St Catherine Catholic Church - Parish Office - Sebring (FL)

5 /5 Taz Christiansen: My friend and I stopped by unexpectedly while traveling through Sebring. My friends parents were married at St. Catherines in 1942. The parish office staff were AMAZINGLY gracious, knowledgeable and actually were able to provide my friend with a marriage certificate! They then allowed us to enter the church for some photos of the original church building and to say prayers. God Bless them!

4 /5 Dan Franklin: Overall, pretty positive experience. My aunt married a Catholic and got married at St. Catherine’s in the 1990’s. Years later, I went through RCIA in this church. The church itself has a beautiful sanctuary and striking architecture. I made many confessions and took communion numerous times here. Most church staff and parishioners were very polite and welcoming. There were a few “Less than desirable” parishioners and staff members but this happens everywhere. Father Jose was absolutely AWESOME! Dr. Manint (I hope I spelled it right) and his wife are awesome too. I’ve since moved on from Christianity but would recommend St. Catherine’s to Catholics new to the area or anyone seeking to convert to Catholicism.

5 /5 Tina Millman: The pastor of the church was very kind and understanding, Easter mass was beautiful. After 30 years that I have been to church, way to long to talk with Jesus.

1 /5 Jaleigh Brantner: I tried this church for the first time today and it was horrible. This lady right after service got out started yelling at this couple about not taking communion...even though he said he did. this older lady was yelling empty out your pockets then at the young man who was being accused. then when the young man refused after telling him multiple times he ate it he grabbing the young lady next to him and tried to walk away then the old lady GRABBED the girl not letting them leave until the girl was saying let go. finally she let go and was screaming at them dont come back. What type of church is this! Very disappointing and disgusted by this behavior.

3 /5 EMV: I usually attend TLM services in Ft.Myers, even though I live in Sebring because, unfortunately, there are no Catholic Churches near me that offer TLM. The current state of the Catholic Church is one of trying times and I believe it needs our many prayers. I truly wanted to attend mass on St.Teresa of Avila’s (Oct. 15) feast day to receive the Eucharist and decided to go to St. Catherine’s for their (Saturday) 9:00am mass. I arrived at 8:40am with time to complete a rosary, which I did. While doing so, I found it odd that the church was still dark with no a/c on (I was sweating profusely) and no signs of a mass getting ready to take place. I was sitting towards the front left side. About 10 minutes to 9:00am, I saw who I assume was the priest (never looked my way), grabbing both large pillar candles from the sides of the altar table and walked away. The one lady that was sitting towards the front right side of me got up and left eventually also. I was now sitting in a dark, hot church by myself and was now 9:05 am. I sadly thought I’d been mistaken about Mass time so I decided to stay to pray and read the days readings. At 9:15 am, I got up to leave and when I turned around, there was a room towards the very back (or front right if entering) that was full of people and what I was surprised to see was the mass going on. I was so saddened by this that I got up with tears in my eyes and left. Now, I offer exactly what happened to me as an experience, which means, I would have appreciated a kind gesture to have someone that noticed me sitting in a dark, hot church with no air conditioning to ask if I was attending mass that it was taking place behind me in another room. I had no idea what was going on behind me For 15 minutes, nor saw anyone nor heard anything. It was only my 2nd time there; as I recently moved to Sebring a year ago and have been in search of a faithful, Catholic Church near me but find myself for many, many reasons driving 1 hr & 1/2 to Ft.Myers because of the kind, faithful and loving community of worshippers. With all due respect and with kindness in my heart, I ask that you take my experience as a plea to get to know your “flock”, welcome your members and look their way. No one made eye contact with me, no one. I should add that the very 1st time I attended mass there was during Christmas time and even then, I greeted 2 persons at entrance with “good morning” and received no response, as if I were not there. It is sad when you try to become part of a community but don’t quite know what is wrong with it. I offered my rosary to St. Catherine’s that day. With respect.