Charles Borromeo McLaughlin

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Charles Borromeo McLaughlin (September 28, 1913 – December 14, 1978) was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Biography[]

McLaughlin was born on September 28, 1913, in the Bronx.

After completing seminary, McLaughlin was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York in 1941. He served as the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was named titular bishop of Risinium and auxiliary bishop of Raleigh, North Carolina, on January 13, 1964,^[1] and received his episcopal consecration on April 15.,^[2]

He had the unenviable responsibility of meeting the pastoral demands of a flock strewn over two hundred miles from end to end. McLaughlin, who was a pilot, often flew from event to event, earning the nickname "Hurricane Charlie."

Bishop of St. Petersburg[]

On May 8, 1968, Pope Paul VI established the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg with McLaughlin as its first bishop. He was installed on June 17. The newly created diocese stretched from Crystal River to Ft. Myers encompassing eleven counties. His first task was to establish a new diocesan structure to unify priests, personnel, policy, and people from the two dioceses. He also faced the challenge of dealing with the rapidly increasing population within his diocese.

McLaughlin inherited priests from the Diocese of St. Augustine and Miami and relied on their cooperation and assistance. He also fostered native vocations and was a strong supporter of the Florida seminaries.

McLaughlin also implemented the vision and reforms of the Second Vatican Council. He had a profound influence on the diocese, setting a tone of dedicated service for the entire diocese. His care for his priests and his people has left a charisma within the diocese that remains today.

He died on December 14, 1978.

Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, a private, Catholic school in Spring Hill, Florida, is named for him and the school's sports teams are called the Hurricanes. Knights of Columbus Assembly 1818 in Venice, Florida, bears his name as well.

References[]

Additional sources

• "Prior Bishops". Diocese of St. Petersburg. Retrieved September 30, 2018.