About St. Cecilia · Fort Myers, Florida
St. Cecilia Catholic Community is a Roman Catholic parish in Fort Myers, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Venice. Founded in 1965 and named for the early Roman virgin martyr who is patroness of musicians, the parish has been staffed by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales since 1982. The community gathers at 5632 Sunrise Drive for daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, faith formation for children and youth, and a wide range of pastoral, outreach, and fellowship ministries.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- St. Cecilia (Roman virgin martyr, patroness of musicians)
- Rector
- Rev. Paul Dechant, O.S.F.S.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
St. Cecilia offers a Christ-centered Catholic community in the heart of Fort Myers where parishioners can grow through daily and Sunday Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and Sacramental preparation for children and youth. The parish lives out its Salesian vocation through outreach to the sick and homebound, the local St. Vincent de Paul conference, the Knights of Columbus council, Walking With Purpose, the Lunch Bunch seniors group, and a lively music ministry befitting its patroness of musicians. With a long-tenured Oblate of St. Francis de Sales pastoral team and a calendar of faith formation, fellowship, and stewardship events year-round, it is a welcoming place for both longtime Catholics and new arrivals.
Mass times at St. Cecilia
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 2:30–3:30 PM (in the Church)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- First Friday of the month 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
History of St. Cecilia Parish
St. Cecilia Parish was formally established on June 14, 1965, in what was then the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Two years earlier, in 1963, the community had begun as a Mission of nearby St. Francis Xavier Parish, with the first Masses celebrated at Bishop Verot Catholic High School. The original church was dedicated on December 6, 1966, and a Parish Hall and rectory were added in 1972. On June 14, 2025, the parish marked its 60th anniversary with Bishop Frank J. Dewane as main celebrant.
- Founded June 14, 1965
- Original church dedicated December 6, 1966
- Parish Hall and rectory built in 1972
- 60th Anniversary Mass celebrated June 14, 2025
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales at St. Cecilia
The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (OSFS) have administered and staffed St. Cecilia Parish since 1982, and the Salesian spirituality is central to parish life. The parish's motto, drawn from the Oblates, is 'Live Jesus' — a phrase that recurs in homilies, stewardship reflections, and parish events. Every priest currently in residence at the parish is an Oblate, including retired priest Father Mike Matusz, OSFS.
- OSFS administration began in 1982
- Parish motto: 'Live Jesus'
- Currently led by OSFS priests
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently served by Pastor Father Paul Dechant, OSFS, Parochial Vicar Father Frank Hanlon, OSFS, and retired priest Father Mike Matusz. The lay pastoral staff includes a Business Manager, Music Director, Liturgy Coordinator, Coordinator of Religious Education, Faith Formation Assistant, Coordinator of Pastoral Ministries, Administrative Assistant, and Marian Hall rental/maintenance personnel.
- Fr. Paul Dechant, OSFS — Pastor (named July 2020)
- Fr. Frank Hanlon, OSFS — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Mike Matusz — Retired Priest
- Sotiris Kaklamanis — Business Manager
- Erin Neitzelt — Music Director (x128)
- Debbie Laughlin — Liturgy Coordinator
- Juan Luis Laboy — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Patty Kiernan — Faith Formation Assistant
- Francisca Pamplin — Coordinator of Pastoral Ministries
- Elvia Arana — Marian Hall Rental
- Denise Devine — Maintenance
- Daxton Wellman — Maintenance
- Mark Goense — Marian Hall Maintenance
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish's Faith Formation program (formerly known as CCD) meets Sunday mornings between the 9:00 and 11:00 Masses, with classes for PreK through 12th grade running from 10:00 to 11:00 AM in the Parish Hall. The program aims to teach both what Catholics believe and why, supporting families in passing on the Faith.
- Faith Formation classes Sundays 10:00–11:00 AM, Parish Hall
- PreK–12th grade programming
- Juan Luis Laboy — Coordinator of Religious Education
- Patty Kiernan — Faith Formation Assistant
Sacramental Preparation
St. Cecilia prepares children and teens for the Sacraments of Initiation. 1st Reconciliation and 1st Communion are open to students in 2nd grade or above who have completed a full year of religious education. Confirmation preparation follows the Diocese of Venice norm, beginning in 9th grade and culminating at the end of 10th grade. Sacramental Prep sessions meet one Sunday per month in the Parish Hall after the 11:00 AM Mass.
- 1st Reconciliation / 1st Communion — for 2nd grade and up
- Confirmation — begins 9th grade, celebrated end of 10th grade
- Monthly Sunday sessions after 11:00 AM Mass in the Parish Hall
- Registration requires baptismal certificate, Mass attendance, and parent participation
Youth Group
Youth Ministry at St. Cecilia is open to all 7th–12th graders and focuses on three areas of spiritual growth: Social (building a faith community), Service (active involvement in the work of the Church), and Sanctity (fostering a deep prayer life). Meetings include games, refreshments, service opportunities, and prayer.
- Open to 7th–12th graders
- First Friday of the month, 5:30–7:30 PM (Parish Hall → Chapel)
- Third Sunday of the month, Noon–2:00 PM (Parish Hall)
- Registration required
Liturgical & Music Ministries
In keeping with its patroness, St. Cecilia places strong emphasis on sacred music. The Music Ministry supports the sung prayer of the assembly at weekend and special Masses and welcomes cantors, instrumentalists (including students earning service hours), and the Family Choir, which sings at the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass and some feast days. Liturgical ministries throughout the parish are coordinated by Debbie Laughlin.
- Family Choir — 11:00 AM Sunday Mass and feast days (ages 13+)
- Cantors — lead sung prayer at weekend and special Masses
- Instrumentalists — solo accompaniment; students may earn service hours
- Contact: Music Director Erin Neitzelt, 239-936-3635 x128
- Liturgy Coordinator: Debbie Laughlin
Outreach and Charitable Works
Outreach is central to parish life. The St. Vincent de Paul Conference provides person-to-person service to those in need, supported solely by donations and with a Service Center open Wednesdays 1–2 PM. The parish also supports the work of the Knights of Columbus and reaches the homebound, sick, and elderly through Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and regular nursing home visits by the priests.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Service Center Wednesdays 1–2 PM; call 239-936-3635
- Knights of Columbus Council — meets 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 PM, Parish Hall
- Visitation to the Sick, Elderly & Homebound (EMHCs)
- Priests visit area nursing homes monthly for Mass, Anointing, and Reconciliation
- Monthly St. Vincent de Paul collection via parish envelopes
Elderly, Senior, and Women's Ministries
The parish offers a variety of ministries geared to its older members and women. The Lunch Bunch hosts monthly free luncheons for those '50 and Better' from October through April, cooked and served by volunteers after the 12:10 PM Mass. The Craft and Chat group creates prayer shawls that are blessed at Mass and distributed to the sick and homebound. Walking With Purpose is a women's program meeting weekly at the Parish Hall.
- Lunch Bunch — monthly senior luncheon, October–April, after 12:10 PM Mass
- Prayer Shawl Ministry / Craft and Chat
- Walking With Purpose — women's faith program (Sunday and weekday sessions)
- Our Grief Journey — grief support ministry
Stewardship at St. Cecilia
Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure is the organizing spirituality of parish life at St. Cecilia, rooted in the Salesian call to 'Live Jesus.' Volunteers complete a Volunteer Application, Code of Conduct, Attestation of Moral Character, and Acknowledgement of Policies and Procedures, along with diocesan training and fingerprinting. The parish also publishes a Stewardship Corner reflection, often written by Father Frank.
- Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure
- Volunteer onboarding: Application, Code of Conduct, Moral Character, Policies
- Diocesan Training Schedule and Fingerprint Process
- 2026 Parish Assessment: $238,000
The Story of St. Cecilia
The parish is named for the 3rd-century Roman virgin martyr St. Cecilia, who is honored as patroness of musicians and Church music because, as she was dying, she sang to God. Tradition holds that as musicians played at her wedding she 'sang in her heart to the Lord.' She is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin Mary, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass, and is believed to have suffered martyrdom around 230 AD under Emperor Alexander Severus, together with her husband Valerian, his brother Tiburtius, and the Roman soldier Maximus. Her feast day is November 22.
- Patroness of musicians and Church music
- Feast day: November 22
- Named in the Canon of the Mass
- Martyred c. 230 AD under Emperor Alexander Severus
Visiting and Becoming a Parishioner
St. Cecilia welcomes new arrivals. A downloadable registration form is available on the parish website for those who wish to formally join. Visitors and newcomers are invited to weekend Masses, Adoration on Friday mornings, and the many parish fellowship events throughout the year.
- Downloadable registration form on saintcecilias.org
- Office: 239-936-3635
- [email protected]
Contact and Practical Information
The parish office is located at 5632 Sunrise Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with a daily lunch closure from 12:00 to 1:00 PM (staff remain present but the doors are locked during that hour; visitors should call ahead). Marian Hall is available for rental through the parish office.
- Address: 5632 Sunrise Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33919
- Phone: (239) 936-3635
- Fax: (239) 936-2108
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 12:00–1:00 PM for lunch)
- Marian Hall rentals: Denise Devine
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Stan Dombrowski, OSFS2001–2020
Oversaw construction of Marian Hall, blessed by Bishop Dewane in 2019
- Father Paul Dechant, OSFS2020–present
Had previously served as Parochial Vicar at St. Cecilia; named Pastor in July 2020