September 12, 2008 - Diocese of Orlando

Transcription

FloridaCatholic
WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG
|
Sept. 12-25, 2008
oF orlando
Your Faith. Your LiFe. Your CommunitY.
Compassion
for people
and their
animals
Meet Deacon StokeS
St. Francis fans help
people by helping
their pets
JANET SHElTON|FC
An “Election Official” sign on the
dash and a blue rosary on the
rearview mirror show Deacon
lionel Roberts’ dedication to
both church and community.
LAuRA DODSOn
Florida Catholic correspondent
Poll workers
answer call
to faithful
citizenship
LEESBURG — The news is filled
with stories of housing foreclosures and people so stretched economically they are forced to choose
whether to purchase food or medicine or gasoline. What choices do
people make when it comes to taking care of pets?
Many people are no longer able
to care for their pets. Some animals are brought to local shelters
and Humane Societies. Others are
abandoned.
In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron of animals whose
feast day is coming up Oct. 4, many
Catholics and others in the Diocese
of Orlando are working to help people keep their pets or find new owners who can.
“Our primary need right now is
for homes,” said Rachel Aycock, a
parishioner at St. Joseph Parish in
Lakeland and public relations di-
STAFF REPORT
ORLANDO — When Maybelle
McGee slips out of her apartment at
5:45 a.m. each election day to head
off for 13 hours that might be daunting to most, she brings with her all
the energy, enthusiasm and commitment of her 86 years.
“As a Catholic, I think this is a
good way to give my time,” McGee
explained. “I’m involved in many
ministries at Ascension (Parish
in Melbourne) and I wanted to do
something civically.”
McGee is a precinct register inspector — a job she has performed
for every election for the past 10
years. She was on duty at a Melbourne precinct for the Aug. 26 primary and plans to be there again
Nov. 4, when Floridians will cast
their votes for numerous state and
federal offices — including president of the United States.
She is one of many Catholic
parishioners who work at polling
PlEASE SEE POLL, A8
PlEASE SEE PETS, A3
JENNIFER SURGENT | FC
Deacon James Stokes prays during his ordination Aug. 31 at St. Joseph Parish in Palm Bay. Bishop
Thomas Wenski, background, right, presided. Deacon Stokes always felt a calling for more service
in the church and seven years after making the decision, he was ordained. See story, A2.
CNS PHOTO
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inside: Faith calls Catholics to defend life A4
Quick Reads
Classifieds
Crossword
Diocese Calendar
A6
A12
A9
A13
Diocese News
Editorial
Faith Alive
DVD Review
A2-4,13-15
A11
A10
A9
Scripture Readings
Back in School
Movie Reviews
Florida News
ORL A1
A10
B1-B12
A9
A5-6, 8
A2
Your orlando communitY
Florida Catholic
Sept. 12-25, 2008
Deacon’s journey to ordination
includes long commute
Carole rebbel
PALM BAY — After traveling
back and forth from Miami at least
once a week for two and a half years
to finish his education and training
as a deacon, 47-year-old Jim Stokes
was ordained Aug. 31 at St. Joseph
Parish here.
Deacon Stokes was about halfway
through the diaconate formation
program in the Archdiocese of Miami when he and his family moved
to Palm Bay, where he had accepted
the position of deputy city attorney.
Because formation programs are
not interchangeable among dioceses, he would have had to start over in
Orlando. But continuing formation
in Miami also posed challenges in
addition to the more-than-300-mile
roundtrip. A portion of the cost for
men in formation is carried by their
parishes and the diocese; his move
to Orlando meant his sponsoring
parish in Miami would not benefit
from its investment.
“Bishop (Thomas) Wenski and
Archbishop John Favalora (of Miami) were very gracious,” said Deacon Stokes, “because they allowed
me to continue formation in Miami
and then accepted my transfer to
G
IN
N
PE
O
NG
I
R
SP
JENNIFER SURGENT | FC
James Stokes, center, gives himself completely to Christ. He said he felt overwhelming emotion as he lay in
prostration during his ordination by Bishop Thomas Wenski Aug. 31 at St. Joseph Parish in Palm Bay.
the Orlando Diocese.”
Bishop Wenski ordained him. As
part of the ordination service, Dea-
con Victor Pimentel, director of the
Miami diaconate, verified Deacon
Stokes’ training and testified that
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ORL A2
he had been found worthy.
Deacon Stokes’ wife, Claudia,
and their 5-year-old son, Joseph,
sat with his parents, out-of-town
friends and formation class. This
ordination was unusual because
the liturgy was for Deacon Stokes
alone.
Deacon David Gray, the director
of the permanent diaconate for the
Diocese of Orlando, said the call to
be a deacon is a unique vocation
within the church. While a priest is
called to lead and provide the sacramental needs of a parish, a deacon is
called for service to the church and
community. “You can see the joy in
Jim’s face,” remarked Deacon Gray.
“He has an open, attentive and giving nature.”
Diaconate service requires a lifetime commitment. During the first
— or aspirant — year, candidates
have an opportunity for discernment, guidance and study so they
can gain a greater understanding of
the position and its challenges. Following the aspirant year, men enter
candidacy and spend the next four
years in study and ministry. In some
diaconate programs, the theological
studies move a candidate toward a
bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Men accepted into formation are
30 or older and less than 60 years old.
Unmarried candidates must profess
to a life of celibacy once ordained;
married candidates must promise
to live a celibate life should their
wives die, but can receive permis-
sion to remarry from the Vatican.
Many formation programs require
the wives to take all the classes with
their husbands so they understand
the responsibilities of a deacon. For
this reason, married men must have
the approval and support of their
wives since the journey is one they
take together.
Deacon Stokes had to drive to
Miami every week for his Scripture
classes and an additional two times
a month for all his other studies.
“The move to Palm Bay made formation challenging,” said Claudia
Stokes, a seventh- and eighth-grade
teacher at St. Joseph Parish School,
“but as I watched Jim during the ordination I knew that this is where he
needs to be.”
Deacon Stokes’ call to ministry
came as a young man. He grew up
in southern California and attended a seminary high school and one
year at a seminary college. When
the program dissolved, he made
the move to law enforcement. “The
police are always with people in
times of great personal need,” he explained. “I always felt I could help a
lot of people and make a difference
as an officer.”
He became interested in pursuing a law degree because of his
work with the officers’ union when
he was a deputy sheriff for Riverside
County, Calif. Deacon Stokes holds
a bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands in California,
and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class when he obtained
his degree in jurisprudence from
Southwestern University School of
Law in Los Angeles in 1995. He went
to work for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office in the police litigation unit after graduation. Deacon
Stokes is board-certified in both
labor and employment, and local
government law. He now serves as
Palm Bay city attorney.
He moved to Florida when he and
Claudia wed in 1998 and worked for
a law firm and then as the Pompano
Beach assistant city attorney. When
asked how law and religion mix, he
references one of his favorite movies, “A Man for All Seasons.” Actor
Paul Scofield portrayed Sir Thomas
More during the last seven years of
his life.
“The part in the movie when
King Henry VIII asks More to sign
an annulment so he can marry
Anne Boleyn and More replies,
‘When statesmen forsake their own
private conscience for the sake of
their public duties, they lead their
country by a short route to chaos.’
I love that line because it’s relevant
today,” said Deacon Stokes. n
Sept. 12-25, 2008
www.thefloridacatholic.org
PETS: Foreclosure crisis affects pets, too
oct. 4 is the
feast day of
St. Francis of
Assisi. many
parishes hold
pet blessings
in his honor.
From A1
rector for the Humane Society there.
“We’re more in need of homes now
due to the foreclosures. People are
ashamed they can’t afford to care
for their pets. Of course, because we
have more pets to care for, we have
greater needs for food and other donations.”
Aycock’s assessment is echoed
in the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals and Humane
Societies throughout the diocese.
Stories abound of pet needs and
people surrendering pets — the
senior citizen who came in crying
because he couldn’t afford the care
of his dog and apologized as he said
St. FrAnciS
St. Francis was born in Assisi,
Italy, in 1181 or 1182. As the son of a wealthy merchant, he fully
delighted in an indulgent life until a
dream in 1205 brought a profound
conversion. He abandoned his ways,
espoused “Lady Poverty,” devoted
his life to the Gospel message and
when he died in Assisi on Oct. 3,
1226, he was intentionally naked
and lying on the ground — even in
death a witness to his beliefs.
With the eyes of the mystic, St.
Francis saw and reverenced God in
all things — the font from which
sprung his deep love and gentle
care for animals.
Animals found in Francis a friend
and protector. It is known that Francis once pleaded with the town
people of Gubbio to feed a wolf that
had ravished their flocks, because
through hunger, “Brother Wolf” had
done this wrong.
Early legends paint an idyllic picture of how beasts and birds alike,
susceptible to Francis’ gentle ways,
entered into loving companionship
with him. Legend has it that halffrozen bees crawled toward him in
the winter to be fed and his “little
brethren the birds” listened so devoutly to his sermon by the roadside
near Bevagna that Francis chided
himself for not having thought of
preaching to them before.
Francis’ love of nature also stood
out in the world in which he moved.
He loved to commune with the wild
flowers, the spring and the fire, and
to greet the sun as it rose.
He considered himself less than
all else and was a champion of lepers — the stigmatized of his day.
St. Francis had a following of
men which became the Franciscan
Order and in 1212 was approached
by Clare, a young heiress of Assisi,
who with her sister, became the first
members of the second Franciscan
Order — the Poor Clares — ministering to the poor of the world.
He was canonized by Pope Gregory IX two years after his death. The information was obtained from www.newadvent.
org and www.religionfacts.com.
PEt BLESSinGS
Below is a listing of times, locations
and contact information for pet and
animal blessings in honor of St. Francis
of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and
the environment. His feast day is Oct. 4.
Sunday, Sept. 21
1:15 p.m.: Queen of Peace Parish,
6455 S.W. State Road 200, Ocala, 352854-2181, Michele A. Schulze.
Sunday, Sept. 28
3 p.m.: St. Brendan Parish, 1000
Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach, 386441-1505, Stan Zerkowski.
CNS PHoTo
goodbye, or the single mother who
was renting a home that was foreclosed on and had to move to an
apartment that refused to allow her
children’s pets.
Jake White, a parishioner at St.
Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Avalon
Park and senior vice president for
the SPCA of Central Florida — encompassing Orange, Osceola and
Seminole counties — becomes
passionate when talking about the
blessings of pets to seniors in particular, and is troubled that many can
no longer afford their companions.
“There’s a healthy psychological
influence of petting a dog or cat,”
he explained. “It’s why we have pet
visitation programs to senior centers and hospitals. But what so many
seniors don’t know is that if they’re
getting Meals on Wheels, they qualify for our ‘Pet Food Xpress.’ We’re
currently delivering pet food to 900
families.”
A similar program, “Kibbles
on Wheels” is available in Sumter
County. In addition, food is available at the Humane Societies
themselves.
PANTRIES STOCK
PET FOOD
At the Catholic Charities of Central Florida Inc. food bank in Orlando, pets are not forgotten.
“Everybody’s food banks are
very low right now,” said Catholic
Charities marketing director Brenda Loyal. “I hear it everywhere and
we are in a crisis, but pets are part
of our families, as well. It’s always
good to remember the pets when
you set aside your food and toiletries
donations.”
The St. Vincent de Paul Society
conference at Our Lady of Lourdes
Parish in Daytona Beach also stocks
pet food. “My population is mostly
transient — the maids and other
hotel workers who live in old houses
and motels,” explained president
Lynn Von Nessen. “Their pets are
their only friends. One of our volunteers, Joanne Mazzarelli, has
put herself in charge of pet food
and personally buys it. I pray every
day that God will stock our pantry
and I don’t know how, but there is
food.”
SCHOOLCHILDREN HELP
Help has come in abundance
through the schoolchildren. At St.
Paul Parish in Leesburg, the third-,
fourth- and fifth-graders can participate in an after-school program
called “Earth’s Angels.” The students learn care of their pets, raise
funds and learn compassion for
those less fortunate.
“I started the program because
I felt the need for the children to
teach others about God and his
creatures,” said fifth-grade teacher Sue Ane Stumpo. “I thought
they could be the platform to get
out the message that these are the
forgotten ones and they definitely
do it well.”
Christina Sanchez, a 10-yearold fifth-grader, shared some of
her experience. “I enjoy going to
the Humane Society, bringing food
and raising money, and making
sure the animals will find a good
home with other people.”
The students are dogged in their
fundraising events — a bake sale
alone brought in $200 in a school
of only 200 students. This spring,
a drive for pet needs — including
food, towels, blankets and other
supplies — yielded a bounty of
goodies for the local Humane Society. There were so many donations, it took five parent-driven cars
to deliver it all.
Christina added, “I’ve rescued
three dogs: a puppy from the Humane Society and two from people
who were abusing them. I have a
little help from my two brothers and
sister, but I care for the animals.”
Classmate Michelle Bryce, also
10, reflected on the highlight of her
Humane Society visit: the animals
needing play. “It means a lot to me
to be able to help the animals, to
personally be with them,” she said.
“The cats are very friendly.”
At Blessed Trinity Catholic
School in Ocala, concern for animals begins even younger, said Roz
Smith, assistant principal. “The kids
love animals and like to help. The
second-grade class sponsors a cat
and dog at the Humane Society of
Marion County — raising money to
provide for their medical costs, food
and shelter until someone adopts
them.”
And at St. Joseph Catholic School
in Lakeland, the kindergarten classes are spearheading the pet drive
during the last week of September in
honor of St. Francis of Assisi. “Due to
the economy, the Humane Society
ORL A3
A3
Wednesday, Oct. 1
6 p.m.: St. Peter Parish, 359 W. New
York Ave., DeLand, 386-822-6000,
Father Thomas Connery.
Saturday, Oct. 4
10 a.m.:
• Immaculate Conception Parish, on the front lawn, 3780 S. Highway
A1A, Melbourne Beach, 321-725-0552,
Gretchen Ellrod.
• St. Patrick Parish, 6803 Old Highway 441 S., Mount Dora, 352-383-8556,
Franciscan Father Blase R. Romano.
• Blessed Trinity Parish, 4545 Anderson Road, Orlando, 407-277-1702,
Marianne Rhode.
• St. Anthony Parish, 820 Marcum Road, Lakeland, 863-858-8047, Jessica
Pote.
• All Souls Parish, 3280 W. 1st St., Sanford, 407-322-3795, Mary Lou Fess.
• St. Matthew Parish, 1991 Overlook is in need of donations more than
ever,” said teacher Judi Dry. “Anyone can contribute cleaning supplies, old towels, pet toys, pet food
and money.”
STORMS SPUR ACTION
At St. Paul Parish in Leesburg,
parishioners have responded to the
poignancy of loss. “We have always
had a special place in our hearts
for our animals — they’re God’s
creation,” said Linda Clark, parish
business manager. “We had parishioners who had to give up their pets
due to the storms and we made sure
the shelters had what they needed.”
And it’s hurricanes that have
generated the biggest area event
scheduled in honor of St. Francis —
Rusty’s Pool Party, a fundraiser for
the Humane Society of Polk County
at Cypress Garden’s Splash Island
Water Park on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to
3 p.m.
“We were hit hard by Hurricane
Charley in 2004,” explained Joan
Turner, a parishioner at St. Matthew
Parish in Winter Haven and Humane Society board member. “We
want to build a shelter to house all
the animals until they find homes
and we want to open a hurricane
shelter for pets so that when people
on the coasts, especially seniors, are
faced with the threat of a hurricane,
they won’t stay home because there
is nowhere to take their pets. They
can bring them here and know they
Drive, Winter Haven, 863-324-3040,
Helen Telep-Gonzalez.
10:30 a.m.: St. James Cathedral
School, 505 E. Ridgewood St., Orlando,
407-422-2005, Renee Jones.
11 a.m.: St. Augustine Parish, 375
N. Sunset Drive, Casselberry, 407-6953262, Marilyn Napoletano.
Noon: San Pedro Spiritual Development Center, 2400 Dike Road, Winter
Park, 407-671-6322.
1 p.m.: Ascension Parish, 2950 N.
Harbor City Blvd. Melbourne, 321-2541595, Flo Downey.
2 p.m.: St. John the Evangelist Parish,
5655 Stadium Parkway, Viera, 321-6379650, Robert McBride.
6:30 p.m.: St. Maximilian Kolbe
Parish, doggy park (across from Publix),
3400 Avalon Park E. Blvd., Avalon Park,
407-446-5974, Deacon Miguel A. Pagan
Sunday, Oct. 5
3 p.m.:
• Corpus Christi Parish, North Village Pavilion, 225 Celebration Blvd., Celebration, 321-939-1491, Julie Schneider.
• Most Precious Blood Parish, Lawton Chiles Middle School, 1240
Sanctuary Drive, Oviedo, 407-365-3231,
Michelle Ducker.
Monday, Oct. 6
10 a.m.: St. Charles Borromeo Parish,
outside the church doors, 4001 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, 407-293-9556, Pat
Markusic.
11 a.m.: St. Clare Parish, 2961 Day
Road, Deltona, 386-789-9990, Candace
Nile.
are safe.”
VETS PITCH IN
In Indian Harbour Beach, Aloha
Pet and Bird Hospital, founded by
veterinarian Jose Pepen and his wife,
Linda, parishioners at Holy Name of
Jesus Parish in Indialantic, is doing
all it can to assist in the overwhelming need for fostering and adopting animals. The waiting room has
several cages with cats and kittens
in need of “furever” homes. For individuals who foster animals — providing them with a home, food and
care until a permanent home can be
found — Aloha assists with necessary medical services for those who
need help.
“More than a dozen animals have
been adopted out just this summer,”
said Susan Stitzel, Aloha manager.
“The shelter lets us know if it has
cats who have been up for adoption for awhile and we bring them
in here for another opportunity for
people to see them. Animal lovers
come through here.”
Linda Pepen said she visits
the shelter on a routine basis and
grooms dogs that “are matted messes, helping people see through to
this cute little pet. Plus, the dogs feel
so good. A little Lhasa mix was just
prancing around so full of himself
when we finished. If everyone did
just a little to help, we could take
care of all the animals. It’s community — that’s what it takes.” n
A4
Florida
Catholic
diocese of orlando
Vol. 69, No. 33
50 East Robinson St.
P.O. Box 1800
Orlando, FL 32802-1800
407-246-4800 Fax 407-246-4942
Publisher
Bishop Thomas Wenski
associate Publisher
Christopher Gunty
[email protected]
407-373-0075
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All contents copyright © 2008, The Florida Catholic Inc.,
except stories and photos from Catholic News Service.
Florida Catholic
Sept. 12-25, 2008
Faith calls Catholics to defend
“human life and human dignity”
In late August, the Speaker of the per on Aug. 13 that suggested that
House, Nancy Pelosi, appeared on “Catholic leaders” viewed the Dem“Meet the Press.” In order to justify ocratic Party platform’s “abortion
her support of abortion as a Catho- plank” in a positive light. In fact,
lic, she misrepresented the history
many would argue that the
and the nature of the auplank this year was more
thentic teaching of the
extreme than the party’s
Catholic Church on aborprevious endorsements of
tion. On behalf of all the
“reproductive rights.”
bishops, Cardinal Justin
I wrote: “… (the bishops)
Rigali, chair of our comare the ones who speak as
mittee on Pro-Life Activithe leaders of the Cathoties, and Bishop William
lic Church in the United
from tHe
Lori, chair of our commitStates — and not political
BisHoP
tee on Doctrine, issued
operatives for one party or
a statement refuting Ms.
who happen to be
Thomas another
Pelosi’s attempt to justify
Catholic. In ‘Forming ConWenski sciences for Faithful Citithe unjustifiable. No one
can legitimately argue
zenship,’ the bishops wrote
that support for abortion
that ‘opposing intrinsically
can be reconciled with the moral evil acts has a special claim on our
teachings of the Church. In their consciences and our actions’ and
statement, the bishops quote suc- warned against a ‘moral equivacinctly from the Catechism of the lence’ that would make no ethical
Catholic Church: “Since the first distinctions between different kinds
century the Church has affirmed of issues involving human life and
the moral evil of every procured dignity.”
abortion. This teaching has not
As we bishops wrote: “The direct
changed and remains unchange- and intentional destruction of innoable. Direct abortion, that is to say, cent human life from the moment of
abortion willed either as an end or conception until natural death is
a means, is gravely contrary to the always wrong and is not just one ismoral law” (CCC, 2271).
sue among many. It must always be
Last month, I too had to issue a opposed.”
clarification by means of a letter to
Catholics in public life — wheththe editor that appeared in the Or- er they are Democrats or Republando Sentinel on Aug. 16 concern- licans — must act seriously and
ing an article in that same newspa- responsibly on many important
moral issues.
Our faith has an integral unity
that calls Catholics to defend human life and human dignity whenever they are threatened. A priority
for the poor, the protection of family life, the pursuit of justice and
the promotion of peace are fundamental priorities of the Catholic
moral tradition which cannot be
ignored or neglected. Yet, abortion
is a grave violation of the most fundamental human right — the right
to life that is inherent in all human
beings, and that grounds every
other right we possess. As Pope
John Paul II wrote in “Christifideles Laici,” “… the common outcry,
which is justly made on behalf of
human rights — for example, the
right to health, to home, to work,
to family, to culture — is false and
illusory if the right to life … is not
defended with maximum determination. … The human being is entitled to such rights, in every phase
of development, from conception
until natural death; and in every
condition, whether healthy or sick,
whole or handicapped, rich or poor
(No. 38).
Bishops do not endorse candidates or parties. We do not tell
people for whom they should vote.
We say that Catholics should vote
their consciences — and public officials who are Catholic should always act in accord with their own
consciences. But, we insist that
one’s conscience must be consistent with fundamental moral principles. As members of the Church,
all Catholics are obliged to shape
our consciences in accord with the
moral teaching of the Church. That
so many Catholics in public life
hold positions on human life — like
Rep. Pelosi and Sen. Biden — not
coherent with their Catholic faith
and yet, at the same time, declare
themselves to be “good Catholics”
is a scandal.
In “Forming Consciences for
Faithful Citizenship,” we recognized that, while a Catholic may
never vote for a candidate because
of that candidate’s support for
abortion, he or she might — for a
serious and grave reason — vote
for such a candidate. And there are
a few Catholics with strong pro-life
credentials who feel this way in
the current campaign. One such
Catholic is Douglas Kmiec, former
head of The Catholic University of
America’s law school.
But the Democratic standardbearers — in reaction to the Sarah
Palin nomination — are seemingly
intent on making this election a
referendum on defending abortion
“rights.” If they do, a Catholic with
a well-formed conscience would be
hard pressed to find any “serious”
and “grave” reasons to justify voting for them. n
Eucharistic Congress part of
Fiesta de la Hispanidad weekend
Robyn KuRth
ST. CLOUD — Two special
events for the Hispanic community will take place at St. Thomas
Aquinas Parish in October: the
Hispanic Eucharistic Congress,
which runs Oct. 10-11; and the annual Misa de la Hispanidad (Hispanic Mass) and Gran Fiesta de
la Hispanidad (Hispanic festival)
Oct. 12. This will be the first year
the Hispanic Mass will be combined with the congress.
Father Ybain Ramirez, parochial vicar of St. James Cathedral
in Orlando and director of the
diocesan Office of Hispanic Min-
The Florida Catholic (ISSN 0746-4584) publishes 38 issues/year (weekly from October
through mid-May, except for the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s;
biweekly the rest of the year) for the Archdiocese of Miami and the Dioceses of Orlando, Palm Beach, Pensacola-Tallahassee, St. Petersburg, and Venice for $24 per year
in Florida, $30 per year in the U.S., and $95 per year foreign, by The Florida Catholic
istry since January, is grateful for
Bishop Thomas Wenski’s continued support of Orlando’s Hispanic
Catholics. “Bishop Wenski is very
close to our Spanish community
and he is always there,” said Father Ramirez. “It is like we are in
our own country, celebrating with
the bishop.”
Father Ramirez noted that when
he arrived in central Florida from
Venezuela seven years ago, 20 parishes in the diocese offered Spanish Masses. Today, 43 parishes offer Spanish Masses, in addition to
local missions. “We are growing
so fast,” he said. “Even though we
are from different countries, we
are like one family.”
The Eucharistic Congress begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, and
continues in the St. Thomas Aquinas gymnasium from 8 a.m. until
3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, followed by Mass at 4:30 p.m. Father
Rafael Chavez from Venezuela
will be the featured speaker and
Bishop Wenski will present one of
the four topics. All of the presentations will be in Spanish.
Bishop Wenski will celebrate
the Hispanic Mass at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. The Mass will open
with a procession of national flags
and the patrona (patroness) of the
more than 20 Spanish-speaking
countries represented in the Orlando Diocese. Participants are in-
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Association. The appearance of advertising in these pages does not imply endorsement of businesses, services and products. Complaints regarding advertising should
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ORL A4
vited to wear the traditional clothing of their home country. Following the Mass, the festivities will
continue on the parish grounds
with live music, folk dancing and
booths featuring cuisine from
Latin American nations. n
Anyone wishing to register for the
Eucharistic Congress may call
the Office of Hispanic Ministry at
407-246-4930. The $15 fee includes
breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
Performers who are interested in
being a part of the live entertainment during the Gran Fiesta de la
Hispanidad should contact the Office of Hispanic Ministry by Sept.
30.
must exercise prudence in responding to advertising in all media. Political advertising
not accepted. Periodicals postage paid at Orlando, FL 32862 and additional mailing
offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Florida Catholic, P.O. Box 4993,
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News Service (CNS).
Vincentians walk to raise
money for those in need
Laura DoDson
ORLANDO —As the economy
has driven so many — working
families in particular — to find alternative means of transportation,
the Diocesan Council of Orlando
Society of St. Vincent de Paul will
be participating in a national event
on Sept. 27, walking to raise desperately needed funds to assist them.
“This is an urgent situation,” said
Bruce Stumbras, St. Vincent de Paul
Council president. “With a sluggish
economy and cutbacks in funding for government agencies, we’re
being swamped. These people are
hurting and we need help to assist
them.”
Help will come in the money
donated to support the students
and adults who participate in the
first national 5K Friends of the Poor
Walk which will be held at four locations in the Orlando Diocese: Bishop Moore High School, Orlando;
Annunciation Parish, Altamonte
Springs; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Daytona Beach; and St. John
Neumann Parish in Lakeland.
Last year, Vincentians representing 27 parishes in the diocese assisted 171,000 clients, a 55 percent
increase over the previous year. In
addition, there was a 33 percent increase in cash payments made over
the previous year.
better prospects for the school year ahead.
WHErE tHE WALKS ArE
The first St. Vincent de Paul 5K
Friends of the Poor Walk to raise funds
for the needs of the local community
will be Saturday, Sept. 27, at four
locations in the diocese. To register
or donate, you may call the numbers
listed below or visit the Web site at
www.svdporlando.org.
• Central Orlando: Bishop Moore High School, 3901 Edgewater Drive, 8
a.m. registration, 9 a.m. start. Music, children’s games, food. Call 407-8860940.
Annunciation Parish Vincentian
chairman Tony Padilla explained,
“Having no one to turn to in a moment of need is a trying experience
for anyone, but especially for the
poor. You can become a friend of
the poor in three ways: become a
walker, pledge for a walker, volunteer!”
Sept. 27 is the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul, a French priest who
founded the society to assist the
poor of the world. The organization
is celebrating its 175th anniversary.
Mallory Becher, 16, a junior at
Lake Brantley High School, is a
member of the St. Vincent de Paul
youth group and will be walking. “I
really think it’s important for kids
and their families to bring awareness of needy families and provide
help. I’m hoping to get a lot of teens
• Altamonte Springs: Annunciation Parish, 1020 Montgomery Road, 8 a.m. Mass, 9 a.m. walk. Food, games, entertainment. Call 407-215-7669.
• Daytona Beach: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 201 University Blvd., 10 a.m. start. Beach walk, kiddie dash, food and fun. Call 386-255-0433.
• Lakeland: St. John Neumann Parish, 501 E. Carter Road, 9 a.m. start. Park walk, refreshments, games. Call 863-644-7469.
involved because there aren’t many
who understand the needs,” she
said. n
A13
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Around Your communitY
RETREAT/DAY
OF PRAYER:
San Pedro Spiritual
Development Center, 2400
Dike Road, Winter Park, 407-6716322 or www.sanpedrocenter.
org. Registration required.
• “Gathering the Fragments: Enough for the Journey Home”:
Sept. 12-14, 6 p.m., Friday, until Sunday dinner, 6 p.m. Led by Society of the Precious Blood
Father Ben Berinti.
• Dedication of new campside buildings: Sept. 14, 3:30 p.m. Blessing by Bishop Thomas Wenski, followed by cookout, games and fun. Casual dress for all.
• Marian day of reflection: Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., with Father Patrick Quinn. Cost: $35, includes coffee and lunch.
• “Joyful Again” retreat for widows and widowers: Sept. 20, 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and Sept. 21, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Doris Neuzil of St. Ann Parish, DeBary, will facilitate. Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Family Life and Pastoral Care. Commuter: $80; double room: $100; private room: $125. Costs include six meals and all materials. Contact: Doris Neuzil, 386-753-0679.
• Franciscan retreat: Sept. 2628, with Franciscan friars.
PARISH EVENTS
“Blessing of the Critters”:
Sept. 21, 1:15 p.m., Queen of Peace Parish, 6455 S.W. State
Road 200, Ocala. Bring your pets
to church plaza to be blessed. Call 352-854-2181, or Bill and
Betty Dalton, 352-237-5204.
Spaghetti dinners: Fridays,
through Sept. 26, 5-7 p.m., Christ the King Parish, 14045 N. Highway 301, Citra. All you can eat. Meat sauce, marinara sauce, salad, garlic bread, dessert, tea or coffee. Adults: $6; children 12 and under: $2. Call 352-8671810.
Mystery of the Shroud of
Turin presentation: Sept. 29, 7
p.m., St. Joseph Parish, Lakeland. Author and lecturer John Iannone will discuss “A Case for Authenticity.” Call parish office: 863-682-0555.
820 Marcum Road, Lakeland, FL 33809
863-858-8047
We invite you to join Father Nick OʼBrien,
our pastor, on the 25th anniversary of his priestly
ordination, September 17, 2008 for a day of prayer
for vocations.
8:30 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
10:15 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
12:00 noon
Morning Mass
Exposition of the Eucharist
Morning Prayer with our school children
Office of the Readings
Daytime Prayers
Angelus/Reposition of Eucharist —
Light reception follows with a
presentation on Vocations by Father Nick
--------------------------------------------6:00 p.m. Youth Mass — Everyone is invited
7:00 p.m. Exposition of the Eucharist
7:30 p.m. Evening Prayer
7:50 p.m. Reception in parish center and a
presentation on Vocations, encouraging
the youth and their families to attend
8:30 p.m. Night Prayers and Benediction
Conveniently
located, just off
US98 North!
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www.stanthonyparish.com
Florida Catholic
CONFERENCES/
MEETINGS/
OTHER EVENTS
Justice for immigrants
presentation: Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m., St. Margaret Mary Parish, Winter Park. “For I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: An Immigration Reform Presentation” by Antonio Cube, national manager of the Justice for Immigrants Campaign. Topics include: Catholic teaching on migration, pending legislative proposals and U.S. bishops’ priorities for comprehensive immigration reform. Sponsored by Office of Advocacy and Justice. R.S.V.P.: 407-246-4819 or [email protected].
Ninth annual pro-life
seminar: Sept. 20, 8 a.m. registration, closes at 4 p.m., Mass at 4:30 p.m., St. Andrew Parish, Orlando. Hosted by Holy Family Knights of Columbus Council 9236. Speakers: Augustinian Father Denis Wilde, Priests for
Life; Loretta Fleming, assistant director of field coordination
for National Committee for Human Life Amendment; and Deborah Shearer, director, Office of Advocacy and Justice. Cost: $15 by Sept. 8 deadline, includes registration, breakfast and lunch. Contact: Eugene Hawk, 407-6568617, or mail checks payable to Knights of Columbus, Council 9236, For: Pro-Life Seminar, and send to Michael Krochmalni, 2207 Viento St., Orlando, FL 32822.
Faithful Citizenship
workshops: A call to political responsibility from the Catholic bishops of the United States. Presentation by Deborah Stafford Shearer, director of the diocesan
Office of Advocacy and Justice. Review the U.S. bishops’ document, parish implementation and resources, and hear answers to
questions such as, “How does the church help Catholics to address
political and social questions?” Contact: 407-246-4819 or [email protected].
• Sept. 15, 7 p.m., Our Lady of Grace Parish, Palm Bay.
• Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m., St. Margaret Mary Parish, Winter Park. • Sept. 24, 7 p.m., St. Matthew Parish, Winter Haven.
• Sept. 27, 10 a.m., St. Augustine Parish, Casselberry.
• Oct. 8, 6:30 p.m., St. Mary Parish, Rockledge.
• Oct. 20, 7 p.m., St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, St. Cloud. • Oct. 24, 9:45 a.m., St. Timothy Parish, Lady Lake. Senior resource expo: Sept. 23,
11 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Mary Magdalen Parish adult day care, 710 Spring
Lake Road, Altamonte Springs. Free music, entertainment, light lunch, health information and screenings, caregiver tips, door prizes, activity demos and tours highlighting the benefits of adult day care and community services that help seniors maintain independence in their home. Open to the public. Contact: 407-831-9630 or AdultCenter@StMaryMagdalen.
org.
“Celebrating the Genius
of Women”: Sept. 27, 3-6 p.m., Woman’s Club of Winter Park, 419 N. Interlachen Ave., Winter Park. Women in the Arts Inc., a ministry of St. Andrew Parish, will host its second annual
ORL A14
Sept. 12-25, 2008
orLAndo diocESE communitY PAGE
SuBmiSSion dEAdLinES
The Florida Catholic welcomes calendar items of coming events for your parish or organization. Due to time required for production and mailing, we need
to receive items at least five weeks before requested publication. Send items to:
Around Your Community, Florida Catholic, P.O. Box 1800, Orlando, FL 328021800; by fax, send items marked Around Your Community to 407-246-4942; or
e-mail to, [email protected].
Announcements for ongoing activities will be removed after 60 days. For
continued coverage, announcements must be resubmitted.
celebration and fundraiser. Art exhibit, silent auction and live entertainment. Refreshments. Suggested donations: $20 for adults; $10 for children under 18. Funds benefit arts scholarships for women and girls. Visit www.
womenintheartsinc.org or call 407491-3884.
“Walk for the Poor”: Sept. 27,
8 a.m., Annunciation Parish, 1020 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs. Sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, this
annual global event will begin with Mass followed by a 2.5 mile walk-a-thon on grounds. All proceeds will serve needs of the poor in local community. Contact: John Becher or Paula Mix, 407215-7669.
Mass, discussion and
potluck dinner with deaf
Catholics: Oct. 18, 3:30 p.m., St. John Vianney Parish living room, 6200 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando. Father Leo Hodges, celebrant. Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Advocacy and Justice. R.S.V.P.: eclayton@
orlandodiocese.org or 407-2464819.
Shrine concert: Oct. 19, 2
p.m., National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, 8300 Vineland Ave., Orlando. Features renowned percussionists Beth
and Danny Gottlieb. Tickets: $9. Available at the shrine gift shop or at the door. Information: 407239-6600, ext. 317.
Women of Grace conference:
Oct. 25, 8 a.m., registration and continental breakfast, ends with 4 p.m. Mass, Blessed Sacrament Parish, 720 12th St., Clermont. A day to experience the beauty of womanhood presented by Johnette S. Benkovic, founder and president of Living His Life Abundantly and Women of Grace; and Father Edmund Silvia, CSC. Cost: $40, includes lunch. Call 352-243-9551 or visit www.
blessedsacramentcc.com.
PRAYER SESSIONS/
MASSES
40 Days for Life prayer
vigil: Sept. 24-Nov. 2. Diocesan Office of Advocacy and Justice is sponsoring this prayer vigil joining people of faith across
America praying that this effort will mark the beginning of the end of abortion. Supporters may stand vigil 8 a.m.-6 p.m. outside one of two local facilities of
Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando: Westside Clinic, 726 S. Tampa Ave., Orlando; or Eastside Clinic, 3403 Technological Ave., Suite 14, Orlando. Supporters
may also pray at home to end abortion or participate in a Lenten-like fast for 40 days. Contact Dolores Romano, 407252-3103 or doloresromano07@
gmail.com; Office of Advocacy and Justice, 407-246-4819 or
[email protected]; or visit www.40daysforlife.com/
orlando.
Helpers of God’s Most
Precious Infants rosary
procession: Oct. 4, 9 a.m. Mass, Basilica of St. Paul, 317 Mullally St., Daytona Beach, followed
by rosary procession to nearby abortion site. Group returns to the church for Benediction or
a final blessing. Bring rosary and friends — leave signs at home. Sponsored by diocesan Office of Advocacy and Justice, 407-246-4819, or respectlife@
orlandodiocese.org.
America Needs Fatima
rosary rally: Oct. 11, noon,
corner of Donnelly and Fifth
Avenue, Mount Dora. Participants will join the Public Square Rosary Campaign to counter samegender marriage, abortion and other activities contrary to church teachings. The rosary will be prayed in honor of the anniversary of Mary’s miracle of the sun at Fatima Oct. 13, 1917. Contact: Barbara Corso, 352-383-4594.
Healing prayer: First, second
and fourth Mondays, 9-11 a.m., St. John Vianney Parish, 6200 S.
Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando. Call parish office: 407-855-5391.
Healing prayer: First Mondays, 7 p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, 201 University Blvd., Daytona Beach. Call Gary and Vivian Bowden, 386-673-1330.
Haitian-Creole Mass: Sundays,
9 a.m., Robinswood Middle School, 6305 Balboa Drive, Orlando. Sponsored by St. Andrew Parish.
Adoration of the Blessed
Sacrament: Monday through Saturday, 7:10 a.m. until start of 8:30 a.m. Mass, and Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon; first Sundays, noon-6 p.m., Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels; rosary for vocations daily following Mass, St. Brendan Parish, 1000 Oceanshore Blvd., Ormond Beach. 386-441-1505.
Pray rosary for life: Third and fifth Saturdays, 7 a.m., abortion facility on Lucerne Terrace in downtown Orlando. St. Augustine’s Respect Life Committee invites fellow Catholics to join them in praying the rosary. 407-699-4328.
Divine Mercy chaplet:
Wednesdays, 3 p.m., St. Faustina Parish, 320 U.S. Highway 27,
Clermont. Call the parish office: 352-394-0020.
Liturgy of the Hours:
Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m.-noon and 7-9 p.m., St. Anthony Parish, 820 Marcum Road, Lakeland. Includes exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and clergy and lay ministers to answer questions. Contact: Ken Drummer, 863-8588047, ext. 214.
Sept. 12-25, 2008
A15
Grant keeps free medical clinic healthy
John A. Torres
ORLANDO — More than 25,000
residents of central Florida should
no longer have to choose between
food and medical care.
A $100,000 grant from the Blue
Foundation for a Healthy Florida to
Catholic Charities of Central Florida
Inc. will allow a free medical clinic
in Wildwood to continue serving
the working poor, migrant workers,
single mothers and whoever else
may need help.
The Lazarus Free Medical Clinic
opened in May and is staffed almost
entirely by volunteers. Two paid
staffers work part time.
One of the clinic’s goals is to provide health care and emergency
prescriptions free of charge to Lake,
Sumter and Marion county residents who do not have insurance.
“This is a marvelous contribution to the entire area,” said Brenda
Loyal, marketing director for Catholic Charities. “This is especially important to the uninsured and those
struggling to make ends met. People are having to choose between
eating and going to the doctor.”
The clinic is on the premises of
San Pedro Jesus Maldonado, a recently formed mission of the Diocese of Orlando. According to Fa-
ther Gianni Agostinelli, the clinic
was badly needed in the area. He
said the population around the mission is very poor.
Care at the clinic ranges from
pediatrics and family medicine
to pathology and gynecology. The
clinic also runs health education
workshops.
Loyal said the grant — which will
be given in two parts — goes a long
way toward helping the free clinic
be totally self-sustaining.
She also said that because health
care for the poor is a major initiative
of Catholic Charities, the agency is
planning to open a second clinic
this fall in of Osceola County.
The Blue Foundation for a
Healthy Florida is the philanthrop-
ic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Florida. n
Bishop Wenski prays at convention
TAnyA GoodmAn
of the Florida Catholic staff
ORLANDO — Bishop Thomas
Wenski of Orlando delivered a
prayer at the Republican National
Convention in Minneapolis Sept.
3.
Bishop Wenski’s appearance was
not an endorsement of the Republican presidential candidate Sen.
John McCain, a diocesan spokeswoman said.
In the invocation, Bishop Wenski remembered those affected
by storms and recalled the lyrics
of Katharine Lee Bates. “We pray
for the survivors of the storms:
Strengthen and comfort them especially in the days and weeks ahead.
May the many acts of solidarity —
DENTAL
DIRECTORY
from sea to shining sea.’” n
For the complete text of Bishop
Wenski’s prayer, go to our Web site,
www.thefloridacatholic.org.
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already see witness to the truth of
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A16 Your orlando communitY
Florida Catholic
Sept. 12-25, 2008
San Pedro Center adds new
buildings, updating its space
Teresa LanTigua PeTerson
Special to the Florida Catholic
WINTER PARK — After Johnny
Livera came to this city in 1972, the
first place he visited was the San
Pedro Spiritual Development Center for a parish picnic.
“My first thought was, ‘I have
moved to paradise,’” said Livera,
who moved from New Jersey with
his wife and four children.
Eight years later, he was back at
San Pedro for a Cursillo spiritual
retreat. The experience changed
his faith life in a profound way.
“I refer to my life in terms of B.C.
and A.C. — before Cursillo and after Cursillo. It totally changed my
life,” he said.
Livera is one of thousands of
people over the years who have
spent prayerful time at San Pedro
on a spiritual journey, growing
closer to God. Situated on 480 acres
of protected wetlands and lush
Florida forests in Winter Park, San
Pedro allows people to escape the
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demands of everyday life to spend
holy time in a holy place.
Now San Pedro is about to celebrate a special milestone. Four
years after Hurricane Charley destroyed a dormitory on the camp
side of the property, a replacement
dormitory has been built and will
be dedicated Sept. 14. The modern
and comfortable building has 80
bunk beds and is divided into two
separate spaces. A new multipurpose center named St. Francis Hall
was built next to the dormitory and
will be dedicated at the same time.
Along with the Cursillo community, other ecclesial groups and
youth groups visit San Pedro Center
for programs designed by their own
leaders or the Franciscan friars and
lay staff based at San Pedro.
“Our mission is to serve the people and parishes of this diocese.
We’re looking for any way we can
serve their needs,” said Father J.
Patrick Quinn, Third Order Regular of St. Francis, director of San
Pedro.
Many parishes use San Pedro
for confirmation retreats, days of
recollection and staff spiritual enrichment. The specially trained
friars and program directors also
conduct outreach in the form of
parish missions and sacramental
preparation.
“San Pedro is a diocesan entity,”
said Carol Stanton, program marketing director. “It belongs to all of
us in the Diocese of Orlando. It’s a
special resource. Bishop (Thomas)
Grady intended San Pedro to be the
spiritual heart of our diocese for the
spiritual, intellectual, human and
pastoral formation of our leaders.”
In 1978, Mary Larsen, then a
senior at Bishop Moore Catholic
High School, attended peer ministry retreats at San Pedro. This past
summer, she sent her three sons to
San Pedro to attend Scripture camp
where the new buildings are located. The older two children in middle school attended resident camp
and the youngest, a fifth-grader,
attended day camp.
“They had such a delightful time
(that) they asked me to sign them
iF You Go
What: Bishop Thomas Wenski will bless
and dedicate the new buildings on the
“camp” side of the San Pedro Center.
After the ceremony, the celebration continues with food, games, clowns, a hall of
memories and a silent auction.
When: Sunday, Sept. 14, 3:30 p.m.
Where: San Pedro Spiritual Development
Center, 2400 Dike Road, Winter Park
Information: www.sanpedrocenter.org
up for another week. They came
home with a different maturity
level. They were stronger in their
spirituality,” Larsen said.
More than 300 kids attended
Scripture camp at San Pedro this
past summer where, surrounded
by nature, they learned about God’s
love, the Bible and Catholic teachings and traditions.
“I have an incredibly warm spot
in my heart for the place,” added
Larsen. n
Peterson is communications manager for the Diocese of Orlando.
Think:<W_j^Z[l[befc[dj
8WbWdY[Zd[mi
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ORL A16
Section B
|
Sept. 12-25, 2008
evelio Campos, 11, prepares pictures of stars for the 50th anniversary celebration at Morning Star School in tampa.
Florida CatholiC Photo BY Jean Gonzalez
cholastic stars are born
NO SIBLING RIVALRY HERE
SUPPORT AND LEARNING
REAcHING GOALS DOWN UNDER
The Florida Catholic asked two of its teen writers, Valerie and
Nick Bryant, to write about going back to school. Valerie, now
a sophomore at University of Florida in Gainesville, and Nick, a
senior at Chaminade-Madonna High School in Miami, started
the school year in two separate cities. While distance separates
them, they still stay close thanks to instant messaging.
It is hard to decide what is more beneficial to the students of
Morning Star School in Tampa: the support they receive from
the staff, the support students receive from each other or the
inspiration the staff gains from the students. As the school
catering to students with special needs celebrates its 50th anniversary, students reflect on the education they receive there.
Alexandra Robau, a junior from St Thomas Aquinas High School
in Fort Lauderdale, traveled with her soccer team to Australia
— the Land Down Under — this summer to participate in an
international soccer competition. The team earned kudos and
praise in many languages as they placed first. But for the team,
there was a whole lot more to the trip than just winning.
See story, Page B7
See story, Page B5
B1
See story, Page B8
B2
Back in school
Florida Catholic
Sept. 12-25, 2008
Orange, Osceola and Seminole Catholic Schools
Ensuring
Ensuring Faith
Faith in
in Every
Every Student
Student ...
... Together
Together
All Souls Catholic School
Holy Redeemer School
St. John Vianney Catholic School
Mr. Thomas Doyle, principal
810 S. Oak St. • Sanford, FL 32771
Phone: 407-322-7090 Fax: 407-321-7255
E-mail: ascsoffi[email protected]
www.allsoulscatholicschool.org
Mrs. Colleen Ehlenbeck, principal
1800 W. Columbia Ave. • Kissimmee, FL 34741
Phone: 407-870-9055 Fax: 407-870-2214
Sister Elizabeth Murphy, principal
6200 S. Orange Blossom Trail • Orlando, FL 32809
Phone: 407-855-4660 Fax: 407-857-7932
www.sjvs.org
Annunciation Catholic Academy
Margaret E. Curran, Ed.D., principal
593 Jamestown Blvd. • Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Phone: 407-774-2801 Fax: 407-774-2826
www.annunciationacademy.org
Bishop Moore Catholic High School
St. Andrew School
Dr. Kathleen Kiley, principal
877 Hastings St. • Orlando, FL 32808
Phone: 407-295-4230 • Fax: 407-290-0959
St. Charles Borromeo
Catholic School
Ms. Maureen J. Kane, principal
3901 Edgewater Drive • Orlando, FL 32804
Phone: 407-293-7561 Fax: 407-296-8135
www.bishopmoore.org
Mrs. Mary Agnew, principal
4005 Edgewater Drive
Orlando, FL 32804
Phone: 407-293-7691 Fax: 407-295-9839
www.stcharles-orlando.org
Good Shepherd Catholic School
St. James Cathedral School
Miss Patricia McNamee, principal
5902 Oleander Drive • Orlando, FL 32807
Phone: 407-277-3973 Fax: 407-277-2605
www.goodshepherd.org
Mrs. Gerri Gendall, principal
505 E. Ridgewood St. • Orlando, FL 32803
Phone: 407-841-4432 Fax: 407-648-4603
www.stjcs.com
Holy Family Catholic School
Sister Dorothy Sayers, principal
5129 S. Apopka-Vineland Road
Orlando, FL 32819
Phone: 407-876-9344 Fax: 407-876-8775
www.hfcschool.com
NORTH B2
St. Margaret Mary Catholic School
Mrs. Kathleen Walsh, principal
142 E. Swoope Ave. • Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone: 407-644-7537 • Fax: 407-644-7357
www.smmknight.org
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School
Ms. Mary McKiernan, principal
869 Maitland Ave. • Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Phone: 407-339-7301 Fax: 407-339-9556
www.smmschool.org
St. Thomas Aquinas School
Mrs. Mary Tumbleson, principal
800 Brown Chapel Road
St. Cloud, FL 34769
Phone: 407-957-1772
Fax: 407-957-8700
Sept. 12-25, 2008
back in school
b3
Moms’ mornings filled with prayer
Laura DoDson
ORLANDO — School classrooms and hallways are alive
once again with the sounds of
students and staff in serious pursuit of knowledge, while in quiet
cor ners mot hers a re equa l ly
as fervently lifting them up in
prayer.
“We’ve seen wonderful things
come to fruition,” explained Laura Cassady, coordinator of the
Moms in Touch group at Bishop
Moore High School in Orlando.
“We’ve seen God acting in our
lives in his quiet and mysterious
ways and we know it makes a difference.”
Every Tuesday morning from
8 to 9 a.m., moms gather in the
chapel with the intentions of the
students and staff and the usual
daily life concerns.
“In addit ion to pray ing for
academic excellence, we pray
for safety — on the roads and in
the parking lots as they drive. We
pray for athletics — for the coaches, helpers, parents and athletes
that they will be safe transporting to and from games and safe
on the playing fields, golf course,
track and swimming pool and
‘I think it’s really neat
that there’s always
someone looking out
for me. My mom is
like a guardian angel
looking out for me and
the whole school. She’s
someone I can go to with
my problems and with
the tough situations in
the lives of others. She
comforts me.’
with the basket
of prayer
requests before
them, moms
gather in the
chapel at bishop
Moore high
School on a
tuesday morning
to lift up in
prayer the needs
of the school
community.
— Patrick Cassady
that in their play God will be glorified first. We lift up kids who
are being bullied, victimized,
who need friends or are outcasts.
We pray without them knowing
we are praying for them,” Cassady continued.
Cassady has two sons, Patrick,
who is 16 and a junior, and Jason,
15 and a sophomore, and like every mother of teens is concerned
about the temptations and negative inf luences teens face. So,
Photo by Meg Lawrence
the moms pray also that drugs,
alcohol, cheating and theft won’t
find a foothold in the lives of the
students at Bishop Moore.
“I think it’s really neat that
there’s always someone looking with my problems and with the
out for me,” Patrick said. “My tough situations in the lives of
mom is like a guardian angel others. She comforts me.”
looking out for me and the whole
PLeaSe See moms, B4
school. She’s someone I can go to
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
Wa s h i n g t o n , D . C .
Open Houses
October 19, 2008
November 9, 2008
January 25, 2009
Let us know you’re coming!
This is your chance to experience Catholic University’s strong, valuesbased education and get the answers you need on important topics.
• Hear what life is really like living and studying in Washington, D.C.
• Learn about academic programs in your major field of interest.
• Find out about financial aid, the honors program, and internship and
career opportunities in our nation’s capital.
Interested in Engineering, Nursing or Music?
Register online at http://admissions.cua.edu.
Plan to attend one of our academic focus programs.
Interviews must be pre-scheduled by calling
202-319-5305 or 1-800-673-2772.
All on Friday, November 7, 2008
R E A S O N . FA I T H . S E RV I C E .
www.cua.edu
NORTHB3
B4
Back in school
Florida Catholic
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
A Faith-filled community
of academic excellence
Pre-k4 through Grade 8
Come visit us!
Superior academic program
Solid Catholic foundation
34-acre campus with parish church
Experienced and dedicated teachers
Fine arts and athletics programs
Exceptional facilities
Extended day program
4BO4BMWBEPS%SJWFt%VOFEJO'-
Member of
The National Catholic
Educational Association
From B3
The Jesuit Secondary
Education Association
The Florida High School
Athletic Association
Jesuit High School
4701 N. Himes Ave.
Tampa, FL 33614-6694
Phone: 813-877-5344
Fax: 813-872-1853
www.jesuittampa.org
Accredited by
The Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools
OPEN HOUSE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m.
ENTRANCE EXAM
Saturday, Dec. 6, 8 a.m.
“ Catholic schools are our
most powerful
evangelization tools.”
- Bishop Thomas Wenski
Ascension
Holy Name of Jesus
Our Saviour
Trinity Catholic
St. Charles Borromeo
Blessed Trinity St. Paul
St. James Cathedral
St. Margaret Mary Divine Mercy
Melbourne Central Santa Fe St. Mary Magdalen
Annunciation
St. Mary Sacred Heart
Morning Star Basilica School of St. Paul St. Brendan
Resurrection
St. Andrew
Our Lady of Lourdes
Father Lopez
St. Thomas Aquinas
Holy Family
St. Joseph St. Peter
St. John Vianney
Holy Redeemer
Bishop Moore
St. Anthony
Good Shepherd
St. Teresa All Souls
A LI VE I N C HR IST
NORTH B4
16308
www.myoll.com
Accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference
MOMS: Prayer
gathering allows
moms to spiritually
support their kids
while in school
Established in 1899, Jesuit
High School continues its
mission under the direction of
the Society of Jesus as a private
Catholic college preparatory
school for young men.
Faith, Family, Foundation
Sept. 12-25, 2008
With children who were students at Annunciation in Altamonte Springs and Bishop Moore
last year, Beth Scheidel was a
member of moms prayer groups
at both schools.
“In this day and age, with the
media, cable T V, computers,
families so spread and the stresses our teenagers face, prayer is
the only weapon we have,” said
Scheidel. “God is so intangible
for kids. With the moms praying,
the kids feel a tangible person
is listening, a tangible person
cares.”
Scheidel is also ver y much
aware of her role as a mother
and the witness she provides.
“They’re God’s children, they are
not mine. I give them and their
friends to God to lead and control. I start the day with prayer —
it sets the tone for the whole day.
My priority is God first and as a
mother that’s the example I give
to my kids.”
Maria Bahr has three children
ranging in age from 8 to 16 and
has been a member of the moms’
prayer group at Good Shepherd
School for the past eight years.
T hey too gat her on Tuesday
mornings at 8, but in the small
music room where the children
practice.
“We keep a box in the office,”
Bahr said, “where people can put
in their prayer requests — anonymous or signed — it is always
confidential. Teachers, students,
other moms know that we are
praying for them.”
All three mothers are especially touched by how grateful
the teachers and staffs are for
the prayers. And they also find
t he compa n ionsh ip of praying together brings the mothers
closer. They continue to pray
throughout the week, e-mailing
one another with prayer needs,
continuing the connection of
care.
“It means a lot to me that my
mom is very spiritual and she interacts with a lot of the children
at school,” said Cristina Bahr,
who is 12 and in seventh grade.
“She prays for us and if she and
the teachers see there is a problem, the kids know the moms are
praying for us. It means a lot to
me that she is praying with my
friends’ moms.”
Cassady summed it up; “The
beaut y of being in a Catholic
school is you can pray openly for
the kids’ intentions. God is invited in.” n
Sept. 12-25, 2008
back in school
b5
50 years of education
Florida CatholiC PhotoS BY Jean Gonzalez
Principal eileen daly directs the choir of students from Morning Star School during a practice. the youths
will perform at the tampa school’s 50th anniversary celebration Sept. 17.
Kerri Chalmers, a junior high teacher at Morning Star School,
completes an art project with Corey tyson, 13.
students: if only there was a Morning star college
Jean Gonzalez
a little history
of the Florida Catholic
TAMPA — “Hello,” said one astute 10-year-old to a school visitor.
“My name is Austin.”
The visitor took the extended
hand and allowed the young man
to begin and end the handshake.
She introduced herself to the Morning Star student who was taking a
break from playing soccer.
“Well, it is nice to meet you,” said
Austin Suttles, as he sat with his
legs and crossed and accentuated
his conversation with idiosyncratic
hand gestures. “I see your camera.
So, you are a photographer? That’s
very nice.”
The visitor continued the conversation with the pleasant young
man, who glanced up every so often to offer a nod and smile.
When the visitor went to leave
the physical eduction area, she offered a goodbye to Austin, who was
equally as polite in his farewell as
he was with his greeting. “Well, it
was very good to meet you. I hope
you have a nice day,” he said with
a smile and a slight wave of his
hand.
Both the visitor and Paul Reed,
assistant principal of Morning Star,
said goodbye to Austin and went to
visit some more classes.
“I call Austin the ‘Mayor of Morning Star,’” Reed said as he strolled to
the art class. “He’s a great kid. Polite
and always friendly.”
Austin’s demeanor is indicative
of the total atmosphere at Morning Star School where staff and
students support one another. This
year the Catholic school, which
is tucked behind Mother of Our
Redeemer Parish and School in
Tampa, celebrates 50 years. With a
student body of 69, its principal, Eileen Daly, explained Morning Star
is dedicated to meeting the needs of
students with learning disabilities
and related difficulties. It is a non-
Morning Star School, Tampa,
opened its doors to four students
in 1958, under the direction of the
Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine.
They relinquished their staffing role in
1974. At that time, the school included
two classrooms and a physical therapy
area and the school’s mission was
to provide Catholic special education for children who were physically
handicapped.
By the mid 1960s, the school
discovered a need in the surrounding
community to serve students who
were mentally challenged, along
with those with physical disabilities.
As a result, the program at Morning
Star School focused on the needs of
students with mental handicaps. The
school employed the services of a
consulting psychologist, and a parent
support group was established
As demands for service to children
with learning difficulties emerged, the
school responded to the needs once
again. Today the school serves 69
students with learning disabilities and
related difficulties.
Since its inception, the campus has
grown to include nine classrooms, a
motor-learning lab (mini-gym), media
center, speech therapy room, teacher’s
lounge, new playground, butterfly
garden and three offices. A junior
high was open in 1976 offsite and is
now part of the main building. The
school, which gained and upheld its
accreditation from the Florida Catholic
Conference since 1979, serves children
in grades kindergarten through eight.
lauren Perkins, physical education instructor for Morning Star School,
hands a soccer ball to ethan White, 9, during gym class.
graded school for children ages 6 to
16, and strives to develop students
as a whole person: spiritually, academically, socially, emotionally and
physically.
While Daly said the staff works
to create a supportive environment
for the students, the student body
inspires staff members as the young
people support each other and accept one another as individuals.
“They amaze me every day,” Daly
said of the students. “They are so
resilient. They faced such different experiences from the different
schools they came from. And while
PleaSe See school, B12
NORTHB5
austin Suttles, 10, plays goalie during gym class as another student
charges the goal.
B6
Back in school
Florida Catholic
Sept. 12-25, 2008
if you are not old enough to vote, that doesn’t mean you can’t be involved in this year’s election. Come on, get informed! It’s your country
and your president, too! In fact, being an informed citizen is something
the Catholic Church encourages in all members of its faithful — young
and old and everyone in between.
Have you ever been asked or
even wondered yourself, “What
does it mean to be Catholic?”
The themes of Catholic social
teaching help answer that question. People face a lot of challenges
in today’s society and the church
developed seven concepts to build
a just society and guide people to
live lives of holiness.
• Life and dignity of the human
person
This theme centers around respect for all human life at all stages of life. Issues such as abortion,
euthanasia, cloning, embryonic
stem-cell research, and the use of
the death penalty fall under the
theme. Catholic teaching also calls
on us to work to avoid war.
• Call to family, community and
family participation
Every person is sacred and every
person is called to take an active
and positive role in society that
The president of the United States is elected by the Electoral College
Americans do not elect the president and vice president through a direct
nationwide vote (known as the “popular election”). The presidential election is
decided by the combined results of 51 state elections, which includes the District
of Columbia (Washington, D.C.). U.S. territories (such as Puerto Rico, Guam and
the U.S. Virgin Islands) are not included in the Electoral College.
Sen. John McCain
Every state has electoral votes equal to the number of U.S. senators (every
state has two) plus the number of U.S. representatives (a number based on
population and each state has at least one). So, states with fewer residents have
at least three electoral votes, and the state with the largest population — California — has 55 votes. Florida has the fourth-largest population in the United
States, according to the U.S. Census, and has 27 electoral votes.
want to leaRn MoRe? suRf this way...
• Learn about Faithful Citizenship and
how to be a youth advocate visit the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops’ site:
faithfulcitizenship.org/youth
• Want to learn more about Congress?
Check out the Library of Congress at
thomas.loc.gov (Why Thomas? Because it is named after President Thomas
Jefferson, who defined the role of the
Library of Congress in 1802). There you
could learn about bills, resolutions, activity in Congress, congressional records,
schedules, calendars, treaties and other
protects the human dignity of every person, especially people who
are poor or may not be able to take
care of themselves without help
(the vulnerable).
• Rights and responsibilities
This is saying everyone has the
right to life, and that every person
has the responsibility to uphold
human life.
• Option for the poor and vulnerable
The Gospel of Matthew (Chapter 25, Verses 31-46) instructs
Christians to put the needs of the
poor and vulnerable first. We still
continue that challenge.
• The dignity of work and the
rights of workers
No one likes to have a job where
he or she isn’t treated well, and
this is what this theme states: The
basic rights of workers must be respected — the right to productive
work, to decent and fair wages, to
the organization and joining of
unions, to private property, and to
economic initiative.
Sen. Barack Obama
Electors almost always vote in the Electoral College for the candidate who won the popular vote in their state. So it is winner take
all. Whether a candidate wins by one vote or 1,000 votes, that candidate secures every electoral vote for the state.
The candidate to receive 270 votes or more in the electoral college is deemed president of the United States.
The pope of the Catholic Church is elected by the College of Cardinals.
The College of Cardinals comes together for important events in the Catholic Church, including the election of a pope.
When the cardinals together, their meeting, called a papal conclave, is closed to everybody. Rules by the pope state there cannot
be more than 120 cardinals voting in the conclave. When our present pope was elected in 2005, there were 117 cardinals eligible to
vote in conclave, but two were too ill to travel, so 115 cardinals voted.
During the conclave, t hey pray, reflect and vote. There is never just one ballot. They
vote several times for whoever they believe would be the best pope.
A two-thirds majority (with 115 cardinals, that would be at least a vote of 72 to 43)
is required to elect a new pope. If there is no clear winner after 13 days, the cardinals
have a runoff ballot between the two leading candidates. A papal election will continue to require a majority of two-thirds of the cardinals present.
Over the last century, no conclave has lasted more than five days. Our current ponPHOTOS BY CNS
tiff, Pope Benedict XVI who previously was known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (who
was dean of the College of Cardinals), was elected in 2005 on the second day of the Cardinals from around the world
conclave, after three ballots.
gather for conclaves.
NORTH B6
governmental resources.
• Go to www.senate.gov to learn
about U.S. senators; go to www.house.
gov to learn about U.S. representatives
• Florida has its own senators (go to
flsenate.gov) and representatives
(myfloridahouse.gov).
• Florida’s bishops have their project to
educate voters. Visit informed
catholicvoter.org to find out more
about the Candidate Questionnaire
Project.
• Solidarity
Does everyone think the same
way about everything? No, right?
And does everyone come from the
same cookie-cutter household?
Nope. Well, even though everyone
comes from a different economic,
ethnic, religious and racial background, we are all brothers and
sisters of the Lord. Remember the
commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself. Those neighbors
mean everyone in the world, and
solidarity means to understand
and respect differences, and always
work for peace and justice. It’s not
always easy to promote peace in a
world surrounded by violence and
conflict, but would you want to live
a world that didn’t try to do that?
• Care for God’s creation
From recycling to shutting off
the water while you brush your
teeth. From learning about whether companies are polluting the environment, to inspiring family and
friends to carpool. If we are to respect Our Lord, we have to respect
God’s creation of the earth.
10 ways to Be a faithful citizen
1. Visit www.faithfulcitizenship.
org and e-mail the link to others.
2. Pick out some issues from
Faithful Citizenship that you
don’t know much about. Find out
more.
3. Pray each day for those who
are affected by injustice, for
policymakers, and for the ability
to take action.
4. Send letters to your local leaders expressing your opinions and
why your faith motivates you to
care.
5. Organize a prayer vigil for
resolution of an issue you care
about.
6. Discuss Faithful Citizenship
with your parents and friends.
7. Take part in your diocesan
lobby day.
8. Print out the Faithful Citizenship cards and ask your pastor
if you can pass them out after
Mass.
9. Vote if you’re old enough, and
encourage adults you know to
do so.
10. Make a commitment to
always defend human life and
dignity and promote justice
and peace.
Source: faithfulcitizenship.org/youth
Sept. 12-25, 2008
back in school
Back in school;
separated from home
Valerie and
Nick Bryant
share a
happy
sibling
moment at
their home
in Miami.
Valerie is a
student at
Univerity of
Florida and
Nick attends
Chaminade
Madonna
High School
in Miami.
They keep
in touch
through
Instant
Messaging.
The Florida Catholic asked two of its teen writers, Valerie and Nick Bryant, to write about going
back to school without the other around. Valerie is now a sophomore at University of Florida in
Gainesville and Nick is a senior at Chaminade-Madonna High School in Miami.
An older sister’s view
A younger brother’s view
One has to be creative when trying to tease a
When Valerie, my older sister, went away for college
younger brother who lives a good 600 miles away.
last year, I suddenly found myself as an only child.
Thanks to that distance, it isn’t easy to pop in his
She is attending the University of Florida and I
room, give him a quick
quick ly learned that
noogie then bail before
Gainesville is farther
the parental units come
away than I thought. The
around. Not that I ever did
drive up there to visit her
such a thing to my younger
is an opportune time to
brother, Nick, but even if I
nap while my mom does
wanted to I couldn’t.
the driving. Except for
Because Nick and I are
the occasional pothole or
a little less than two years
dodging the construction
apart in age, we have alslalom on I-95, I manage
ways been close. My brothto sleep most of the way.
er is not much of a converI look forward to her vissationalist on the phone,
its home, too. When her
so we mostly keep in touch
Mustang pulls into the
through MSN Messenger.
driveway, our dog is the
Through that I can use my
first to hear the familiar
Web cam to show him my
COURTESY PHOTO sounds of the engine.
new haircut (not that he Valerie Bryant sits in her car after arriving home
My saying of “Val’s
could really tell anyway). in Miami from Gainesville. Her brother, Nick, said home” can be heard
Having a Web cam makes it when she pulls her Mustang into the driveway, throughout the house.
almost as good as in-peron their dog is the first to hear the familiar sounds of But those times are too
communication since you the engine, followed by Nick’s announcement that few and far between
can see and hear the other “Val’s home.”
because of her school
person.
schedule, work schedule
Through the Internet we can easily share photos of
and the price of gas these days.
PlEaSE SEE SiSter, B9
PlEaSE SEE Brother, B9
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COURTESY PHOTO
B8
Back in school
Florida Catholic
Sept. 12-25, 2008
Finding success in the Land Down Under
Alexandra Robau, a junior from
St Thomas Aquinas High School
in Fort Lauderdale, traveled
with her soccer team to Australia
this summer to participate in an
international soccer competition.
She offered her thoughts on
the trip in the following text.
AlexAndrA robAu
Special to the Florida Catholic
As a member of the St. Thomas
Aquinas High School women’s
soccer team, I learned that the
following anonymous quote offers
truth: “It’s not where you are, but
whom you are with and what you
experience.”
While other south Florida teens
hung out at the beach this summer, I trained and practiced soccer to get ready for an experience
of a lifetime.
A lt houg h I w a s for t u nate
enough to have traveled with
the St. Thomas Aquinas soccer
team last summer to an international soccer tournament in
COURTESY PHOTOS
Alexandra Robau poses for a photo with the Sydney Opera House in
the background during a trip to Australia with her soccer team.
The women’s soccer team of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort
Lauderdale poses after winning a tournament in Australia.
Italy, this summer’s trip was very
special and something different. My 14 teammates and I had
the privilege of traveling “Down
Under” — clear across the world
to Australia for the Kanga Cup
Football (soccer) Tournament in
Canberra.
More than 200 teams competed,
but with our love of the game and
hard work, our team came out as
an incredible experience, but being with my teammates was the
highlight for me.
Although my 14 teammates and
two coaches come from different backgrounds, I felt we came
together as one every time we
stepped on the soccer field. For
me, one of the best moments is
right before our game. We stand in
a circle with our coaches, and our
captains Sarah Jaques and Katie
Rowan lead us in praying the “Our
Father” aloud. Then we have a tradition of reciting a memorized list
of names of teachers, students and
supporters of our school who have
passed away.
I truly feel faith in Our Lord
is shared in those moments and
a great sense of pride in our
school. It is like the calm before
the storm, we all get our minds
focused. We are one and ready to
play.
Although we don’t discuss our
faith regularly, I believe it has a lot
to do with our success on the field.
Everyone cares about one another, whether we are freshmen or
seniors. We all looked out for one
winners. It didn’t take long for our
team to be recognized in Australia.
We had an article done in the first
few days by the Canberra Times
and we earned the respect of other
teams. We actually heard our competitors yelling, “USA! USA! USA!”
We represented not only our
school, but also our country. Being the only American team present and getting the job done was
Volusia County
Catholic Schools Celebrate Service
Basilica School of St. Paul Sacred Heart Catholic
School
Grades: Pre-K-8
317 Mullally St.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Phone: 386-252-7915, ext. 3016
Fax: 386-238-7903
Principal: Mrs. Yvonne Toro
www.stpaulpanthers.org
Father Lopez Catholic
High School
Grades: 9-12
3918 LPGA Blvd.
Phone: 386-253-5213
Fax: 386-252-6101
Principal: Mr. George Pressey
www.fatherlopez.org
Our Lady of Lourdes
Catholic School
Grades: Pre-K3-8
1014 N. Halifax Ave.
Phone: 386-252-0391
Fax: 386-238-1175
Principal: Mr. Peter Randlov
www.ollcatholicschool.org
Grades: Pre-K-8
1003 Turnbull St.
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
Phone: 386-428-4732
Fax: 386-428-4087
Principal: Mrs. Lynn Abboud
www.sacredheartcatholic.com
St. Brendan Catholic
School
Grades: Pre-K-8
1000 Ocean Shore Blvd.
Ormond Beach, FL 32176
Phone: 386-441-1331
Fax: 386-441-0774
Principal: Ms. Carolyn Pikula
www.stbrendanormond.org
St. Peter Catholic School
Grades: Pre-K4-8
421 W. New York Ave.
DeLand, FL 32720
Phone: 386-822-6010
Fax: 386-822-6013
Principal: Mrs. Mary Martin
www.stpeter-deland.org
Spiritual Formation • Academic Excellence • Gospel Values • Service to Others
Together ...
We Make A Difference
NORTH B8
another on and off the field as we
traveled.
This St. Thomas Aquinas soccer team is unlike any other team
I have been on before; the maturity level is high and all the girls
worked as a team. Our coaches,
Carlos Giron and assistant coach
Tina Lacertosa, raise the bar and
expect more from us, and not just
on the soccer field, but in our daily
life as athletes and good people.
In many respects, our team is an
example of our faith — all good
things coming together.
Our travels let us see the Sydney
Opera House, Manly Beach, Snowy
Mountains (including snow), and
the beautiful capital of Canberra.
We saw beautiful animals, hundreds of kangaroos and met the
very friendly Aussie people.
However, when I look back and
think of my trip to Australia, I will
hear the stands chant, “USA!” as
we won the tournament and feel
the thrill of winning, but my very
best memories will be sharing the
awesome experience of Australia
with 14 of my best friends and athletes! n
Sept. 12-25, 2008
back in school
SiSter: She
hates to miss
brother’s senior
year milestones
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Page 1
When you become a Barry University student, you join a caring
Catholic community where you grow with professors who know
you and focus on your professional goals.
Tampa Catholic
High School
Barry meets your needs as a working professional by offering evening
and occasionally Saturday classes. In Counseling most classes are
offered in 8-week terms. Counseling practicum students receive
supervision in our on-site clinic.
Barry’s Adrian Dominican School of Education in Orlando
offers these degrees:
� Master’s and Specialist in Counseling, with specializations in:
- Marital, Couple, and Family Counseling/Therapy
- Mental Health Counseling
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- School Counseling
� PhD in Counseling, with a specialization in Marital, Couple,
and Family Counseling/Therapy
� Master’s in Higher Education Administration
� PhD in Leadership and Education, with a specialization in
Higher Education Administration
Brother: Sister
is just a click of
the mouse away
From B7
A diverse, co-educational diocesan high school
nurturing academic, spiritual and personal growth
while promoting life-long learning and commitment
to service and justice.
Ready to find out if Barry is where you belong?
Call 1-800-756-6000, ext. 3719, or e-mail:
[email protected].
“CRUSADER FOR A DAY”
provides your child the opportunity to experience Tampa Catholic as a TC student for the day.
Sept. 30, Oct. 7 & 14 and Nov. 4 • 8:30am-12:30pm
ADRIAN DOMINICAN SCHOOL
OF EDUCATION AT ORLANDO
Your student will need a reservation for this event. Lunch will be provided
during the day. Please call for additional information.
2000 N. Alafaya Trail, Suite 600
Orlando, FL 32826
www.barry.edu/orlando
OPEN HOUSE
November 18 • 7:00-9:00 pm
Admissions Test: November 22nd from 8:00-11:30 am
Top scorers receive academic scholarships! Please note that all
students applying to TC must take TC’s admissions test.
FLC 8477 08/08
To tide us over we chat online
and on the phone. Thank goodness
for unlimited long distance and
rollover minutes!
Besides actual e-mail, we share
photos online and use MSN Messenger a lot also. Nothing sounds
as good as the beep of an incoming
message. We share inside jokes that
no one else gets.
I send her snail mail, too, and
packages for special occasions if she
is not in town.
Meanwhile, I try not to think
of it as losing a sister, but gaining
an extra bedroom. That is, if you
don’t mind sleeping in a room
filled with white French provincial furniture, complete with a
makeup vanity.
An added plus is that her
room has the computer in it.
I miss Valerie, but am grateful that
because of technology we are never
more than a click away. I am lucky
that I have her as my sister. n
F.S.E. CARNIVALS HELP YOU
RAISE $FUND$ FOR YOUR
CHURCH OR SCHOOL!
From B7
what is happening in our lives. I
have learned that you do not need
to talk to someone daily to keep in
touch unless your life is just that
eventful, and a couple of times a
week will do. Here and there I have
sent my brother cards and notes
that he had to decode (A=1 B=2)
just to make simple messages seem
more exciting and to let him know I
was thinking of him.
Where things get really tricky is
when the holidays come around.
Because of my job and school schedules, it is not easy to find the time to
make the drive home. And now that
Nick is a senior in high school, I cannot be there to help him study for
his SATs, write those college essays,
or see him all cleaned up for prom.
Little brothers always look handsome in their tuxes, do they not?
Of course I can see the pictures or
he can write and tell me about it, but
sometimes for moments like those,
there is no substitute. Although going to his graduation and baccalaureate Mass will be at the top of my
list, those are but two events in a
year filled with so many others.
I am going to miss that wide-eyed
expression he will get when he gets
accepted to his school of choice.
Unless he does it in front of the Web
cam, that is. n
b9
For information please call Mrs. Peg Huey in the
Admissions Office at (813) 870-0860 ext. #232.
4630 N. Rome Avenue • Tampa, Florida 33603 • www.tampacatholic.org
NORTHB9
Mrs. Janet Peddecord, Principal
B10
820 Marcum Road
Lakeland FL 33809
863-858-0671
Back in school
Florida Catholic
www.stanthonycatholicschool.com
Sept. 12-25, 2008
The ‘itch’ to teach: Catechists report for duty
Joe PaProcki
All across the United States, an
army of nearly 500,000 men and
women is mobilizing, preparing
to report for duty after a summer
leave. Many of the half-million or
so are returning for another tour of
duty, while perhaps up to 150,000
are reporting for the first
time.
elementary
and high school
Saint
Josephschool
Catholic
School
Who are these courageous peo- students to religious education
Mr. Robert Kenel, Principal
ple? They are the catechists who sessions, according to statistics of223programs
S. Missouri
staff religious education
feredAve
by the 2007 Official Catholic
in parishes across theLakeland,
country. FLDirectory.
33801
As families return from summer
So, just who are these catevacations and schools863-686-6415
are back in chists?
www.stjoelakeland.org
session, parishes prepare
to welThey are secretaries, executives,
come more than 4 million public factor y workers, stay-at-home
Polk County Catholic Schools
Where Catholic Values
and Academic Excellence Meet!
Saint Joseph Catholic School
Mrs. Deborah Schwope, Principal
535 Ave. M., NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881
863-293-3311
www.stjosephwhschool.org
Saint Anthony Catholic School
Mrs. Janet Peddecord, Principal
820 Marcum Road
Lakeland FL 33809
863-858-0671
www.stanthonycatholicschool.com
Resurrection Catholic School
Mrs. Nancy Genzel, Principal
3720 Old Highway 37
Lakeland, FL 33813
863-644-3931
www.resurrectioncatholicschool.org
Santa Fe Catholic High School
Ms. Gwen Cote, Principal
3110 Highway 92 East
Lakeland, FL 33801
863-665-4151
www.santafecatholic.org
Saint
Joseph Catholic School
Mrs. Lana Swartzwelder, Principal
223 S. Missouri Ave
Lakeland, FL 33801
863-686-6415
www.stjoelakeland.org
Educating the whole child in the
Saint Joseph Catholic School
image
and
likeness of God
Mrs.
Deborah Schwope,
Principal
535 Ave. M., NW
Winter Haven, FL 33881
863-293-3311
www.stjosephwhschool.org
moms and dads, real estate agents,
construction workers, law yers,
nurses, accountants, firefighters,
and police officers. In other words,
they are everyday Catholics dedicated to inviting young people
into a deeper relationship with
Jesus. They help young people to
understand the Creed, celebrate
the sacraments, live moral lives
and pray.
According to catechist Pat Solenski of St. Anthony Parish in Fort
Lauderdale, the “itch” to get back
into teaching develops over the
summer for veteran catechists.
“Each year as program year
closes, I think I can never rouse
energy and enthusiasm for another year. And for the past 26 years,
as July closes I experience an inner stirring for the coming year,”
Solenski said. “Initially I chuckled
at my feeling. Now I have learned
to embrace it, and I am confident
it is God’s grace moving me toward the challenges and joys of
the coming year.”
Maura Sweeney, who serves as
director of religious education at
St. Boniface Parish in Lunenburg,
Mass., doesn’t have to go far to find
a catechist she admires — her own
father, who has been a high school
catechist for more than 25 years.
“Though I have never heard
him articulate his dedication to
serving as a catechist as a ‘calling,’ I am sure that he feels that it
is. Through ups and downs with
poor texts and unhealthily large
class sizes, he has looked forward
to each year, spending hours reading up on the topics he will discuss
with his students,” Sweeney said.
“His genuine openness with his
students and willingness to take
their questions seriously has led
him to build lifelong relationships
with some of those he has taught.
It is not unusual to see kids (some
now with their own kids) stop and
talk to him before or after Mass.”
As a veteran catechist in the
Chicago Archdiocese, I understand and empathize with those
facing their first year teaching re-
ligious education. It can be very
intimidating to walk into a room
for the first time as a catechist.
Most catechists are not schoolteachers and so the idea of teaching the Catholic faith to others
can seem overwhelming at first.
It’s actually better for catechists
to think of themselves as coaches
rather than teachers. Millions
of adults don’t hesitate to coach
their kids’ sports teams. Well,
catechists are basically coaching
young people into the Catholic
way of life.
One of my tasks is to maintain
a blog — www.catechistsjourney.
com — on which I reflect regularly
on my experience of serving as a
catechist. Catechists are not easily
replaceable and to be a catechist
is not simply volunteerism — it’s a
vocation.
We need to get the word out that
serving as a catechist is one of the
most important tasks that we as
laypeople have.
The church celebrates the vocation of catechists and the ministry of catechesis on Catechetical
Sunday Sept. 21. The theme for
this year, according to the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops, is
“The Word of God in the Life and
Mission of the Church.” According
to Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl,
chairman of the Committee on
Evangelization and Catechesis,
“Catechetical Sunday is a time to
celebrate the work of the catechist
and renew our gratitude for these
faithful men and women who persevere in the labor of passing on
the faith.” n
Paprocki earned a doctorate of
ministry degree from the University
of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill., and is national consultant
for faith formation at Loyola Press
in Chicago. He has more than 25
years of experience in pastoral
ministry in the Chicago Archdiocese, and posted a brief video on
YouTube called “Top 10 Reasons to
Become a Catechist” as a recruitment video.
TRINITY CATHOLIC
High School
Santa Fe Catholic High School
Ms. Gwen Cote, Principal
3110 Highway 92 East
Lakeland, FL 33801
863-665-4188
www.santafecatholic.org
Educating the whole child in the
image and likeness of God
NORTH B10
Established by the Diocese of Orlando in 2000
and administered by the
Congregation of Christian Brothers
Accredited by
the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Entrance examination for girls and boys entering
ninth grade. Transfer students accepted.
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to noon
For information, call 352-622-9025 or write to
Brother Peter E. Zawot, Principal
Trinity Catholic High School
2600 S.W. 42nd St. • Ocala, FL 34471
www.trinitycatholichs.org
Sept. 12-25, 2008
back in school
Web sites every college
student could use
STATEPOINT MEDIA
As millions of college students
prepare to head back to school,
parents are arming their coeds
with all the supplies they need to
start the year off on the right foot.
In addition to textbooks and an extensive supply of Ramen noodles,
this year parents will want to add
some new supplies to the list that
they won’t find at the store.
“Getting ready for college used
to mean signing up for a calling
card, stocking up on dorm-room
necessities and buying the required books at the campus book
store,” says James Coch, new business development marketing manager for MWV, the leading manufacturer of school supplies such
as Mead and Five Star. “Today’s
reliance on all things tech means
more and more Internet services
are available to help with the transition to college.”
There are dozens of inexpensive and easy-to-use Internet services that will help students with
everything from homework and
scholarships to communication
and entertainment. Among some
of the most popular must-haves for
the coming school year:
• Skype: Now they’ll have no excuse not to call home no matter where they go to school! Skype
(www.skype.com) is an online application that allows subscribers
to use the computer to make free
phone calls to other Skype accounts around the globe or to make
inexpensive calls to cell phones or
landlines. Monthly subscriptions
or prepaid credits are available for
easy payment.
• Mead Map: One of the most important transitions from high
school to college is managing
the demands of coursework and
figuring out the best note-taking
and studying systems. Mead
Map (www.meadmap.com) helps
smooth that transition through an
innovative, easy-to-use platform
that is redefining the way students
take notes and manage group
projects. Mead Map allows users to instantly access their notes,
research and group projects from
any computer with an Internet
connection. Plus, it allows for realtime updates and collaborations,
perfect for group projects. Mead
Map subscriptions are just $15 for
six months or $25 for a year. The
free 30-day trial is perfect for testing the service out on your first big
college assignment.
• Snapfish or Webshots: These photo-sharing services are a great
way for college students to keep in
touch with family and friends. With
Snapfish (www.snapfish.com), users can share and store their photos for free and create prints and
personalized photo gifts online.
In addition, Webshots (www.webshots.com) helps students share
photos, videos and slideshows.
Both services allow friends and
family members to order prints.
• CollegeNET: Current or future college students can win
scholarships just for voicing their
opinions on this free Web forum
(www.collegenet.com). Just create a profile, pick a topic and voice
your opinion. If you earn the most
voting points, you can win one of
several monthly scholarships.
• Organize.com: Still in need of some dorm room necessities?
College students can create a
dorm registry at www.organize.
com and then share their wish list
with family and friends. Students
can choose from bath solutions to
desk products and everything in
between. Shoppers can arrange to
have products delivered directly
to the dorm as students arrive on
campus.
In addition to these resources,
there are countless other helpful
services available to college students online. Do some advance
preparation via the World Wide
Web this year. Just be sure you send
students off to school with a list of
user names and passwords. n
b11
Study tips to help your kids
STATEPOINT MEDIA
Kids today have to deal with a
heavy load of schoolwork and activities, all demanding their time
and attention.
Teachers often introduce basic study habits to their students,
but it is important that parents
reinforce these skills and create
a favorable study environment
at home, said Joan Rooney, vice
president of tutor management
at Tutor.com, the world’s largest
online tutoring service.
The key is to help children get
organized, create study schedules and recognize their weak
spots and how to overcome these
hurdles.
Here a re some t ips f rom
Rooney and the experts at Tutor.
com on how to help your child
achieve success this school year
and for years to come:
• Create a schedule. Breaking studying or homework down into
manageable chunks can help alleviate stress. They can even set
reminders on their cell phones
or computers to help stick to the
plan.
• Figure out weak spots and prioritize. Most students do well
in some subjects and struggle
with others. It’s best to sched-
ule the largest chunks of time
for subjects with which they are
struggling.
• Know where to go for help. Many parents and kids are finding help from online tutoring services to help students fill in weak
spots where they need work. Look
for a service that offers 24/7 access and the ability to instantly
connect with a tutor to get homework or study assistance at the
actual moment it’s needed.
• Work with a study partner or group. Sometimes peer support
can help motivate students. Encourage them to make plans with
friends to review class material,
compare notes and work through
tough stuff together.
• Get to know the test. Many teachers provide study guides,
review sheets and class time for
review. Make sure your son or
daughter knows as much as possible about what topics will be on
a test and the format of the test.
• Create study aids and test strategies. Making f lash cards,
outlining subject notes or coming
up with a mnemonic device are a
few study tactics that may boost
students’ recall at test time.
• Eat well and get rest. Allnighters are a bad idea! Even though students need to work extra hard to prepare for tests and
projects, it’s also important for
them to take a breather.
• Set the right tone. Create as stress-free an environment as
you can. Let your children know
you’re available to help, or will
help them locate help from fellow students or from a homework
help service. Be sure children
know that what is important is
that they do their best and you
are there to support them. n
“Creating the right study strateg y can help a child use time
wisely, ease stress and achieve
the best grades possible,” said
Rooney. n
To learn more about finding timely homework or study help for your
children, visit www.Tutor.com.
ST. RAPHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Visit Us And See Why St. Raphael Graduates
Go On To Excel At Area High Schools!
• Fully accredited by the Florida Catholic
Conference
• Caring Catholic atmosphere; state-certified
faculty
• Consistently excellent scores in national
standardized tests
• Advanced middle-school math classes
• Technology-rich classrooms and computer lab
• Award winning band, music and art programs
• Comprehensive sports program
St. Teresa Catholic School
207 Ojibway Avenue
Titusville, Florida 32780
321-267-1643
www.stteresa-titusville.org
Four Year Olds - 8th Grade
Providing quality education
that challenges and empowers
students to develop
their full potential
... implemented in a Christcentered community.
1376 Snell Isle Blvd. N.E., St.Petersburg
727-821-9663 • www.straphaelschool.net
768815-01 16325
Clearwater Central Catholic
High School
Serving the North Brevard area for more than 40 years
An Internationally Recognized School of Excellence
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OFFERING)"$IPLOMA0ROGRAM
2750 Haines Bayshore Road, Clearwater, FL 33760
7-EXT s WWWCCCHSORG
NORTHB11
B12
Back in school
Florida Catholic
Sept. 12-25, 2008
Catholic schools urged to incorporate
AIDS education in curriculum
Andrew nelson And
stephen o’KAne
Catholic News Service
NORCROSS, Ga. — Education
still remains the strongest prevention method in the fight against
AIDS and the learning must also
take place in Catholic schools,
a Miami Catholic educator told
those attending the Southeastern
Conference of Catholic AIDS Ministers near Atlanta.
The HIV/AIDS education program Ainhoa Tollinche established at St. Brendan’s Catholic
High School in Miami eight years
ago came about when four students approached the theology
teacher about starting an extracurricular AIDS ministry group,
she said during the Aug. 11-15
conference.
The program begins in freshman year and extends through senior year. The curriculum covers
the history of the disease, transmission, prevention, statistics,
treatment options, myths and realities, activities that range from
prayer to role playing, and discussions on responsible decisionmaking and the moral and emotional repercussions of premarital
sex, she said.
In addition to reaching students, Tollinche also travels to
church communities to give her
basic freshman presentation to
help raise awareness among those
who know little or nothing about
the disease.
Tollinche told the crowd that
CNS photo/MiChael alexaNder, GeorGia BulletiN
ainhoa tollinche participates in a group discussion at the
Southeastern Conference of Catholic aidS Ministers in Norcross, Ga.,
aug. 14. tollinche, a theology teacher at St. Brendan high School
in Miami, established an hiV/aidS education program at her school
eight years ago when four students approached her about starting
an aidS ministry group.
she is sharing this information so
others can use it. The best place to
get information and strategies on
how to help spread the awareness
message is “right here” with all the
AIDS ministers from throughout
the country, she said.
“Anybody here can do this
work,” she said. “All it really takes
is a desire to serve and love.”
Statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
Blessed Trinity
School
cause of death for Latino men
and women ages 35 to 44 in 2005,
according to the CDC. They account for 18 percent of the new
diagnoses of HIV or AIDS reported to the Atlanta-based federal
agency.
Irene Miranda, director of the
Atlanta archdiocesan HIV/AIDS
ministry office, said the services
developed in the 1980s during the
early years of the disease have to
be revised for new groups of people. She said it doesn’t do any good
if an AIDS ministry in a parish
cannot communicate with Latinos
on sensitive sex-related issues.
Another challenge is developing
new methods for parents to talk to
their children about prevention.
Carter-Bailey said children
of African immigrants are often
not given parental consent to
hear the frank talk she has with
black American teens. She said
these parents tell her these conversations are not part of their
culture.
This obstacle forces her to find
new ways to ensure that immigrant children get the message in
a way that is sensitive to African
cultures, she said.
Tollinche said Latino parents
she encounters also set different standards for their children,
where the girls are expected to remain chaste and boys are encouraged to have sex.
“The message is completely different,” she said. “What they are
doing is contributing to spreading
the disease.” n
school: Students continually amaze Morning Star principal
5 S.E. 17th St.
Ocala, FL 34471
352-622-5808
www.btschool.org
FroM B5
Where academic excellence and spiritual vitality have become tradition!
Holy
Name
of
Jesus
School
Holy
Name
of
Jesus
School
Holy
Holy Name
Name of
of Jesus
Jesus School
School
a
“Family
of
Friends”
building
“Family
of
Friends”
building
aa
a “Family
“Family of
of Friends”
Friends” building
building
on
a
Catholic
foundation,
on aa
a Catholic
Catholic foundation,
foundation,
on
on
Catholic
foundation,
one
child
at
a time.
time.
one
child
at
one
one child
child at
at aa
a time.
time.
Nationally
recognized
Blue
Ribbon
School
Nationally
recognized
Blue
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••••Nationally
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••••PreK3
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PreK3 – 8 Grade
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••••Morning
Morningcare
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•
Offering
Latin,
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Offering
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•••Offering
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Offering Latin, Spanish, Fine Arts & Technology
www.hnj.org/school
www.hnj.org/school
www.hnj.org/school
16695
321-773-1630
321-773-1630
321-773-1630
Sister
Teresa
A.
Bruno,
SC,
Ed.D.,
Principal
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TeresaA.
A.Bruno,
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3060
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2903
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FL 3332903
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vention this summer show that
black and Latino communities
face an HIV/AIDS crisis in numbers that mirror the early years of
the disease. Leaders at the conference said they must reshape prevention and education programs
with new techniques for different
cultures.
In 2007 the National Black
Catholic Congress adopted a new
teaching curriculum on HIV and
AIDS, which is currently being
used in the archdioceses of Baltimore and Washington, and it is
up for consideration as a national
model.
Martha Carter-Bailey, director
of the Office of African-Ancestry
Ministry and Evangelization in
the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C., said
the program recognizes many
young people are living in singlefamily homes or being raised with
grandparents. It urges adults to
talk to young people about the
disease.
The program also recommends
that sex be discussed openly within a faith setting, she said.
“It’s important that we teach
our students about HIV/AIDS in
our (Catholic) schools,” she said.
“Where else would you want it
talked about?”
Leaders at the conference said
the Catholic Church should be a
leader in education by including
HIV studies in the science classroom, as well as lessons about
society’s response to the disease
in theology studies, she said.
According to the CDC, black
Americans in 2005 accounted
for close to 50 percent of the estimated 37,331 new HIV or AIDS diagnoses in the U.S., and nearly 70
percent of Georgians living with
the disease are black.
The church office surveyed 75
black women in Clark County,
N.C., and 35 reported they got the
disease from a partner released
from prison, Carter-Bailey said.
AIDS was the fourth-leading
they are here, they have such positive attitudes and such a willingness to learn. Some of their perseverance is simply amazing.”
Daly said evidence of the students’ commitment to learning
and one another can be found
in any classroom. If one child is
struggling with math, it isn’t long
before another student comes and
helps that classmate. Students will
read to each other and ask questions about the text to enhance
their reading skills.
“These kids understand each
other, support each other and tolerate one another,” Daly said. “If
a child has a reading disability,
he can still raise his hand in class
and not feel embarrassed about
answering a question because
he knows his fellow students will
support him.”
Trey Lupo, 10, said one benefit
NORTH B12
of Morning Star is how each students is evaluated individually.
“At normal schools, they would
usually teach one level to the
whole class,” said Trey, who lightly snapped his fingers as he continued his thought. “Here they
teach you at the level you are on.
And you learn something new every day.”
Sara Rocktoff, a shy 11-year-old
with a wide smile, said she loves
going to a Morning Star because
she gets to go to church every
Tuesday.
“It helps me get to be closer to
God,” Sarah said. “I get to talk to
God during Mass and ask him to
help me get through the day.”
Morgan Bennett, 12, said she
cou ldn’t wait to star t school
again and for her, the first day of
school, Aug. 18, couldn’t come fast
enough.
“I wanted to see my friends
again and I wanted to learn,” said
Morgan, who added Morning Star
has many extracurricular activities that let students have fun and
even showcase their talents.
Billy Compton said he likes all
his classes, but gym class is his favorite, which works well with his
“growing-up” aspirations.
“I want to be an NFL kicker,”
said the 13-year-old.
But that doesn’t mean that Billy doesn’t want to go to college,
which all four students said they
hope to attend. Morgan talked
about being a medical doctor or a
ballerina; Trey said he would like
to be a chiropractor like his father;
Sarah loves kittens, puppies and
all animals and thinks it would be
great to be a veterinarian.
None of them said they wanted
to attend one specific college, but
both Billy and Sarah offered their
dream school. “I wish this school
had college,” Sara said.
“Yeah,” Billy agreed. “Morning Star College. That would be
cool.” n

September 12, 2008 - Diocese of Orlando

Transcription

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