About St. Charles Borromeo · Port Charlotte, Florida
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the heart of Port Charlotte, Florida (Charlotte County), in the Diocese of Venice. Established in 1959, it has grown to approximately 2,800 registered families and is one of the larger parishes in Southwest Florida. The community gathers around the motto, 'We are called to act with justice, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with God,' and describes itself as the 'most welcoming church in Southwest Florida.' It serves a diverse congregation with Mass offered in English and Haitian Creole, and is home to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Charles Borromeo
- Rector
- Rev. John Fitch
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
St. Charles Borromeo is a large, welcoming parish of roughly 2,800 families in central Port Charlotte, offering daily and weekend Mass in both English and Haitian Creole, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration 24 hours a day, and a robust Faith Formation program for every age — from children's PREP (grades K–5), to EDGE middle-school ministry, to LifeTeen high-school youth group, to adult OCIA, bible studies, and small groups. Add to that a parish school that has been open since 1960, sacramental preparation for baptism, first Communion, confirmation and marriage, and outreach through ministries such as Legion of Mary, Couples for Christ, Grief Support and a Haitian Catholic community, and you have a parish with room for every kind of family.
Mass times at St. Charles Borromeo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 AM (until all are heard)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration — 24 hours per day in St. John the Evangelist Chapel in the Ministry Center
About St. Charles Borromeo Parish
Established in 1959, St. Charles Borromeo has grown to 2,800 families and is located in the heart of Port Charlotte, Florida (Charlotte County), within the Diocese of Venice in Florida. The parish describes itself as 'a vigorous community centered on gospel values, and at the same time traditional and forward looking,' guided by the scriptural motto: 'We are called to act with justice, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with God.' Its stated priority is to be the most welcoming church in Southwest Florida.
Parish History
The parish was officially established on May 29, 1959, and its first church was dedicated on July 19, 1959. The present church building was constructed during 1976–1978 and re-dedicated on March 30, 1978. In 2004 the church suffered heavy damage from Hurricane Charley — an event noted on the Diocese of Venice's official timeline — and was subsequently rededicated. Today the parish is one of the larger in the Diocese, serving about 2,800 families and a diverse congregation that includes a vibrant Haitian Catholic community.
- 1959 — Parish established (May 29) and original church dedicated (July 19)
- 1960 — St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School opened
- 1976–1978 — Current church built
- 1978 — Current church re-dedicated (March 30)
- 2004 — Hurricane Charley damage and parish rededication
- Today — ~2,800 registered families
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by a pastor and a parochial vicar, with a parish staff available Monday–Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The Faith Formation Office (also called the Religious Education Office) is staffed separately and is reached at (941) 585-0668 or [email protected].
- Rev. John Fitch — Pastor
- Rev. Grzegorz Klich — Parochial Vicar
- Parish Office — (941) 625-4754 / [email protected]
- Faith Formation Office — (941) 585-0668 / [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Faith Formation program seeks to provide children, youth, and adults with 'the knowledge, experiences, spirituality, moral compass, and skills necessary to become (and remain) faithful disciples of Christ.' Programs run for every age and stage, from early elementary through adult OCIA, and the parish is actively recruiting catechists and substitutes. The Director of Religious Education can be reached at (941) 585-0668.
- Children's Faith Formation / PREP (Grades K–5) — Sunday mornings, beginning with 9:00 AM Family Mass
- EDGE Middle School Ministry (Grades 6–8) — Sunday evenings with Youth Mass, dinner, and program
- LifeTeen High School Youth Group (Grades 9–12) — Sunday evenings with Youth Mass, dinner, and LifeNight
- Confirmation Preparation — two-year program in grades 9–10; Sunday evenings
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Monday evenings in the Ministry Center Library, 6:30–8:30 PM
- Vacation Bible School — each June
- Adult Faith Formation — bible studies, faith sharing, Lenten small groups
Sacramental Preparation
The parish follows the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church and offers formation for each one that requires it. First Eucharist and First Reconciliation are normally prepared for through a two-year program in first and second grades, with older children welcome to enter as well. Confirmation is a two-year program in grades 9–10. Marriage preparation is arranged through the Parish Office, and Anointing of the Sick can be brought to the homebound by appointment.
- Baptism — preparation through the Parish Office
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturday 9:00 AM
- Eucharist (First Communion) — two-year preparation (grades 1–2)
- Confirmation — two-year preparation (grades 9–10)
- Marriage — preparation arranged through the Parish Office
- Anointing of the Sick — call the Parish Office; priest can visit
- Holy Orders — referred to the Diocesan Office of Vocations
Parish Ministries & Groups
Beyond the structured Faith Formation programs, the parish supports a number of ongoing spiritual, family, and fellowship ministries. Several are listed by the parish as part of its Adult Faith Formation offerings.
- Legion of Mary
- Couples for Christ
- Grief Support Ministry
- Haitian Catholic Community (Haitian Creole Mass and gatherings)
- Youth / Family events
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School opened in 1960 — one year after the parish was founded — and has been educating students continuously ever since. The school is a key part of the parish's evangelizing mission, with multi-generational families such as the Stone-Smiths sending children across decades. In one documented example, a founding-generation family had a daughter as one of the school's first students in the 1960s, who later returned to teach kindergarten there.
- Opened 1960 (parish founded 1959)
- Part of the Diocese of Venice school system
- Multi-generational family involvement is a hallmark
- Crusaders mascot
Visit, Contact & Location
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone, email, or in person during office hours. The parish is located in central Port Charlotte at 21505 Augusta Avenue, Florida 33952, and its grounds include the main church, a Ministry Center, and the St. John the Evangelist Adoration Chapel.
- Parish Office: (941) 625-4754 — [email protected]
- Faith Formation / Rel Ed: (941) 585-0668 — [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Address: 21505 Augusta Avenue, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
- Website: http://www.stcharlespc.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stcharlespc/