About St. Therese · North Fort Myers, Florida
St. Therese Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic community located at 20115 North Tamiami Trail in North Fort Myers, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Venice in Florida. The parish began in 2003 as a mission of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Fort Myers, was dedicated by Bishop John J. Nevins on October 1, 2003, and was elevated to full canonical parish status by Bishop Frank J. Dewane on April 2, 2011. Named for Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the parish serves nearly 1,400 full-time and seasonal registered families with a robust schedule of daily and Sunday Masses, year-round faith formation for children and adults, and active outreach through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a parish food pantry, the Knights of Columbus and the Council of Catholic Women.
- Established
- 2003
- Patron
- Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
- Rector
- Rev. Jan Antonik
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
St. Therese is a warm, family-oriented parish of nearly 1,400 registered families that has grown steadily since opening its doors in 2003, with strong programs for children, youth and adults at every stage of faith. The parish combines the intimacy of a community-sized congregation — daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, a vibrant choir, and small faith-sharing groups — with the outreach of large apostolates like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, the Knights of Columbus, and the Council of Catholic Women. Whether you are a snowbird, a new resident of North Fort Myers, or someone preparing to join the Church through O.C.I.A., St. Therese offers a clear path to deepen your Catholic faith and serve your neighbors.
Mass times at St. Therese
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 9:30 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM
- By appointment — contact the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM (Eucharistic Adoration following the 9:00 AM Mass)
Parish History
Saint Therese Mission was established in North Fort Myers as a mission of Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Fort Myers. After fundraising and a two-year construction beginning in 2001, the mission church opened on August 23, 2003 and was dedicated by Bishop John J. Nevins on October 1, 2003. It became an independent mission under Father Mario Kono on October 15, 2004, and was elevated to a parish by Bishop Frank J. Dewane on April 2, 2011. The parish has been served by four priests in succession — Father Thomas Anglim (Administrator, 2003–2004), Father Mario Kono (Administrator, 2004–2013), Father Thomas Heck (first Pastor, 2013–2020), and Father Jan Antonik (2020–present) — and today counts nearly 1,400 registered families.
- 2003 — Mission church opens August 23; dedicated October 1 by Bishop Nevins
- 2004 — Becomes an independent mission; Father Mario Kono named Administrator
- 2011 — Elevated to parish status by Bishop Frank Dewane (April 2)
- 2013 — Father Thomas Heck appointed first Pastor (May 22); installed December 15
- 2020 — Father Jan Antonik appointed (February 3)
- 2022 — Father Jan officially installed as Pastor (January 30)
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Jan Antonik and is assisted by three deacons. Faith formation and communications are coordinated by Nelson Perez (Director of Faith Formation and Communications). Barbara Gallagher serves as Music Director. Other staff and ministry coordinators support business, maintenance, hospitality and outreach.
- Rev. Jan Antonik — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Joseph (Joe) Hopgood — Deacon; Coordinator of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Rev. Mr. Rick Castro — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Joseph J. Nigro — Deacon
- Nelson Perez — Director of Faith Formation and Communications (ext. 104)
- Barbara Gallagher — Music Director
- Gary Dube — Business Manager
- Jeanne Conklin — Fundraising Committee Coordinator
- Tom Donoghue & Tom Fleming — Ushers and Greeters Coordinators
- Brenda Dolan — Homebound Ministry Coordinator
- Joline Lambert — Lector Coordinator
- Patrick Bannon — Maintenance Director
- Summer Allman — Bereavement (Friends of Lazarus) Coordinator
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Religious Education program at St. Therese serves parish children and youth in grades K–10, working in cooperation with families to deepen Catholic Christian identity through prayer, study and community service. Sacramental preparation is offered for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The parish also runs a year-round Adult Faith Formation program — including Adult Education Classes, Scripture Study, Apologetics, Gospel Forum and Sunday Scripture Reflection — plus the O.C.I.A. process for adults seeking to enter or complete their initiation into the Catholic Church. Nelson Perez, Director of Faith Formation and Communications, coordinates all of these efforts.
- Religious Education (grades K–10)
- First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Adult Faith Formation gatherings (several afternoons per year)
- Adult Education Classes — themes from Old Testament, Synoptic Gospels, Catholic Social Teaching, Sacraments, Liturgy and Church History
- Scripture Study
- Apologetics
- Gospel Forum
- Sunday Scripture Reflection
- O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — weekly sessions
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Volunteers at St. Therese embody Christian love in action through more than a dozen ministries, groups and organizations that span liturgical service, charitable outreach, formation and fellowship. The parish runs a robust Food Pantry and partners with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (jointly with St. Francis Xavier Parish) to provide fresh food and financial assistance to neighbors in need. The Knights of Columbus Council #8440 and the Council of Catholic Women organize charitable, spiritual and social programs, while the Friends of Lazarus bereavement ministry offers grief support on Friday mornings.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) — contact Angela Austin, (239) 369-1231
- Food Pantry — non-perishables collected in the church vestibule
- Knights of Columbus — St. Therese Council #8440; Grand Knight Chris Mitchell
- Council of Catholic Women — Presidents Jane Aversa & Lee Ann Sylves
- Homebound Ministry — visits and brings Holy Communion; contact Brenda Dolan
- Friends of Lazarus (Bereavement) — Fridays 9:45–11:30 AM, Conference Room
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist — coordinated by Deacon Joe Hopgood
- Lectors — coordinated by Joline Lambert
- Ushers and Greeters — coordinated by Tom Donoghue and Tom Fleming
- Rosary Makers
- Blanket Ministry
- Fundraising Committee — coordinated by Jeanne Conklin
Sacraments
St. Therese prepares parishioners for and administers all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Children preparing for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation are formed through the parish Religious Education program (grades 1–10). Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation or full communion with the Catholic Church enter the O.C.I.A. process, which meets weekly. The parish also welcomes inquiries about marriage preparation and offers the Sacrament of the Sick by appointment. Confessions are scheduled twice on Saturday and by appointment, and homebound parishioners can receive Holy Communion through the Homebound Ministry.
- Baptism — preparation through Religious Education or O.C.I.A.
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion — Religious Education program
- Confirmation — Religious Education program (up to grade 10)
- O.C.I.A. — for unbaptized and baptized non-Catholic adults
- Marriage — contact Parish Office
- Sacrament of the Sick — by appointment
- Confession — Saturday 9:30 AM & 3:00 PM, or by appointment
- Holy Communion to the Homebound — Brenda Dolan
Music and Liturgy
Liturgical celebrations at St. Therese are supported by a dedicated Music Director, Barbara Gallagher, working alongside cantors and a parish choir. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (coordinated by Deacon Joe Hopgood) assist the priest with the distribution of the Body and Blood of Christ at weekend Masses, holy days, special liturgies and sacramental celebrations throughout the year. Lector and Usher/Greeter ministries round out the lay liturgical roles that make each Mass a community celebration.
- Music Director: Barbara Gallagher
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist — trained, active practicing Catholics who have completed the Sacraments of Initiation
- Lectors — coordinated by Joline Lambert
- Ushers and Greeters — coordinated by Tom Donoghue and Tom Fleming
Facility and Campus
St. Therese's 850-seat church was intentionally designed as a provisional building that doubles as the parish hall. The single building includes seating on all four sides of the altar, one reconciliation room, a full commercial kitchen, a small meeting room, a sacristy and a small office. The parish site has a long-term master plan that envisions a dedicated church built immediately adjacent to the existing facility, with the two connected by a covered walkway and facing a courtyard anchored by a statue of Saint Thérèse. The building is equipped with a hearing assistance system to support parishioners with hearing needs.
- 850-seat worship space with seating on all four sides of the altar
- One reconciliation (confessional) room
- Full commercial kitchen
- Small meeting room / Conference Room
- Sacristy and small office
- Hearing assistance system
- Future dedicated church + covered walkway + courtyard with statue of Saint Thérèse (master plan)
Contact and Visiting
St. Therese Catholic Church is located at 20115 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, FL 33903. The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1:00 PM) and can be reached at (239) 567-2315 (fax 239-567-2316) or [email protected]. The parish maintains a presence on Facebook at facebook.com/saintthereseparish, where it shares news, bulletins and event information.
- Address: 20115 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, FL 33903
- Phone: (239) 567-2315
- Fax: (239) 567-2316
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed 12:30–1:00 PM)
- Facebook: facebook.com/saintthereseparish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas Anglim2003–2004
Administrator; concurrently Pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Fort Myers. Oversaw the building, opening and dedication of the new mission church.
- Rev. Mario Kono2004–2013
Administrator appointed by Bishop Nevins on October 15, 2004 when Saint Therese became an independent mission; served nine years.
- Rev. Thomas (Tom) Heck2013–2020
First Pastor of Saint Therese Parish; appointed by Bishop Dewane on May 22, 2013, effective June 10, 2013; officially installed December 15, 2013. Retired February 3, 2020.
- Rev. Jan Antonik2020–present
Appointed by Bishop Dewane effective February 3, 2020; officially installed as Pastor on January 30, 2022. Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Venice in 2003.