St. Christopher

About St. Christopher Catholic Church

St. Christopher is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Palm Beach, located at 12001 SE Federal Highway in Hobe Sound, Florida. The parish is a Cathedral Deanery parish (listed #19 on the Diocese of Palm Beach's official parish directory) and serves approximately 2,500 registered families along the Treasure Coast. The current pastor is Very Rev. Aidan Hynes, V.F., assisted by Deacon James Parrilli. The parish offices are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Parish History

The parish was born in the late 1940s out of a vision by winter-resident Wall Street banker Christopher Devine and his wife, who wanted a Catholic church to serve Hobe Sound and the Catholics of nearby Jupiter Island. Devine acquired the land, designed the church, and personally called on wealthy friends and investors — including a pair of Jewish brothers named Samuel and George — to fund construction. Groundbreaking took place in 1952 and the church was formally dedicated in December 1953 by the Most Reverend Joseph P. Hurley, Archbishop of St. Augustine. The Italian-marble altar was first assembled in Italy, then shipped to America with the Italian stone masons who reassembled it on site.

• 1952 — Groundbreaking; parish founded
• December 1953 — Formal dedication by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley
• 1953 — Fr. Timothy Geary begins as founding pastor
• 1982 — Fr. Paul Leo Manning begins tenure; later serves as Pastor Emeritus
• 1984 — Becomes part of the newly created Diocese of Palm Beach
• 1992 — Major interior renovation under Fr. Leslie Cann
• January 17, 1993 — Renovated church blessed by Bishop J. Keith Symons
• July 1999 — Fr. Aidan Hynes installed as pastor (current)

Architecture & the Church Building

The church is a notable example of Spanish Revival architecture, distinguished by its impressive bell tower that has made it a familiar landmark along US 1 since 1953. The interior is finished with rich woodwork and pews, an Italian-marble high altar, an organ that supports the parish's choral music ministry, and a collection of religious art and statues — including a relief depicting Samuel's calling and a statue of St. George in the parish grotto that was added in later years. The grounds, originally planted with local Florida flora, are now landscaped with ornamental plantings and trees.

• Spanish Revival style with prominent bell tower
• Italian-marble high altar (cut and assembled in Italy, shipped to the U.S. with the Italian stone masons)
• Grotto with statue of St. George (added in later years)
• Relief of Samuel's calling on the interior wall
• Pipe organ supporting the parish choir

Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Succession

The parish is led by Very Rev. Aidan Hynes, V.F., who has served as pastor since July 1999 — by far the longest tenure in parish history — assisted by Deacon James Parrilli. A small parish staff handles the day-to-day operations of the church office, religious education, music ministry, and bookkeeping.

• Very Rev. Aidan Hynes, V.F. — Pastor (since July 1999)
• Deacon James Parrilli
• Diane Busch — Bookkeeper
• Anjelica O'Byrne — Bulletin Editor & Data Entry
• Alicia Hafner — Secretary
• Susan Kirch — Director of Religious Education
• Bernadette Lindell — Music Director
• Volunteer Receptionist / Front Desk

Parish Ministries & Organizations

St. Christopher runs a full calendar of parish ministries and groups that meet throughout the week in the Parish Hall and Hospitality Room. Most groups follow a fall-through-spring schedule that matches the parish's seasonal population. Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed and can sign up via the parish office.

• St. Christopher Choir — Bernadette Lindell, Director (561-308-3724)
• Religious Education (CCD) — Sundays during the school year, Sue Kirch
• Little Rock Bible Study — Dan & Roseann Barbuto, seasonal (Tuesdays 9:30 AM, Parish Hall)
• Bingo — Every Wednesday, doors 11:00 AM, play 12:30 PM (Parish Hall)
• Council of Catholic Women — 2nd Tuesday, 12:30 PM, Sept–May
• Knights of Columbus — Pete Arino, Grand Knight; 1st Tuesday, 7:30 PM
• Legion of Mary — Wednesdays 9:30 AM, Hospitality Room
• National Christ Child Society — 2nd Monday, 10:00 AM, Oct–Apr
• St. Vincent de Paul — Financial office 772-546-2492; Thrift Shop 772-546-5070
• St. Christopher Single's Group — 1st Monday, 1:00 PM, Oct–May
• Homebound / Nursing Home Ministry — by arrangement through the parish office

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Religious Education for parish children is offered on Sunday mornings during the academic year (September through April) at 10:00 AM in the Religious Education Building. Registration requires a separate form for each child along with a copy of the child's Baptism certificate on file with the Religious Education Office. The program follows the Diocese of Palm Beach's Safe Environment policies, including annual background checks for staff and volunteers, and age-appropriate safety lessons for children. Parents may opt their children out of the children-and-youth Safe Environment training using an opt-out form available from the CCD office.

• Religious Education classes — Sundays 10:00 AM, Sept–April, in the Religious Education Building
• Coordinator — Susan Kirch ([email protected] / 772-546-5150)
• Diocesan Safe Environment Training for all faculty, staff, clergy, and volunteers
• Annual age-appropriate safety lessons for children enrolled in CCD

Sacraments

All seven sacraments are available at St. Christopher. Baptisms are normally scheduled following the Sunday 10:30 AM Mass (other times available when the schedule allows). Marriages require at least six months' advance notice and are normally celebrated on Saturdays before 1:00 PM or after 6:00 PM. Confessions are heard on Friday mornings after the 9:00 AM Mass and by appointment. The Anointing of the Sick is arranged by calling the Parish Office, since HIPAA-style privacy rules can prevent hospitals from notifying the parish directly. Funerals are scheduled at the family's convenience and the parish calendar allows; a Funeral Liturgy Planning Booklet is available to help families select readings.

• Baptism — normally after the Sunday 10:30 AM Mass
• Marriage — 6 months' notice; Saturdays pre-1 PM or post-6 PM
• Confession — Friday after 9:00 AM Mass, or by appointment
• Anointing of the Sick — by request through the Parish Office
• Funerals — by arrangement; Funeral Liturgy Planning Booklet available
• Homebound Visits / Communion to the sick — by arrangement

Music & Liturgy

Music at St. Christopher is directed by Bernadette Lindell and supported by the parish's pipe organ. The St. Christopher Choir enhances the sung liturgy at Mass and is open to volunteers who wish to share their gifts. The organ and choir have long been a point of parish pride, complementing the Spanish Revival architecture and the Italian-marble sanctuary furnishings.

• Music Director — Bernadette Lindell (561-308-3724, [email protected])
• St. Christopher Choir
• Pipe organ supporting congregational and choral music

Outreach & Charity

St. Christopher maintains an active outreach footprint in the Hobe Sound community, including a robust St. Vincent de Paul conference (with both a financial-assistance office and a thrift shop open six days a week), a Homebound Ministry that brings the Blessed Sacrament to parishioners who cannot attend Mass, a National Christ Child Society chapter, and ministry to local nursing homes. The parish also points families to the diocesan cemetery, Our Lady Queen of Peace in Delray Beach, for Catholic burial arrangements.

• St. Vincent de Paul Financial Office — 772-546-2492, Mon–Fri 9 AM–12 PM
• St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop — 772-546-5070, Mon–Sat 9:30 AM–1:00 PM
• Homebound Ministry — Blessed Sacrament visits by arrangement
• Nursing Home Ministry
• National Christ Child Society chapter
• Diocesan Cemetery — Our Lady Queen of Peace, Delray Beach, 561-793-0711

Visit, Register & Contact

Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed by Fr. Hynes and the parish family. The Parish Office can be reached at 772-546-5150 (fax 772-546-8820) or by email at [email protected], and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. A downloadable parish registration form is linked from the homepage. The parish also publishes an electronic bulletin through DiscoverMass and maintains a Facebook page for news and updates.

• Phone — 772-546-5150
• Fax — 772-546-8820
• Email — [email protected]
• Office Hours — Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
• Parish Registration — downloadable PDF on the parish website
• Bulletin — available via DiscoverMass
• Facebook — facebook.com/St.ChristopherChurch/