About St. Maximilian Kolbe · Port Charlotte, Florida
St. Maximilian Kolbe is a Catholic parish in the Murdock area of Port Charlotte, Florida, in Charlotte County, belonging to the Diocese of Venice in Florida. Established in November 1988 as an outgrowth of a chapel of ease from St. Charles Borromeo Church, the parish has grown from its first 300 families to more than 1,150 registered households and serves a bilingual congregation with Mass in English and Spanish, weekday adoration, and a wide range of lay ministries. The parish is currently administered by Rev. Fr. Claudio Stewart, who combines pastoral work at St. Max with his diocesan role as Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Diocese of Venice.
- Established
- 1988
- Patron
- St. Maximilian Kolbe
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Claudio Stewart (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
St. Maximilian Kolbe is a welcoming, bilingual parish rooted in Stewardship that has grown from 300 founding families to more than 1,150 households, with daily Mass in English and a Saturday evening Mass in Spanish for the Hispanic community. The parish offers daily Eucharistic Adoration with Monday Benediction, a young and active Confirmation program, a Sunday youth group for grades 8–12, a thriving St. Vincent de Paul Conference that helps neighbors with rent, utilities, and food, a Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus Council 11483, a Prayer Blanket Ministry, a Memorial Garden, and a Music Ministry led by an organist, guitarist, and Latino Choir — making it a true community in the Murdock/Port Charlotte area.
Mass times at St. Maximilian Kolbe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm (Reconciliation offered 3:00–3:45 pm)
Adoration times
- Monday 6:30 pm — Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction (instituted December 3, 2007)
Parish History
St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church traces its roots to a chapel of ease established in November 1986 as an extension of St. Charles Borromeo Church, with Mass first offered seasonally and weekly by 1988 at the Port Charlotte High School auditorium. Bishop John Nevins formally established the parish on November 18, 1988, with Fr. Mark L. Heuberger as founding pastor (installed January 8, 1989). The parish broke ground on Spear Street on August 14, 1991 — the Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe — and Bishop Nevins dedicated the multipurpose building on October 31, 1992. Under successive pastors the parish grew past 1,150 households, paid off the first-phase mortgage in 2006, dedicated the debt-free Parish Center in 2002 and the Memorial Garden in 2003, and marked a 25th anniversary celebration in November 2013.
Clergy & Staff
Rev. Fr. Claudio Stewart, who also serves the Diocese of Venice as Director of Hispanic Ministries, was assigned as Administrator on May 1, 2023. He is assisted part-time by Rev. Fr. Ed Blackwell and retired Deacon Joseph Plummer. Maria Fernandez serves as Secretary, Pastoral Ministries Coordinator and Bulletin Editor. The parish team also includes Alfonso Casiano (Grounds), Ofelia Murgia (Cleaning), Bruna Borowski (Head Sacristan), Lucy Blair (Music Coordinator), Patricia Vitaletti (Guitarist), Matthew Desjardins (Organist), and Gerardo Cortez (Latino Choir).
- Rev. Fr. Claudio Stewart — Administrator
- Rev. Fr. Ed Blackwell — Clergy Assisting Part-Time
- Rev. Deacon Joseph Plummer — Retired
- Maria Fernandez — Secretary / Pastoral Ministries Coordinator / Bulletin Editor
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Maximilian Kolbe is led by Kim-Marie Drab (Coordinator of Religious Education, [email protected]) and reaches children Pre-K through 8th grade as well as high-school Confirmation candidates. Religious education for grades 1–8 meets Tuesday evenings 6:30–7:45 pm using Pflaum Gospel Weeklies at grade-appropriate levels. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Reconciliation meets two Monday evenings a month at 6:30 pm using Encounter with Christ from Our Sunday Visitor. Confirmation is a two-year program starting in 9th grade meeting Sunday afternoons 1:00–2:15 pm in Room #106; the curriculum is Decision Point by Dynamic Catholic and candidates are encouraged to attend the 12:00 pm Sunday Mass.
- Pre-K–8 Religious Education: Tuesdays 6:30–7:45 pm
- First Communion / Reconciliation Preparation: two Monday evenings a month at 6:30 pm
- Confirmation (2-year, 9th–10th grade): Sundays 1:00–2:15 pm, Room #106
- RCIA — Angela Solomon and Kellmis Fernandez (preparation typically begins in September)
- Registration deadline for Faith Formation: August 1
- Registration fee: $45/student; Sacramental Prep: +$30
Youth Ministry
The parish's Youth Ministry is coordinated by Cindy Kuykendall and meets Sundays from 3:00–4:30 pm in Room #106, welcoming all young people in grades 8–12. Youth who are enrolled in Confirmation Preparation are expected to attend youth group meetings on a regular basis. The ministry is actively recruiting adult volunteers, who must comply with the Diocese of Venice's Safe Environment Training and fingerprinting requirements.
- Youth Group: Sundays 3:00–4:30 pm, Room #106 (grades 8–12)
- Coordinator: Cindy Kuykendall ([email protected])
Sacraments
Baptism preparation classes are offered on the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm in English (Sr. Pat's Room) and Spanish (MCR Room), with parents and Godparents required to attend. Baptisms are celebrated once a month (English at 10:00 am, Spanish at 11:00 am) with a $25 registration fee. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered Saturday from 3:00 to 3:45 pm. The parish prepares children for First Communion and Confirmation as described in the Faith Formation section. Couples preparing for Marriage are asked to contact the parish office at least six months before the anticipated wedding date.
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Max is coordinated by Lucy Blair, supported by Organist Matthew Desjardins, Guitarist Patricia Vitaletti, the Resurrection Choir (which ministers at funerals), and the Latino Choir led by Gerardo Cortez. Bruna Borowski chairs both the Liturgy Committee and the Sacristy team, and also coordinates Eucharistic Minister training.
- Music Coordinator: Lucy Blair
- Organist: Matthew Desjardins
- Guitarist: Patricia Vitaletti
- Latino Choir: Gerardo Cortez
- Liturgy Committee Chair / Sacristy Coordinator: Bruna Borowski
Parish Ministries, Outreach & Service
The parish runs a wide network of lay ministries organized under a Stewardship model. Pastoral care for the sick and homebound is coordinated through Contact, Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound (Maria Fernandez), Bereavement Ministers, and Visitation Ministers who visit homes, hospitals, and care centers. Outreach includes the Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Maximilian Kolbe Conference (Bill Mannion), St. Max Outreach, the Prayer Blanket Ministry (Annette Massey), the Respect Life / Our Lady's Garden to the Unborn effort, and Peace and Justice. Fellowship and spiritual growth are supported by the Council of Catholic Women (Andi Schmith), Knights of Columbus Council 11483 (Tom Reichert), Women's and Men's Emmaus, the parish Finance Committee (Allen Heyman) and Parish Council.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference: Bill Mannion, 941-258-3398
- Council of Catholic Women: Andi Schmith, President
- Knights of Columbus Council 11483: Tom Reichert, Grand Knight
- Prayer Blanket Ministry: Annette Massey
- Homebound Ministry: Maria Fernandez
- Visitation to the Sick — contact the Parish Office (941-743-6877)
Facilities & Memorial Garden
The parish campus sits on Spear Street in Port Charlotte and was built up in two main phases: the multipurpose building dedicated by Bishop Nevins on October 31, 1992 (mortgage paid May 2006) and the debt-free Parish Center dedicated in October 2002. The St. Maximilian Kolbe Memorial Garden was dedicated on May 27, 2003, and includes memorial plaques, two angels, a tombstone to the unborn, an Our Lady of Guadalupe statue, landscaped walkways with wheelchair accessibility, and benches for private prayer.
Getting Involved
Parishioners are encouraged to share their time and talent through nearly thirty ministries listed on the parish's Ministries page. The Stewardship Committee helps match gifts to parish needs, and the parish says 'Every Christian is called to the tasks of healing and comforting and companionship,' inviting those with special gifts to become Ministers of Care. Those interested can contact the parish office at 941-743-6877.
Visiting & Contact
St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church is located at 1441 Spear Street, Port Charlotte, FL 33948. Phone: 941-743-6877. Fax: 941-743-9176. Email: [email protected]. Parish Office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30 am–4:30 pm and Friday 8:30 am–12:00 pm. The parish belongs to the Central Deanery of the Diocese of Venice in Florida.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Mark L. Heuberger1988–1994
Founding pastor; installed January 8, 1989 by Very Rev. Neil Fleming.
- Fr. Robert B. Mattingly1994–2006
Appointed administrator July 1994; made pastor a year later by Bishop John Nevins; led parish to 1,150+ households; first-phase mortgage paid off May 2006.
- Fr. Arnold Zebrowski2006–2007
Appointed Administrator July 2006 by Bishop Nevins; introduced the Prayer Blanket Ministry.
- Fr. Rafael E. Padilla, JCL2007–2013
Appointed Administrator July 2007 by Bishop Frank J. Dewane; made third pastor April 2010; began the Saturday Spanish Mass and Sunday Youth Mass, instituted Monday Adoration/Benediction, opened the St. Vincent de Paul Conference in January 2008, and oversaw the Our Lady's Garden to the Unborn dedication in December 2007.
- Rev. Fr. Teófilo Useche2013–2023
Appointed Pastor January 2013; led the parish's 25th anniversary celebration (Nov 13–18, 2013); welcomed parochial vicar Fr. Zenon Kuryzna in June 2013.
- Rev. Fr. Claudio Stewart2023–present
Assigned as Administrator May 1, 2023 by Bishop Dewane; continues as Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Diocese of Venice.