About San Antonio · Port Charlotte, Florida
San Antonio Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Venice located in Port Charlotte, Florida. The parish was established as a mission on September 8, 1992, became a parish on April 20, 1993, and its church building was dedicated on October 15, 1995. It takes its name from the original Spanish Catholic Mission founded in 1567 on the north shores of the Peace River, and is patronally dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua, whose relic is venerated in the church. Today it serves the Port Charlotte community with daily Mass, two Sunday Masses, perpetual-style adoration, a robust Faith Formation program for children and youth, OCIA, and an extensive network of ministries and parish organizations.
- Established
- 1992
- Patron
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Rector
- Rev. Lawton Lang (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice
Why belong here
San Antonio is a warm, prayerful parish in the Diocese of Venice that combines traditional Catholic devotion with active lay life: a relic of St. Anthony of Padua in the Narthex, a Memorial Prayer Garden behind the altar, daily and Sunday Mass, two regular weekly adoration times, and Confession both Saturday afternoons and Thursday evenings. Families are supported by a complete Faith Formation track from K–6 Family Formation through EDGE (middle school), LIFETEEN/CHOSEN high school ministry, and a two-year Confirmation program. A wide network of ministries — Knights of Columbus, Columbiettes, Women's Guild, EMMAUS Men and Women, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, altar servers, the SAGE Garden Elves, Kitchen Angels, and a Prayer Blanket Ministry — gives parishioners many ways to serve.
Mass times at San Antonio
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 2:30 PM (until all are heard)
- Thursday at 6:30 PM (during Adoration with Reconciliation)
- By appointment — call the parish office at (941) 624-3799
Adoration times
- Tuesday — 8:30 AM (follows 8:00 AM Mass, with Divine Mercy Chaplet recitation)
- Thursday — 6:30 PM (Adoration with Reconciliation)
- Friday — 8:30 AM (First Friday)
About San Antonio Catholic Church
San Antonio Catholic Church in Port Charlotte, Florida is a parish of the Diocese of Venice named in memory of the first Spanish Catholic Mission built on the north shores of the Peace River in 1567. Established as a mission in 1992, formally erected as a parish in 1993, and with its church dedicated on October 15, 1995, it is patronally dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. The parish describes itself as imparting a calm, peaceful, and prayerful atmosphere, with a lushly landscaped Memorial Prayer Garden behind the altar and an adjoining Ministry Building that houses Faith Formation classrooms, Music Ministry, Youth Ministry, Pastoral Ministry, administrative offices, a Conference Room, and a Meeting Room.
- Mission established: September 8, 1992
- Parish erected: April 20, 1993
- Church dedicated: October 15, 1995
- Patron: St. Anthony of Padua (feast day June 13)
- Diocese: Venice — Central Deanery
Stained Glass Window & 1567 Mission
The parish's most striking interior feature is a 10-foot-diameter stained glass window depicting the original San Antonio Mission founded on the Peace River in 1567. The window includes a representation of a Calusa Indian settlement in the lower left, the Mission Chapel at the bottom with three crosses, Spanish Conquistadors in front of the chapel, and two dark-clothed figures representing the Spanish Jesuit priest and brother assigned to the mission. A relic of St. Anthony of Padua, the parish's patron, is displayed in the Narthex; the relic was given to the parish by Bishop Frank J. Dewane.
- 10-foot stained glass window depicting the 1567 mission
- Calusa Indian settlement depicted in the lower left
- Relic of St. Anthony of Padua displayed in the Narthex
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation programs of San Antonio Parish provide children, youth, and adults with the knowledge, experiences, spirituality, moral compass, and skills necessary to become and remain faithful disciples of Christ. The K–6 Family Formation meets on Sunday mornings after the 9:00 AM Family Mass. Middle-school youth are served through EDGE (grades 6–8). High-school teens participate in the nationally recognized LifeTeen / CHOSEN program (grades 9–12). Confirmation is a two-year sacramental preparation in the Diocese of Venice, beginning in the 8th grade. Joyce Barrett serves as Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE) and can be reached through the Ministry Center Office.
- Family Formation (Grades K–6) — Sunday mornings after the 9:00 AM Mass
- EDGE Middle-School Youth Ministry (Grades 6–8)
- CHOSEN / LIFETEEN High-School Youth Ministry (Grades 9–12)
- Confirmation Prep — two-year program (Year 1 in 8th grade, Year 2 in 9th grade)
- EDGE and LifeTeen meet Sunday evenings at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church (Mass 5:30 PM, dinner 6:45 PM, meeting 7:15–8:30 PM)
Sacraments
San Antonio Catholic Church prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion and First Reconciliation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick, with detailed preparation requirements and timelines published on the parish website. Adult and child (ages 7–17) Baptisms take place through the OCIA and OCIC processes respectively, and the parish offers an online Baptism Preparation video with a quiz for parents and godparents. Marriage preparation must begin at least six months in advance, and couples must be registered parishioners attending Mass for at least three months. Craig Emerson serves as Baptism, Marriage & Funeral Coordinator.
- Infant/Child Baptism (birth–6) — six-week advance notice; one-session prep class or online video with quiz
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (Louise McDonough)
- OCIC — Order of Christian Initiation for Children (ages 7–17)
- Marriage — six-month preparation; Marriage Prep classes
- Confirmation — two-year program (Joyce Barrett, CRE)
- Baptism, Marriage & Funeral Coordinator: Craig Emerson
Parish Ministries & Service Organizations
San Antonio has a broad ministry roster that includes liturgical, formation, hospitality, and outreach opportunities. Volunteers serving children, vulnerable adults, or as Offertory Stewards must be Virtus Safe Environment trained (fingerprinted and background-checked) in the Diocese of Venice and registered in the parish. The parish also hosts three major parish organizations — the Knights of Columbus, the Columbiettes, and the Women's Guild — alongside the St. Vincent de Paul Society conference for those in need.
- Liturgical — Music Ministry, Altar Servers, Lectors, Liturgical & Homebound Extraordinary Ministers (and Sacristans), Offertory Stewards, Ushers
- Formation — Faith Formation catechists and assistants
- Service — EMMAUS Men, EMMAUS Women, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Kitchen Angels, Prayer Blanket Ministry, Arimatheans, Pastoral/Homebound/Nursing Home Ministry, Hospitality & Funeral Luncheon
- Stewardship — San Antonio Garden Elves (SAGE), Church Flowers, Linens Ministry
- Parish Organizations — Knights of Columbus (Grand Knight: Vito Tandoi), Columbiettes (President: Teri Kotlarski), Women's Guild (President: Ren Cochran)
- St. Vincent de Paul helpline: (941) 235-1254
Clergy, Staff & Leadership
San Antonio Parish is served by an Administrator, a Deacon, and a team of parish staff and ministry leaders. Father Lawton Lang was appointed Administrator effective July 31, 2023 by Bishop Frank J. Dewane. Deacon Joe Romand assists the parish, and Joyce Barrett serves as Coordinator of Religious Education. The Music Ministry is led by Director of Music Rafal Nowak; Tom Bartoszek serves as Business Manager and Facility Manager (with Al Cote assisting). Craig Emerson serves as Baptism/Marriage/Funeral Coordinator, Safe Environment & Volgistics coordinator. Louise McDonough coordinates OCIA. The parish Finance Committee is chaired by Adam Bratko and the Parish Council by Carol Inman; Bill Zeithammer serves as Bulletin Editor.
- Rev. Lawton Lang — Administrator (appointed July 31, 2023)
- Joseph (Joe) Romand — Deacon
- Joyce Barrett — Coordinator of Religious Education (CRE)
- Craig Emerson — Baptism, Marriage & Funeral Coordinator; Safe Environment & Volgistics
- Rafal Nowak — Director of Music
- Tom Bartoszek — Business Manager / Facility Manager (assistant: Al Cote)
- Louise McDonough — OCIA
- Bill Zeithammer — Bulletin Editor ([email protected])
- Parish Council: Carol Inman; Finance Committee: Adam Bratko
Campus & Memorial Prayer Garden
The San Antonio campus centers on the church, the Memorial Prayer Garden, and an adjoining Ministry Building. The lushly landscaped Memorial Prayer Garden, located directly behind the church altar, invites parishioners and visitors to pray, meditate, and remember loved ones. The Ministry Building next to the church houses Faith Formation classrooms, the Pastoral Ministry, Music Ministry, Youth Ministry, and the parish administrative offices, along with a Conference Room and Meeting Room for parish events and ministry gatherings.
- Church with 10-foot stained glass window
- Memorial Prayer Garden behind the altar
- Ministry Building with Faith Formation classrooms, Music Ministry, Youth Ministry, Pastoral Ministry, administrative offices
- Conference Room and Meeting Room
Office & Visiting Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach San Antonio Catholic Church by phone, fax, or email during regular office hours. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is closed on Holy Days and holidays. Confession and other appointments outside the regular schedule can be arranged by calling the parish office.
- Phone: (941) 624-3799
- Fax: (941) 624-6184
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Address: 24445 Rampart Blvd, Port Charlotte, FL 33980
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Lawton Lang2023–present
Appointed Administrator of San Antonio Parish effective July 31, 2023 by Bishop Frank J. Dewane, relieved from duties as Parochial Vicar of St. Thomas More Parish, Sarasota. Instituted Thursday evening Holy Hour with adoration and Reconciliation; offers Communion on the tongue.