patron
- St. Agnes
- Rector
- Very Rev. Robert Kantor, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
St. Agnes is a large but warmly welcoming parish rooted in the Eucharist, with eight weekend Masses (one in Spanish) and a daily Mass that is livestreamed for the homebound. Faith growth is supported through daily Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday and weekday Confession, RCIA/OCIA, Bible Study (English and Spanish), K–5 Family Faith Formation, the Edge middle-school and Life Teen high-school youth programs, plus a vibrant music ministry and many service opportunities. With more than 5,200 families and active ministries for children, young adults, couples, and Hispanic parishioners, newcomers find plenty of ways to connect, serve, and pray together.
Mass times at Saint Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00–10:00 AM in the main church (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, open visitation in the Prayer Chapel of the main church
- First Saturday of the month, 9:00 AM–10:00 AM
- Registered adorers have a keypad code for entry 4:00 PM–8:00 AM
Our Story — From Mission to Parish
St. Agnes began in October 1999 as a mission of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, with Masses first celebrated in the cafeteria of Oak Ridge Middle School before moving to Gulf Coast High School in 2002. After years of planning, a successful $7.25 million capital campaign, and a 2002 groundbreaking, the new worship site was dedicated by Bishop Frank Dewane on November 19, 2006, and formally erected as a parish on March 12, 2007. Fr. Robert Kantor, who had been assigned as administrator, was installed as pastor in July 2010 and continues to lead the community today.
- 1999 – Mission established under St. John the Evangelist
- 2002 – Capital campaign raises $7.25 million; groundbreaking
- August 15, 2006 – First Mass in the new church (Feast of the Assumption)
- November 19, 2006 – Church dedicated by Bishop Frank Dewane
- March 12, 2007 – Erected as a parish; Fr. Robert Kantor named administrator
- July 2010 – Fr. Kantor installed as pastor
Architecture & Campus
The complex was designed by Andrea Clark Brown Architects in a Southwest-style mission idiom. The 28,000-square-foot main church seats 1,500 parishioners 'in the round,' with soaring wood ceilings, polished limestone floors accented by rainforest marble, peach travertine interior and exterior cladding, and abundant stained glass. A separate 2,500-square-foot chapel supports both antiphonal and traditional seating. The exterior is finished in adobe-style stone with two large bell towers. A Parish Hall was added on a neighboring property to support the parish's growing programs.
- Andrea Clark Brown Architects – Southwest mission design
- 28,000 sq ft main church, 1,500 seats in the round
- 2,500 sq ft separate chapel (antiphonal or traditional seating)
- Wood ceilings, stained glass, limestone and rainforest marble floors
- Peach travertine cladding; two large bell towers
- Parish Hall on adjacent property
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Very Rev. Robert Kantor, V.F., assisted by three parochial vicars, five deacons, and a large lay staff. The team includes a Business Manager (Jeffrey Vespo), Stewardship Coordinator (Gloria Carter), Faith Formation Director (Rose Chambers), Coordinator of Multigenerational Catechesis / Youth Minister (Robert Massey), Music Director (Monica Osterhaus), Sacristan (Sullivan O'Malley), Bookkeeper (Robert Massey), and several administrative assistants and maintenance staff, including bilingual reception support for Hispanic Ministry.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Robert Kantor, V.F.
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Alan Baldarelli, Rev. Alejandro Giraldo-Roldán, Rev. Binu Joseph
- Deacons: Jesus "Jay" Valdes, Mark Osterhaus, Richard Dahn, Roberto Landrón, Dick Surrusco, Hugh Muller
- Music Director: Monica Osterhaus
- Faith Formation: Rose Chambers (Director) and Robert Massey (Youth / Multigenerational)
- Hispanic Ministry coordinator: Luz Galeano (admin support); Daisy Ramirez and Laura Arias also assist
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Agnes is whole-family and multi-generational. K–5 Family Faith Formation combines monthly Sunday-afternoon assemblies with at-home lessons using the Augustine Institute's Word of Life curriculum and a Sunday Mass Journal. Older students continue through the Edge middle-school program and the Life Teen high-school program, both of which weave in stewardship and require community-service hours (15 per one-year program, 30 for two-year sacramental preparation such as Confirmation). Adult faith enrichment includes OCIA (formerly RCIA), Bible Study in English and Spanish, the Sisters in Spirit women's group, and a Young Adults community for ages 18–35.
- K–5 Family Faith Formation – Rose Chambers, Coordinator of Children's Catechesis
- Edge (middle school) and Life Teen (high school) – Robert Massey
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) – Robert Massey
- Bible Study (English) and Estudio Bíblico (Spanish)
- Sisters in Spirit – Daisy Ramirez
- Young Adults (ages 18–35) – Robert Massey
- Children's Liturgy of the Word – Michael & Marianne Shahla
Liturgical & Music Ministries
A large liturgical team supports the parish's many Masses. Schedules are coordinated by the Stewardship Coordinator so that most ministers do not have to serve every Sunday and can plan around other commitments. Music is led by Music Director Monica Osterhaus and includes both adult and children's choirs plus instrumentalists. The parish livestreams the 8:30 AM daily Mass, the Saturday Vigil, the 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM Sunday Masses on its website and Facebook.
- Altar Servers (Children and Adults)
- Adult and Children's Choirs, Instrumentalists
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (including Homebound/Hospital)
- Lectors, Sacristans, Ushers, Greeters
- Sound and Screen team
- Stewardship Coordinator: Gloria Carter
Outreach, Service & Hispanic Ministry
Service at St. Agnes takes many forms, from liturgical volunteering to charity work. The parish supports parish-wide stewardship, Vacation Bible School, seasonal decorating, a childcare ministry, and Catholic Charities / St. Vincent de Paul style outreach (e.g., packing 'breakfast bags' for the homeless, the CRS Rice Bowl in Lent). The Hispanic Ministry, supported by Rev. Alejandro Giraldo-Roldán and lay staff, includes the 1:00 PM Spanish Mass, a Spanish Bible Study, the Enriquecimiento Matrimonial marriage-enrichment program, and bilingual sacramental preparation.
- Seasonal Decorating, Childcare Ministry
- Vacation Bible School and youth service projects
- Stewardship — Time, Talent, Treasure
- Hispanic Ministry: Spanish Mass, Bible Study, Marriage Enrichment
- Marriage Preparation — Laurie Droullard
- Enrichment for adults, young adults, and families
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond weekday Mass, the parish keeps a rich devotional rhythm. The main church's Prayer Chapel hosts daily Eucharistic Adoration from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, and the parish chaplet schedule includes the daily Rosary before morning Mass, the Divine Mercy Chaplet on weekday mornings following 9:00 AM Adoration, Oración Centrante (Centering Prayer) on weekday mornings, and a weekly Family Holy Hour. First Saturdays feature a 9:00 AM Adoration hour as well.
- Eucharistic Adoration Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–4:00 PM in Prayer Chapel
- Daily Rosary
- Divine Mercy Chaplet after weekday Adoration
- Oración Centrante (Centering Prayer)
- Family Holy Hour
- First Saturday Adoration 9:00–10:00 AM
Sacraments
St. Agnes prepares parishioners for all the sacraments. Reconciliation is heard every Saturday morning in the main church. Baptism Preparation is arranged through the parish office. First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation is integrated into the K–5 family faith formation curriculum and typically requires two consecutive years of preparation. Marriage Preparation is coordinated by Laurie Droullard and includes both English and Spanish-language tracks. OCIA (formerly RCIA) walks unbaptized and baptized-Catholic adults through initiation, and Confirmation for teens is a two-year program with required service hours.
- Reconciliation – Saturdays 9:00–10:00 AM or by appointment
- Baptism Preparation – call the parish office
- First Reconciliation / First Communion – part of K–5 family faith formation
- Marriage Preparation – Laurie Droullard
- OCIA / RCIA – Robert Massey
- Confirmation – two-year teen program with service hours
Visit, Connect & Stay Informed
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed by Pastor Fr. Robert Kantor and the parish staff. The parish can be reached at (239) 592-1949 or [email protected]. Online giving is available via the parish website (text keyword 'StAgnes' to 833-694-0460). Livestreamed Masses, bulletins, ministry sign-ups, and parish news are accessible through the website, the Facebook page (@StAgnesNaples), and the free myParish app (search 'myParish' in the App Store or Google Play).
- Phone: (239) 592-1949; Fax: (239) 354-4462
- Email: [email protected]
- Online giving: text 'StAgnes' to 833-694-0460
- Facebook: facebook.com/StAgnesNaples
- myParish app (iOS / Android)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas Glackin1999–2006 (mission era)
Pastor of St. John the Evangelist who envisioned and spearheaded the St. Agnes mission; formed the planning group in 2001 and guided the design and capital campaign.
- Fr. Robert Kantor2007–present
Assigned as administrator when St. Agnes became a parish on March 12, 2007; installed as pastor in July 2010. Continues to lead the parish as Very Rev. Robert Kantor, V.F.