About St. Columbkille · Fort Myers, Florida
St. Columbkille Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Venice in the Iona section of south Fort Myers, Florida, founded in 1993 by Father Charles K. Sullivan at the request of Bishop John Nevins. After celebrating its first liturgies on Christmas Eve 1993 in a cluster of six modular units on 20.8 acres along Iona Road, the parish outgrew all projections (registering roughly three times the anticipated 500–600 households) and broke ground on a permanent church in October 1997, which was dedicated on November 28, 1998. Today St. Columbkille serves a diverse Southwest Florida community with weekend and daily Masses, perpetual personal adoration in its chapel, daily Communion calls to local hospitals and nursing homes, and an extensive network of lay ministries including Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, a Thrift Store, Knights of Columbus Council #11425, and an active outreach program to HealthPark, Shell Point, Hope Hospice, and the Lee County Sheriff's Department.
- Established
- 1993
- Patron
- St. Columbkille (Columba of Iona)
- Rector
- Rev. Lorenzo J. González
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
St. Columbkille is a large, active, mid-sized Southwest Florida parish that has, since 1993, taken its founding vision of 'lives of love and service' seriously — judging from how quickly its ministries multiplied beyond expectations. Visitors and parishioners can attend weekend Masses (with both a winter and a summer schedule), spend time in personal Eucharistic adoration every weekday morning in the chapel, pray a daily Rosary at 7:15am, join one of more than a dozen liturgical and outreach ministries (from the Knights of Columbus and St. Vincent de Paul to the parish Thrift Store, Faith Formation, and a Visitation ministry to the sick at HealthPark, Shell Point, and Hope Hospice), and have access to a sacramental life that includes daily Mass, Saturday-morning drive-up Reconciliation under the portico, monthly Anointing of the Sick, and 24/7 emergency priest availability (239-634-2927). It's a parish with a deep devotional footprint — the Our Lady of Guadalupe grotto, the outdoor Stations of the Cross, and the celebrated stained-glass windows — set on a 20.8-acre campus that welcomes snowbirds and year-round residents alike.
Mass times at St. Columbkille
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 8:30am – 9:30am (held under the Portico / in your car)
- Or by appointment any time of the week
Adoration times
- Personal Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel: Monday through Saturday 8:30am – 12:00 noon (per parish bulletin)
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: First Friday of every month, 8:30am – 9:30am (after the 8:00am Mass)
About St. Columbkille Catholic Parish
St. Columbkille Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Venice in Florida, located on a 20.8-acre campus at 12171 Iona Road in the Iona section of south Fort Myers. It was founded in 1993 by Father Charles K. Sullivan at the request of Bishop John Nevins and serves a growing, year-round and seasonal Catholic community with weekend and daily Masses, personal Eucharistic adoration, daily Communion outreach, and an unusually broad network of lay ministries. The permanent church was dedicated on November 28, 1998, after five years of worship in modular units.
- Parish type: Roman Catholic parish
- Diocese: Diocese of Venice in Florida (Deanery: Central)
- Address: 12171 Iona Road, Fort Myers, FL 33908
- Founded: 1993 (parish status December 2, 1993; first liturgy Christmas Eve 1993)
- Church dedicated: November 28, 1998
Parish History
The parish was conceived during Holy Week 1993 when Bishop John Nevins asked Father Charles K. Sullivan to begin a new Catholic community in the Iona section of Fort Myers. Father Sullivan moved to Iona on September 13, 1993; the mission was elevated to parish status on December 2, 1993; and the community gathered for its first liturgy on Christmas Eve in six modular units that would serve as the church for the next five years. From the outset, parishioners retired the debt for the modulars, the 20.8 acres of land, and the initial site work through pledges. On January 1, 1996 a capital campaign began for a permanent church; ground was broken October 6, 1997, and the new church was dedicated November 28, 1998.
- Bishop John Nevins initiated the parish during Holy Week 1993
- Father Charles K. Sullivan was founding pastor (1993 – Sept 1, 2006)
- Parish debt retired through parishioner pledges
- 20.8-acre campus purchased in 1993
- Permanent church built 1997–1998 and dedicated November 28, 1998
- Our Lady of Guadalupe grotto and outdoor Stations of the Cross built on parish grounds
Stained Glass Windows
St. Columbkille's most celebrated artistic feature is its multi-part stained-glass program, which functions as a visual catechesis. The etched glass surrounding the narthex tells the life of St. Columbkille — his youth as a monk in Derry, his baptism name 'Criomhthann' (meaning 'fox', depicted as a fox in a chapel window), the Celtic High Cross, his first miracle of water turned to wine, his voyage from Ireland with his twelve followers, and the angels at the doors (a reference to his lifelong companionship with angels). The chapel windows depict the Seven Sacraments: Eucharist, Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Holy Orders, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick, plus a round Reconciliation-Chapel window of the Prodigal Son. The main-nave windows trace God's covenant with His people — Creation, Noah's ark and rainbow, Moses and the Ten Commandments, the Annunciation — and continue through the life of Christ (Nativity, wedding at Cana, calling of the disciples, baptism of Jesus, Last Supper, washing of the feet, Peter's denial, Crucifixion, Pentecost), culminating in a Book-of-Revelation series that ends with the general resurrection and the heavenly city.
- Etched glass in narthex: life of St. Columbkille
- Chapel glass: Seven Sacraments + Prodigal Son roundel in Reconciliation Chapel
- Main nave: Covenant with God's people and life of Christ
- Final series: Book of Revelation — Lamb, seals, trumpets, general resurrection, heavenly city
Devotions & Weekly Prayer
The parish cultivates a daily rhythm of prayer that complements the Mass schedule. A Communal Rosary and Marian Novena is prayed on Saturday mornings at 8:00am, immediately before the morning Reconciliation time. A daily Rosary is recited Monday through Friday at 7:15am, and themed devotions follow the 8:00am Mass: Monday for Persecuted Christians, Migrants & Refugees; Tuesday for Respect of All Human Life; Thursday for Priests and Vocations; and Friday the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
- Saturday 8:00am — Communal Rosary & Marian Novena
- Mon–Fri 7:15am — Daily Rosary
- Monday after Mass — Persecuted Christians, Migrants & Refugees
- Tuesday after Mass — Respect of All Human Life
- Thursday after Mass — Prayer for Priests and Vocations
- Friday after Mass — Divine Mercy Chaplet
Liturgical Ministries
The parish draws on a deep bench of lay liturgical ministers who make the Sunday and weekday Masses possible, from the sacristy to the parking lot. Ushers and greeters welcome worshippers; lectors and choirs proclaim and sing the Word; Eucharistic Ministers distribute Holy Communion and bring it to the homebound; altar servers assist at the altar; the Sacristan Ministry prepares the liturgical vessels; the Visual-Projection Ministry runs the slides; and the Altar Linen Ministry cares for the sacred cloths. Choir rehearsal is held on Wednesday evenings in the Ministry Center.
- Ushers & Greeters
- Lectors & Choir (rehearsal Wed 6pm)
- Eucharistic Ministry (incl. Homebound visits)
- Altar Servers
- Sacristan Ministry
- Visual-Projection Ministry
- Altar Linen Ministry
- Music Ministry — Adult Choir and Folk Choir
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation at St. Columbkille offers a Bible-based Sunday-school program for children from Pre-K through 6th grade, plus Vacation Bible School and sacramental preparation. Youth Ministry runs groups for both junior-high and senior-high students. Young Family Ministry is geared toward parents with younger children, and Catholic Education supports catechesis more broadly. The parish also offers an active Adult Religious Education program. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is coordinated through the Faith Formation office (Lucia Nastasi, [email protected]).
- Faith Formation (Pre-K – 6th grade)
- Vacation Bible School
- Sacramental Preparation (First Communion, Confirmation)
- Youth Ministry — junior high and senior high
- Young Family Ministry
- Adult Religious Education program
- Catholic Education support
Outreach, Charity & Social Groups
Outreach is a defining feature of parish life at St. Columbkille. The Homebound/Sick Ministry sends Eucharistic Ministers to hospitals (HealthPark), nursing homes, assisted-living residences, and private homes; the Funeral/Bereavement Ministry supports families before, during, and after a funeral; the Thrift Store funds outreach programs; the Sewing Ministry and the Homeless Sleeping Mats Ministry provide tangible goods to neighbors in need; the Transportation Ministry helps parishioners get to Mass and appointments; the Military Ministry keeps parishioners connected to service members; and a Parish Vocation Ministry prays for priests and supports vocations. The parish also hosts seven weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and Al-anon meetings, Knights of Columbus Council #11425, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Women's Guild, an ESL program, a Crafting Ministry (Hearts and Hands), a Prayer Shawl Ministry, a Painting Group, a Mahjong group, and a Men's Fellowship Group on Zoom.
- Homebound / Sick Eucharistic Ministry — HealthPark, Shell Point, Hope Hospice, Lee County Sheriff's Dept.
- Funeral / Bereavement Ministry
- Thrift Store Ministry (revenue supports outreach)
- Sewing Ministry and Homeless Sleeping Mats Ministry
- Transportation Ministry
- Military Ministry
- Parish Vocation Ministry
- Knights of Columbus Council #11425
- Ancient Order of Hibernians
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Women's Guild
- ESL — English as a Second Language
- AA (7 weekly meetings) and Al-anon
Sacraments
Information on each sacrament is published in the parish bulletin. Parents are encouraged to contact the Parish Office before the birth of a child to begin Infant Baptism preparation; baptisms are scheduled only after consultation with a Parish Priest. Engaged couples should contact one of the Parish Priests to begin Marriage preparation. The Sacrament of the Sick is conferred on request after weekday or Sunday Masses, with a communal Anointing offered on the First Friday after the 8:00am Mass. Homebound parishioners may arrange weekly Communion visits through the Ministry to the Sick.
- Infant Baptism — pre-birth contact recommended; consultation with priest required
- Marriage — contact a Parish Priest
- Anointing of the Sick — on request after Mass; First Friday after 8:00am Mass
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 8:30am–9:30am or by appointment
- First Communion & Confirmation — via Faith Formation
- Homebound Communion — through the Ministry to the Sick
Staff, Clergy & Contacts
St. Columbkille is led by Pastor Rev. Lorenzo J. González and Parochial Vicar Rev. Jean Marie 'Fritz' Ligonde, with Father Neil R. Dadey retired in residence and Deacon Jim Tesoriero assisting. Lay staff include Marian Marquez, Suzi Johnson, Jeannette Gotz, Kristine Sawyer, Janet Sushil (Safe Environment Coordinator), Lucia Nastasi (Faith Formation Coordinator), Robert Kirchner, Patrick Foss, Luis Garcia, Maikel Leyva, Marion Donlin (Thrift Store Manager), and Mercedez Large (Assistant Thrift Store Manager). For spiritual emergencies after office hours, call 239-634-2927.
- Pastor: Rev. Lorenzo J. González — [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Jean Marie 'Fritz' Ligonde
- Retired in residence: Rev. Neil R. Dadey
- Deacon: Jim Tesoriero
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Lucia Nastasi — [email protected]
- Safe Environment Coordinator: Janet Sushil — [email protected]
- Thrift Store Manager: Marion Donlin — [email protected]
- Emergency spiritual line: 239-634-2927
Visit, Directions & Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm; the church itself is open Monday through Friday 7:00am – 12:00 noon. Visitors are warmly welcomed and are encouraged to walk the nave to see the stained-glass windows, visit the chapel for adoration, and pray the outdoor Stations of the Cross or spend time at the Our Lady of Guadalupe grotto. Drive-up Confessions under the Portico are an option for those who prefer to remain in their car.
- Address: 12171 Iona Road, Fort Myers, FL 33908
- Phone: 239-489-3973 • Fax: 239-432-0066
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am – 4:30pm
- Church open: Mon–Fri 7:00am – 12:00 noon
- After-hours spiritual emergency: 239-634-2927
- Facebook: St. Columbkille Parish in Fort Myers, Inc.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles K. Sullivan1993 – September 1, 2006
Founding Pastor. Approached by Bishop John Nevins during Holy Week 1993 to start a new Catholic community in the Iona section of Fort Myers; moved to Iona on September 13, 1993; shepherded the mission's elevation to parish status on December 2, 1993; celebrated the first liturgy in six modular units on Christmas Eve 1993; oversaw construction of the permanent church begun October 6, 1997 and dedicated November 28, 1998. Retired from active ministry on his 70th birthday, September 1, 2006. Died April 27, 2022, at age 85 in Ocala.
- Rev. Thomas Palko, O.S.F.S.
Listed in the parish history among the priests who 'served so faithfully and well' after Father Sullivan.
- Rev. Brendan Breen
Associate/priest in residence during the parish's history.
- Rev. Joseph Keane
Listed in the parish history among the priests who served faithfully.
- Rev. James Rogers
Listed in the parish history among the priests who served faithfully.
- Rev. Genaro Testa
Listed in the parish history among the priests who served faithfully.
- Rev. Joe Clifford
Listed in the parish history among the priests who served faithfully.
- Rev. Pat Boyhan
Listed in the parish history among the priests who served faithfully.
- Rev. Lorenzo J. Gonzálezpresent
Current Pastor (per the Diocese of Venice parish page and parish website).