About
We have been the Catholic presence in Punta Gorda, Florida since 1929. Our motto is “It’s Not The Building, It’s The People!”
Sacred Heart Church History
Prior to its establishment as a parish, priests from Tampa, Sebring, and Arcadia ministered to the needs of the Catholic people of Punta Gorda. Among the priests who served the Sacred Heart Mission were Fathers Lawrence J. Flynn, P.J. O’Donahue, and John O’Dowd.
Mass was celebrated each Sunday in the Charlotte Harbor Hotel which was located in the Punta Gorda Mall.
Father J. Carroll, formerly of Jacksonville, celebrated the first Mass at the new Sacred Heart Church at 10 on Christmas morning, December 25, 1929. It seated 125 people.
In September, 1954 Sacred Heart was made a parish with Father William J. O’Farrell as the first pastor, followed by Fathers John Scully, Noah Brunner, Adelbert Polletti, H.J. Sweeney, Msgr. David Bushey, James Quinn, Christopher Konkol, James Henry, Edward Pick, Francis J. Lawrence, David B. Cronin, Joseph E. Stearns, Robert J. Mongiello and Jerome Kaywell.
The little church was replaced in 1965. Father Quinn was the pastor at the time.
Under Father Pick’s administration in 1972 the hall and educational center building was dedicated on Cross St. (Highway U.S. 41 South).
In 1976 during Father Lawrence’s pastorate, the rectory at 363 W. Charlotte Ave. was built.
An extension to the church with the Parish hall and the administration offices was completed in 1993.
In 2004 Hurricane Charley destroyed the Church. The extension and administration offices were repaired. The extension was used as the church until the new Church was completed in 2008 under the guidance of Father Kaywell. Father Kaywell was appointed Pastor in November 2008.