About St. Raphael · Lehigh Acres, Florida
St. Raphael Catholic Church is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in Lehigh Acres, Florida, in the Diocese of Venice (formerly part of the Archdiocese of Miami). Established in 1962 and with its church dedicated in 1964, the parish sits in the rapidly growing eastern part of Lee County, just east of Interstate 75. It serves a tri-lingual community with Masses celebrated in English, Spanish, and (monthly) Haitian Creole, and features a 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, an Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, and several prayer gardens on its grounds.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. Raphael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. Michal Szyszka
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida (originally established 1962 in the Archdiocese of Miami)
Why belong here
St. Raphael is a place where a fast-growing, multilingual Southwest Florida community gathers around the Eucharist. A parishioner can attend daily Mass in English, attend a Spanish-language Mass, or join the Haitian community for Mass on the third Sunday of each month, then spend quiet time in the 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. The parish is home to a deep bench of lay ministries — the Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, Altar & Rosary Society, Cristo Rey prayer group, Haitian Prayer Group, Respect Life, and a parish School of Religion for children — so newcomers of any age or language can find a way to pray, serve, and belong.
Mass times at St. Raphael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm (English)
- Saturday 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm (Spanish)
- Sunday 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm (Spanish)
Adoration times
- 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel on parish grounds (Adoration Chapel opens at 7:00 am Saturday, Sunday, and weekdays, per the Diocese of Venice schedule)
About St. Raphael Catholic Church
St. Raphael Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Lehigh Acres, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Venice. The parish was established in 1962 and the church building was dedicated in 1964. Today it serves a diverse, multilingual community in eastern Lee County with Masses in English, Spanish, and (monthly) Haitian Creole, plus a robust calendar of devotions, faith formation, and outreach ministries. The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Michal Szyszka and Parochial Vicar Rev. Rodolfo French Naar.
- Parish established April 25, 1962 (Archdiocese of Miami)
- Church dedicated September 7, 1964
- Diocese: Diocese of Venice in Florida (Deanery: Central)
- Address: 2514 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
Parish History
St. Raphael Parish was established in 1962, originally within the Archdiocese of Miami, and its church was formally dedicated on September 7, 1964. As Lehigh Acres has grown into one of the larger communities of Southwest Florida, the parish has grown with it, expanding its Mass schedule, adding a Spanish-language Mass program, and welcoming a Haitian Catholic community that gathers for Mass on the third Sunday of each month. The parish grounds have been developed to include a 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, an Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, and several prayer gardens. Father Michal Szyszka guided the parish as Administrator from 2020 through the COVID-19 pandemic before being installed as Pastor on March 12, 2023 by Bishop Frank J. Dewane.
- Established 1962; church dedicated 1964
- Originally part of the Archdiocese of Miami; now Diocese of Venice
- Located in a rapidly growing area of Lee County, east of I-75
- Father Michal Szyszka installed as Pastor by Bishop Frank J. Dewane on March 12, 2023
Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently served by two priests and a team of lay staff. The pastor and parochial vicar are supported by a Coordinator of Religious Education, a Finance Manager, and other parish staff.
- Rev. Michal Szyszka — Pastor (Administrator 2020; installed Pastor March 12, 2023)
- Rev. Rodolfo French Naar — Parochial Vicar
- Andy Mora — Coordinator of Religious Education (239-369-6424)
- Sam Eash — Pastoral Staff
- Mrs. Marianne Burgener — Finance Manager
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) meets on Sunday mornings and afternoons and exists to help and support parents in forming their children in the Catholic faith, so that they may become liturgical people who live holy lives and remain in communion with God and His Church. Andy Mora coordinates the program and can be reached at the parish office (239-369-6424).
- Parish School of Religion — Sunday mornings and afternoons
- Coordinator: Andy Mora (239-369-6424)
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for those seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
Sacraments
St. Raphael prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation and marriage according to the guidelines of the Diocese of Venice. The parish office is the first point of contact for all sacramental preparation.
- Infant Baptism — contact parish office (239-369-1831); follows parish and diocesan guidelines
- Marriage — meet first with the Pastor, then paired with a Mentor Couple for 5 sessions; contact office at least 6 months in advance
- RCIA — adult initiation through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation through the Parish School of Religion
Parish Ministries
St. Raphael has a deep bench of lay-led ministries that span prayer, service, fellowship, and cultural community. The Altar & Rosary Society, Legion of Mary, and Knights of Columbus are among the oldest, while the Cristo Rey Spanish charismatic prayer group, Haitian Prayer Group, and a newer Spanish-language Knights council reflect the parish's bilingual and multicultural character.
- Altar & Rosary Society — Catholic women of the parish; meets first Fridays after 8:00 am Mass, Sept–May, education building
- Legion of Mary — Tuesdays, 2:00 pm, parish school building; involved in home Communions, hospital/nursing home visits, Hope Hospice, and funeral Rosaries (239-693-7971)
- Knights of Columbus Council #6265 — first Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm, education building
- St. Raphael Spanish Community Knights of Columbus — newer Spanish-language council
- Respect Life
- Prayer Warriors — parish prayer line: 239-369-3111
- Eucharistic Ministry for the Shut-Ins — brings Holy Communion to homebound, hospitalized, nursing home, and Hope Hospice parishioners (239-369-1831)
- Cristo Rey Prayer Group — Spanish charismatic; Thursdays 6:00–9:00 pm, parish hall
- Haitian Prayer Group — Fridays 6:00–8:00 pm, parish school building (239-369-2795)
- Spanish Bible Study — Wednesdays 7:00–9:00 pm, parish school building
- Cursillo/Ultreya — Tuesdays 7:30 pm, parish school building (239-369-3581)
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond the Mass and confession schedule, St. Raphael offers several ongoing devotions. The 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel is a centerpiece of the parish's prayer life, and the parish grounds include an Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto and several prayer gardens that invite quiet prayer throughout the week.
- 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration Chapel on parish grounds
- Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
- Several prayer gardens on the parish property
- Rosary prayed by the Legion of Mary at funerals and funeral Masses
- Monthly schedule of devotions linked to the Haitian, Spanish, and English-speaking communities
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is located at 2514 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres, FL 33971, and can be reached at (239) 369-1831 or by fax at (239) 369-1039. Office hours are posted on the parish website; the office is closed daily between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm for lunch. The main email is [email protected]. Andy Mora, Coordinator of Religious Education, can be reached directly at (239) 369-6424.
- Address: 2514 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
- Phone: (239) 369-1831 | Fax: (239) 369-1039
- Email: [email protected]
- Religious Education: Andy Mora — (239) 369-6424
- Office closed 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm for lunch
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michal SzyszkaAdministrator 2020; installed Pastor March 12, 2023 – present
Installed by Bishop Frank J. Dewane during a Mass featuring a Mariachi band; had served as Administrator since 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.