Charles Borromeo McLaughlin (September 28, 1913 – November 4, 1978) was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg.[1] After completing seminary, McLaughlin was ordained a priest in 1941 and ordained bishop in 1964.[2][3] Bishop McLaughlin 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 to try to keep pace with this difficult task, a characteristic that earned him the affectionate nickname "Hurricane Charlie."
Contents |
On June 17, 1968, the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg was formally established with Bishop Charles B. McLaughlin as its first and founding bishop. The newly created diocese stretched from Crystal River to Ft. Myers encompassing eleven counties. The first task of the Bronx native and former auxiliary bishop of Raleigh, North Carolina 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.
Bishop McLaughlin inherited many fine priests from the Diocese of St. Augustine and Miami and relied on their cooperation and assistance in the years to come. He also fostered native vocations and was a strong supporter of the Florida seminaries.
Bishop McLaughlin also implemented the vision and reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Bishop McLaughlin had a profound influence on the diocese he founded, 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.
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, a private, Catholic school in Spring Hill, FL, bears his name.