Saint Katharine Drexel Catholic Church

History of our Community

On June 30, 1990 Bishop John J. Nevins of the Diocese of Venice in Florida, announced the creation of a new parish in Western Cape Coral. That parish was givin the name Blessed Katharine Drexel. Fifteen acres of land were purchased south of Trafalgar Middle School for the parish campus. Father Arthur Hannaway was appointed pastor.

The first weekend Masses were celebrated at Trafalgar Middle School on September 1, 1990. Masses that weekend were attended by 430 people. One hundred seventy-five families registered in the parish that week.

The first daily Mass was celebrated in the chapel at Coral Ridge Funeral Home on September 3, 1990 with six parishioners in attendance. The Diocese purchased a home in the Palmetto Pines neighborhood to serve as the rectory. That house was the site of the first office until the second floor of Chiquita Animal Hospital was rented for that purpose. The “Upper Room” was also the location for Holy Day Masses.

Fr. Hannaway was transferred to St. Ann’s Parish in Naples in August 1992. Fr. Herold Feltman served as interim priest, “The Glue”, during the period that the church was without a pastor. Colleen Spiro, our parish secretary, has been secretary from the founding of the church and helped keep the dream of our parish community alive. The Augustinian Community from Philadelphia answered the Bishop’s call for a priest to lead the community as pastor. Fr. John Deary, O.S.A. was selected to be the new pastor. He arrived in Cape Coral on August 1, 1993.

Fr. John Deary, Bishop John Nevins, Colleen Spiro

Groundbreaking for the parish hall (then the church) was held December 11, 1994.

On July 8, 1995, the first Mass was celebrated in the new hall.

Shortly after this, Fr. John announced that Fr. Tom Pohto, O.S.A., had been appointed parochial vicar. Fr. Tom arrived August 25, 1995. Fr. Tom left us on June 1, 1997 to begin his new ministry as pastor of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Pine Island.

Our subsequent parochial vicars were: Fr. John Sheridan, O.S.A.; Fr. Jim Wenzel, O.S.A.; and Fr. Frank Gallogly, O.S.A..

With the opening of the church hall, the office was moved to a trailer on the property. However, on April 12, 1999, the new permanent parish office was completed.

Fr. Tom Pohto

Fr. Herold Feltman

Blessed Katharine Drexel becomes Saint Katharine Drexel

In late September 2000, approximately 150 members and friends of our community flew to Rome for the Canonization of St. Katharine Drexel.

The Mass was said in St. Peter’s Square on October 1, 2000.

During the celebration of St. Katharine’s Feast Day in 2003, groundbreaking was held for the church sanctuary.

Construction began later that year.

The sanctuary was dedicated by Bishop John J. Nevins on November 13, 2004.

The building has stained glass windows which depict the life of our patroness, St. Katharine Drexel

In May of 2009, we began construction of a new Faith Formation Center on the West end of the property, with a ground breaking ceremony with our Faith Formation students, parents and teachers.

Since we had a family of Bald Eagles on our property, the construction had to be handled delicately and quickly.

On the weekend of October 31- November 1, 2009 we held the Dedication of the Faith Formation Center.

Our Faith Formation Program has grown dramatically since our beginning. In 2009 we had over six hundred students participating in seven different sessions running Sunday through Thursday. In addition, we have several adult formation programs, such as Bible Study, offered three different times a week and a weekly R.C.I.A. program for those wishing to be fully initiated into the Catholic Faith Community. We also have several prayer and study groups that foster the spiritual development of their members.

The eagle family has returned and have new offspring

As the eagle family has increased, so has ours. The parish community currently has over 2500 families.

Our History