Upcoming Special Events — All Are Welcome

Saturday, November 16th, Centennial Gala, 6 p.m.
Belleair Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane, Belleair
The event will include an elegant dinner, words by Guest Speaker Fr. Lou Scurti, music, dancing, and a live and silent auction. 

Friday, November 22nd, 6 p.m., Centennial Multicultural Mass with Bishop Gregory Parkes
St. Cecelia Catholic Church, 820 Jasmine Way, Clearwater
Giving thanks for 100 years on the Feast of St. Cecelia! Arrive at 5:15 pm to enjoy a beautiful musical prelude. There will also be an opportunity to venerate a relic of St. Cecelia. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

Saturday, November 23rd, 6 p.m., Emmet Cahill, Irish Tenor, Live at Saint Cecelia
Famed Irish Tenor, Emmet Cahill, from the group Celtic Thunder, will provide an unforgettable performance. Tickets are available in the Parish Office.

About St. Cecelia Parish

The inclusive and welcoming atmosphere is palpable as one enters St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Clearwater. Greeted by smiles and a beautiful church building that is rich with history, everyone can find a place within the community.

“St. Cecelia is my parish family. We pray together, we help each other, we work well together, but we also have fun together,” said Janice Metz, a parishioner who has been attending St. Cecelia for 39 years.

The church was dedicated on Christmas Day in 1924, and it became a place of worship for fewer than 50 parishioners at that time. 

The church officially became a parish with its first pastor assignment on October 1, 1929, and by the end of the 1950s had expanded to include a rectory, school, convent, and a new wing that tripled the seating capacity. 

In its first 50 years, the number of parishioners at St. Cecelia grew to over 100 times its size, and it continues to be a vibrant multilingual community.  

“I love that St. Cecelia is an active parish. We bring our [Spanish- and English-speaking] parishioners together by providing Masses and activities where both groups participate together. Both groups have been enriched by sharing spiritual traditions and practices with each other,” said Metz.

The diversity of the parish is a driving factor that helps them to thrive.

“The dedication of our people and the rich cultures over the years coming from all walks of life and countries has contributed to its longevity. The continued dedication to discipleship and evangelization from our parishioners, staff, clergy, ministry leaders, community, volunteers, and outreach ministries will keep the parish thriving for years to come,” said Father Robert Schneider, pastor of St. Cecelia Catholic Church. Father Schneider has been the pastor since 2017.

While the parish is honoring its past during this jubilee year, it’s also preparing for the future. New technological initiatives for youth and young adult ministries are underway.

“We have a beautiful youth building that was remodeled several years ago. Historically, it was the school, rectory, and parish office. We are planning to create, with mission and vision, a recording studio to produce podcasts, YouTube videos, virtual reality videos, and other visual communications. Our goal is to meet the young people where they are,” said Deacon Wil Huertas, parish manager.

Parishioners are grateful for all the parish has provided over its long history.

“I am grateful to St. Cecelia’s Church leaders, priests, and the dedicated staff who served over the years and am thankful for the people who lived and worshiped in the parish. They showed their love of God by serving Him so faithfully. In many ways these are troubled times, but St. Cecelia Church stands out as a beacon of hope,” shared Metz.

St. Cecelia Parish looks to the future with this same hope.

“We cannot ever forget to learn from the past to continue our mission to build a better future, spreading the good news about Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,” added Father Schneider.

Interesting Facts about St. Cecelia Parish

Connections to a Bishop and Pope

Father Thomas Larkin served as pastor of St. Cecelia Parish starting in 1967. Pope John Paul II appointed him to be the second bishop of the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1979. He served in that role until his retirement in 1988. Bishop Larkin studied in Rome for a doctorate in sacred theology. One of his roommates while studying in Rome was a Polish priest, Father Karol Wojtyla, who would later become Pope John Paul II.

Spell Check

The parish is named for St. Cecilia, but the spelling of the Saint’s name was changed in honor of the daughter of Robert Brown, a winter resident who funded the construction of the church.

About the School

In 1948, Father Thomas Colreavy and the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary opened St. Cecelia School with 60 students in the renovated rectory.  Since then, the school has grown in numbers and accolades. In 2019, St. Cecelia Interparochial School was authorized as a Primary Year Programme (PYP) by the International Baccalaureate Organization. In 2020, the school was named a National Blue Ribbon School for the second time by the Department of Education.

Hispanic Ministry

In 1993, the Hispanic population in Clearwater was starting to grow. Under the leadership of Monsignor Aiden Foynes, St. Cecelia started offering Spanish Masses and outreach services. St. Cecelia Parishioners founded La Clinica Guadalupana on Missouri Avenue, which treats thousands of poor Hispanics every year.