Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
FLORIDACatholicYOUR FAITH. YOUR LIFE. YOUR COMMUNITY. OF ORLANDO
WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Feb. 1-7, 2008
Quick Reads A6Classifieds A12Crossword A9Diocese Calendar A14
Diocese News A2-4, 13-16Editorial A11Faith Alive A10DVD Reviews A9
Scripture Readings A10Vatican News A6Movie Reviews A9Florida News A5-8
INSIDE: Central Floridians march for life A5, A13ATTENTION POST OFFICE — PLEASE DELIVER BY FEB. 1
ORL A1
JENNIFER POWERSFlorida Catholic correspondent
ORLANDO — When Catherine Williams’ husband, Cmdr. David Williams, said he was being deployed to Djibouti, she thought he was kidding.
“I didn’t think it was a real place,” she said. “I walked around for two days thinking it was a joke.”
With under two years to go before retire-ment, David Williams, a U.S. Navy officer with 22 years of active duty in the submarine force, was deployed to a shore-based command in the African country more than 7,000 miles from his home in Orlando. Unlike previous deployments during which there would be no contact with family for weeks or months at a time, the Williams family is able to commu-nicate from half a world away several times per week, using all the technology that makes the modern world a smaller place in which to live.
Catherine Williams, who works in the clinic at Holy Family Catholic School in Or-lando, said she has a standing appointment on Wednesdays with her husband via vid-eophone over the Internet. Because of the seven- to eight-hour time difference in Dji-bouti, at about the time she is getting finished at work, her husband is about to go to sleep for the night. Catherine Williams said of the school’s principal, Sister Dorothy Sayers, Re-ligious Teachers Filippini, “She is very up on technology and has allowed us to install a vid-eo camera on one of the school’s computers.” With Sister Sayers’ support, David Williams is able to contact his wife and second-grade son Matthew at the end of the school day.
This technology has enabled David Wil-liams to continue being the active parent he was prior to his deployment. In the fall, Su-san DiLandro, Matthew’s teacher, agreed to have a parent-teacher conference with both parents by video on the computer, enabling David Williams to participate fully from Dji-bouti.
Family uses today’s technology to communicate during deployment
PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHERINE WILLIAMS
Cmdr. David Williams, left, poses for a photo with his son, Matthew.
Second-grader gets help with schoolwork from his dad in Djibouti
PLEASE SEE DJIBOUTI, A2
DEBRA TOMASELLIFlorida Catholic correspondent
Page-a-day calendars sit on desks all over the world, keeping fans of jokes, trivia, fishing stories, Far Side cartoons and just about everything else connected to their favorites.
And all over Florida, parish schools and religious education programs are preparing for Lent — which begins on the early side,
Wednesday, Feb. 6, this year — by sending home something simi-lar to encourage family members to stay connected to one another and to God dur-
ing the holy season of Lent in just minutes a day.
“A lot of families might not do things because they think the activ-ities will take 30 minutes or more,” said Kathleen Hoffman, coordina-tor of faith at the Catholic Church of the Holy Spirit in Perdido, which ordered calendars targeted to vari-ous age groups and published by Creative Communications. “But it doesn’t take a long time. We give them these tools and it may take only three to four minutes, but it keeps God in the forefront of their day.”
While not all parishes have opt-ed for Lenten calendars, catechists throughout the state emphasize the importance of observing the prayer, fasting and almsgiving aspects of
40 days,40 chancesto connectas families
PLEASE SEE LENT, A8
For a Stations of the Cross color-ing book, please go to www.the-floridacatholic.org
For the Florida Catholic’s exclusive Ash Wednesday coloring page, please see Page A8
ORL A2
Florida Catholic Feb. 1-7, 2008A2 YOUR OR�NDO COMMUNITY
At home before school, Catherine Williams puts the laptop computer on the table so that Matthew can have “breakfast with dad.” They talk about what’s coming up for the day and David Williams sometimes quizzes Matthew on his spelling words.
Today’s technology enables Internet and satellite phone calls to be made to virtually anywhere in the world. Not only are people able to write e-mail and “chat” instantaneously, but with video cameras they can also see each other. Both Catherine and David Williams’ parents have video cameras on their computers so they may also see and speak to their family members.
Marianne Cann, a Holy Family fourth-grade teacher, heard about the needs of poor people in Djibouti. She showed her students the PowerPoint presentation that David Williams sent about the humanitarian trips being made around the region. It inspired them so much that they collected school supplies and stuffed animals to send to
Djibouti. Soon they hope to have a vid-eoconference between David Williams and the fourth-graders during which he will be able to answer their questions about his time in Djibouti. This will no doubt provide an invaluable learning experience for the students, one that could only have been imagined a few years ago.
David Williams is not the only fam-ily member serving in the military. In October, the Williams’ older son Brian, a U.S. Marine, began his third tour of duty in Iraq and is stationed in Fallu-jah. David and Catherine Williams are able to keep in touch with him using the same methods they use for contact-ing each other in the United States and Djibouti.
Before the wide use of computer In-ternet, military families had to rely on letters and occasional phone calls while on deployment. Having the technology to keep in touch with her military hus-band and son, Catherine Williams said, gives her great comfort. “My husband is there when I need him,” she said. “I can speak to him every day.” ■
JENNIFER POWERSFlorida Catholic correspondent
ORLANDO — Djibouti, smaller than Massachusetts, is a country on the Horn of Africa at the mouth of the Red Sea near Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia. It is a country of extreme poverty due to limited supplies of clean drinking water and a lack of ar-able land for farming. The majority of the country’s food supply must be imported. Two-thirds of the population live in the capital city of Djibouti and the remainder are nomadic herders who follow the food supply seasonally.
Djibouti hosts the only U.S. military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a frontline state in the global war on terrorism. Cmdr. David Williams is part of the Combined Joint Task Force-Cape Horn that aims to provide a secure, stable environment that is focused on education and improving conditions so that the ideology of extremism will have nothing to offer the people of the Horn of Africa.
“Camp Lemonier is different from most facilities,” said Williams, second in com-mand at the camp. “Our focus is not on killing and capturing terrorists, but on pro-moting stability, providing medical, dental and veterinary assistance, and through civil projects, such as building schools, hospitals and digging wells, we are positively impacting the people of the region.” ■
If you would like to see more about the U.S. military presence in the Horn of Africa log onto www.hoa.centcom.mil.
All about Djibouti
FROM A1
DJIBOUTI: Technology connects deployed father, family at home
COURTESY PHOTOBETTY ANN WEBER Florida Catholic correspondent
LONGWOOD — Herla Barthelemy is a hap-py soul, with an easy laugh that comes from deep inside. “God has given me a great gift,” said the focused fashion designer.
This year, celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the city of Longwood present-ed Barthelemy, 59, a parishioner at Annuncia-tion Church, with its annual Good Citizenship Award.
She was cited for “unselfishly giving 110 percent of her time and talents” to the cause of peace and the advancement of her com-munity.
High praise, indeed, for a young woman, who in 1970 at age 22, brought her mother and three brothers from Haiti to New York. She at-tended the Fashion Institute of Technology, worked for Vogue Patterns and started her own business — a factory, where she designed, manufactured and sold her formal gowns for teens to buyers nationwide. Her label: Kima-rah — her daughter’s name.
“My father wanted me to be a doctor,” she said, “but without direction, I started to sew, liked it and made my first dress when I was 10. When God gives you a gift, you never know what’s next.”
In 1990, Barthelemy closed her showroom and moved Kimarah Inc. to the Orlando area. For 17 years, with a mushrooming clientele — including costumes for Disney Cruise Lines — her custom-made wedding, formalwear and alterations shop has been open for busi-ness at 1494 State Road 434 in Longwood.
The seamstress hosts a Wednesday night prayer group and helps make banners for her church and Annunciation Catholic Academy, where her granddaughter, Jacy Lerouge, is en-rolled.
She gives high school career talks to stu-dents who later call her with eager questions and thanks. And she’s planning to offer sew-ing lessons to young girls.
Annunciation Catholic Academy Principal Margaret E. Curran understands why Barthe-lemy received the award.
“Herla is a woman of faith,” said Curran. “She is an inspiration to all who know her. She’s just a marvelous person with such a deep faith. She’s gone through incredibly dif-ficult times and always says, ‘God will take care of it.’”
Barthelemy is happy she followed God’s gift. “When I see a mother crying at the sight of her daughter in one of my wedding dresses,” she said, “I feel so blessed that I’ve made someone so happy.” ■
Herla Barthelemy: God’s seamstress
FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTO BY CAROL FERRAZZANO
Annunciation Parish Good Citizenship Award winner Herla Barthelemy exhibits a wedding dress she created.
Matthew Williams has breakfast with his dad, Cmdr. David Williams, stationed in Djibouti, Africa, via video camera on the laptop computer. They talk about the day ahead at Holy Family Catholic School in Orlando, where Matthew is in second grade. On occasion, Cmdr. Williams gives his son a spelling quiz.
ORL A3
YOUR OR�NDO COMMUNITY A3Feb. 1-7, 2008 www.thefloridacatholic.org
LAURA DODSONFlorida Catholic correspondent
ORLANDO — There is a familiar lilt to “prayer, fasting and almsgiv-ing” — the Lenten practices of re-pentance that become the focus of our attention each year at this time. Listening to voices from around the Diocese of Orlando reveals a strong devotion to prayer and sacrificial practices that lead to serving the needs of others.
Alba and Nick Picinich of Our Saviour Parish in Cocoa Beach are committed to praying by name for people who need it. They are also considering following the Daniel Fast — fasting from a scriptural ba-sis — and eliminating all meat, fish and dairy products. If not, they will just fast and abstain on Wednesdays and Fridays. They will also visit the homebound with a meal.
Nick Picinich said, “I will try to continue not just for the 40 days of Lent, but continue as a practice growing in a spiritual way, and also helping others who are less fortu-nate than me. We won’t just visit the homebound and talk, but we will listen.”
Alba Picinich agreed, “A Lenten practice is not just something you do and stop. Lent has to change me and make me a better person after Easter and always.”
At Resurrection School in Lake-land, Margaret Ross, an eighth-grader explained, “We help others
throughout the year, not just during Lent.” She will join other National Junior Honor Society members in visiting a low-income preschool to read stories.
Sixth-grader Gabe Torre added, “Our whole parish and school will participate in Operation Rice Bowl. My family keeps the rice bowl on the kitchen counter to remind us of the poor and I will return it filled with our donation after Easter.”
“I’m not into the old custom of ‘giving things up,’” said Sister for Christian Community Anne Duffy, who celebrates 59 years of religious vocation and assists at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Daytona Beach. “I’m into doing things. Now I see the positive side of sacrifice in the form of doing something to help some-one or to promote a worthy cause.”
Trinity High School in Ocala also emphasizes service projects for its students, but it is clear that family practices play a significant role. Senior Marcel Falestiny, a pa-rishioner at Blessed Trinity Parish, will join fellow students in a Habitat for Humanity build. “This is totally new for me and I’m looking forward to it.
“My dad is from Egypt and my mom makes a special recipe of rice and lentils without meat on Fridays, Marcel added. “Lent is also a real prayerful time for our family. My dad uses this opportunity to focus on gathering the family together to pray and watch movies like ‘The
Passion of the Christ.’”Jackson Egan, a junior and pa-
rishioner at Queen of Peace said, “We eat fish on Fridays, we try to pray the rosary together as a family at night and we focus a lot on alms-giving. We have a neighbor who is extremely ill and this Lent we will all be helping to care for her.”
Deacon Bruno Wiencek of St. Lawrence Parish in Bushnell said, “This is my 70th Lent and I’ll be praying more. As you get older, the more you see in a different light.
“My wife and I will contribute to a new cause. She just finished, and I’ve started reading ‘Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace … One School at a Time,’ (by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin) about Mortenson’s visit to Pakistan that resulted in his build-ing 55 schools for impoverished children since 1993. Just $1 per day pays a teacher’s salary,” said Wiencek.
Father Philip J. Egitto, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Daytona Beach, summed it up best: “People think that it’s easy to be a Christian by being a nice person, but God requires more. We must set people free from all that oppresses them and it’s not easy. It requires that we work together with others to change structures that create oppression. Lent gives us the chance to exam-ine (our lives) and decide how we will be more involved and follow the mission of Jesus.” ■
Lenten practices encompass self-denial and the pleasure of serving others
FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTO BY MELANIE DODSON
Alba and Nick Picinich, parishioners of Our Saviour Parish in Cocoa Beach, prepare a meal to take to a homebound parishioner. For more ideas on observing Lent as a family, please see story, Page A1.
FAITH AND THREE R’S
FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTO BY VALETA ORLANDO
Third-graders at All Souls Catholic School in Sanford learn more about Jesus’ message at Mass. In the first row, left to right, are: Dane Futrell, Constance Phelan, Chad LaVigne and Jared Kondracki. In the second row, left to right, are: Jordan Leger, Kayla Miller, Hunter Pavlovich, Austin Proly and Trevor Bledsoe. Catholic Schools Week began Jan. 27 and runs through Feb. 2.
Marriage SPA and wedding workshop offered
The Office of Family Life and Pastoral Care will of-fer a day in which married couples can look at their marriages in a variety of ways: spiritual, practical and affirming, or Marriage SPA. The Marriage SPA was cre-ated by the Family Life Office in an effort to provide in-expensive, Catholic faith-based marriage enrichment for couples married for any length of time.
Presentations are given on building intimacy through resolving conflict, celebrating differences and reviewing the vows.
Between presentations, couples meet and build community with other couples who share the same values and concerns. The next SPA day will be Satur-day, Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. John Vianney Parish, Orlando.
A wedding workshop will be held Thursday, Feb. 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the courtroom of the Diocese of Orlando chancery building, 50 E. Robinson St., Or-lando. Everything you ever wanted to know about mar-riage preparation in the diocese but were afraid to ask will be addressed at this one-day workshop. To learn more about these events or to register, contact Judy Mading in the Office of Family Life and Pastoral Care at 407-246-4865 or [email protected].
NEWS briefs
ORL A4
Florida Catholic Feb. 1-7, 2008A4 YOUR OR�NDO COMMUNITY
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 Or-lando, 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
Inc., 50 E. Robinson St., Suite G, Orlando, FL 32801-1619. Publisher reserves the right to refuse advertisements contrary to paper’s policy and standards in Catholic Press Association. The appearance of advertising in these pages does not imply endorse-ment of businesses, services and products. Complaints regarding advertising should be made directly to the advertiser or to your local Better Business Bureau. Readers
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, Orlando, FL 32802-4993. Member, Catholic Press Association; subscriber to Catholic News Service (CNS).
DIOCESE OF OR�NDO
50 East Robinson St.P.O. Box 1800
Orlando, FL 32802-1800407-246-4800 Fax 407-246-4942
PUBLISHER Bishop Thomas Wenski
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERChristopher Gunty
[email protected] 407-373-0075
MANAGING EDITOR Denise O’Toole Kelly
[email protected] 407-373-0075
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONSCarol Brinati
DIOCESAN EDITOR Tanya Goodman
• SUBSCRIPTIONS, CIRCULATION: Contact Jennifer Wright at 1-888-275-9953, or [email protected]
• ADVERTISING: Contact Jane Radetsky at 407-373-0075 or [email protected]• CLASSIFIED ADS: Contact Paula Heidorn at 1-888-275-9953, or [email protected]
STATE OFFICES: 50 E. Robinson St., Suite G, Orlando, FL 32801-1619; P.O. Box 4993; Orlando, FL 32802-4993; 407-373-0075; Toll-free 1-888-275-9953; Fax 407-373-0087
EXECUTIVE & EDITORIAL STAFF:Parish Services Manager: Mary St. Pierre, [email protected] Manager: Pat Spencer, [email protected] Editor: Ann Borowski Slade,[email protected] Editor: Jean Palombo-Gonzalez, [email protected]
ADVERTISING STAFF:Advertising Sales Manager: Mark Caruso,[email protected] Traffic Coordinator: Rosemary Novak, [email protected]
Send statewide news releases to [email protected]: [email protected]
Our staff meets for prayer each work day at 9 a.m. Send prayer intentions to [email protected]
All contents copyright © 2008, The Florida Catholic Inc., except stories and photos from Catholic News Service.
FLORIDACatholic
Vol. 69, No. 11
Feb. 11 marks the 150th anniver-sary of the apparitions of Lourdes in France. The date is also observed as the World Day of the Sick. Lourdes has always been associated with the sick, who have gone there seeking cures. And even when the healing of the body may not always be granted, the sick who go to Lourdes inevitably report a healing of the soul.
M a r y e x p e r ie nc e d pain and suffering in her earthly life as the Mother of Sorrows, as Simeon had prophesied at the Presen-tation of the Lord in the Temple. As the Sorrowful Mother who stood at the cross of her suf-fering Son, Mary still stands by the members of her Son’s Body, who in their own suffering bear the signs of his passion. As Pope Benedict writes in his message for this year’s World
Day of the Sick: “Mary suffers with those who are in affliction, with them she hopes, and she is their
comfort, supporting them with her maternal help.”
It has always been hard for us to accept the mys-tery of pain and human suffering, especially when this mystery touches the young and innocent. Why does a loving and just God permit us to suffer? This question is as old as time itself. Yet, like the Old Testament Job, we still demand answers, we want reasons. But as with Job, so too with us, God is
not forthcoming with pat answers — at least, not on this side of heav-en. God’s response is just one word: ... Jesus.
Of course, Jesus did not come to explain away suffering; he came to take it upon himself. His solidarity
with the world of pain transforms it — for “pain received with faith becomes the door by which to en-ter the mystery of the redemptive suffering of Jesus and to reach with him the peace and the happiness of his Resurrection.” In Christ, our suffering acquires a new meaning; in Christ, our suffering attains new power — and a mysterious fruitful-ness. United to Christ, the one who suffers with hope and with meek self-abandonment to the will of God, becomes a living offering for the salvation of the world. Offering up our own pains and sufferings becomes an eloquent and a pow-erful prayer.
Mary, of course, is the model of that self-abandonment to the will of God. And therefore it is no won-der why the sick seek out her pow-erful protection and intercession. We ask her to teach us to say “yes” as she did — for that “yes” joined her to the redeeming mission of
Christ. We need her to take us by the hand and lead us to pronounce our own “yes” to the will of God, with all our “existence interwoven with joys and sadness, hopes and disappointments, in the awareness that tribulations, pain and suffer-ing make rich the meaning of our pilgrimage on the earth.” As Mary renewed her “yes,” given at the An-nunciation, at the foot of the Cross, we too must renew the “yes” of our Baptism by accepting the daily crosses we may be asked to carry.
To Our Lady of Lourdes, we commend the sick of communi-ties so that they will never feel that they are abandoned or disvalued because of their illness and frailty. We also entrust to her the family members of the sick and all health care professionals so that they in their care of the sick may reflect Mary’s own tender and maternal care toward the suffering members of the Body of Christ. ■
World Day of the Sick focuses light on healing body and soul
FROM THE BISHOP
Thomas Wenski
MISSION TRIPS
Mission Date Request
Location Parish/Group Contact Enrollment
February Construction 2/2-2/10 La Cucarita Mission Office Naomi Gonzalez
407-246-4893OPEN
Dental Mission
2/2-2/10 La Cucarita Mission Office Elsie Torres 407-246-4890
LIMITED
April Construction 4/19-4/26 Vallejuelo Mission Office Naomi Gonzalez
407-246-4893OPEN
Dental 4/5-4/12 La Cucarita Mission Office Elsie Torres 407-246-4890
LIMITED
Honey Bees 4/5-4/12 La Cucarita BeeKeepers Naomi Gonzalez 407-246-4893
LIMITED
June Construction 6/14-6/21 La Cucarita Church of Our
SaviourNaomi Gonzalez 407-246-4893
CLOSED
Education 6/7-7/31 La Cucarita English Program
Naomi Gonzalez 407-246-4893
SELECTIVE
JulyConstruction 7/5-7/12 La Cucarita St. Maximilian
Parent Youth Group
Naomi Gonzalez 407-246-4893
CLOSED
Construction 7/19-7/26 La Cucarita Mission Office Naomi Gonzalez 407-246-4893
OPEN
AugustEducation 8/4-8/13 La Cucarita Valencia
Community College
Naomi Gonzalez 407-246-4893
CLOSED
September Medical 9/13-9/20 TBA Colposcopy Elsie Torres
407-246-4890LIMITED
Mission Date Request
Location Parish/Group Contact Enrollment
OctoberMedical II TBA TBA Medical II,
Surgical Screening, URO Screening
Elsie Torres407-246-4890
LIMITED
Medical II TBA TBA Elsie Torres407-246-4890
LIMITED
Medical TBA TBA Urology Elsie Torres407-246-4890
LIMITED
November Surgical I 11/1-11/8 San Juan de
la MaguanaGYN and ORTHO
Elsie Torres407-246-4890
LIMITED
Surgical II 11/8-11/15
San Juan de la Maguana
GEN, ENT and Plastics
Elsie Torres407-246-4890
LIMITED
DecemberConstruction 12/1-12/8 Vallejuelo Mission Office Naomi Gonzalez
407-246-4893OPEN
Volunteers load supplies Jan. 19 in Fern Park for the quarterly shipment to La Cucarita, a town in the Orlando Diocese’s sis-ter Diocese of San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican. Republic
COURTESY PHOTO
If you are interested in volunteering for a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, see the chart below, provided by the diocesan Mission Office. Trips listed as “limited” or “selective” need volunteers with expertise in those areas. For information, call the person listed in the contact box.
ORL A13
YOUR OR�NDO COMMUNITY A13Feb. 1-7, 2008 www.thefloridacatholic.org
Adrian Dominican Schoolof Education at Orlando2000 N. Alafaya Trail, Suite 600Orlando, Fl [email protected]/orlando
U N I V E R S I T YBARRY
ORL8042
02/08
When you become a Barry student, you join a caring, Catholic community where you are valued as a whole person.Barry’s Adrian Dominican School of Education in Orlando offers the following degrees:■ Master’s, Specialist, and PhD in Counseling■ Master’s in Higher Education Administration■ Master’s or Specialist in Educational Leadership –
National Catholic Educational Leadership Option■ PhD in Leadership and Education with specialization in
Higher Education Administration■ PhD in Leadership and Education with specialization in Leadership■ Certificate in Educational Leadership –
Florida Catholic Schools (nondegree)
Our graduates become teachers, college professors, university administrators, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, school counselors, and consultants.Our programs focus on the adult learner and will meet your needs as a working professional. Classes meet on evenings or Saturdays. Small classes and a low student-to-faculty ratio provide you with a personalized education.
The Adrian Dominican School of Education
and The School of Adult andContinuing Education
OPEN HOUSE February 7, 2008
8042_adsoe 1/11/08 3:38 PM Page 1
NATIONAL MARCH FOR LIFE
FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTOS BY ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO
Jessie Cuadros, front left, came to Washington with 13 other members of the University of Central Florida’s Students for Life group.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando and Orlando diocesan chancellor Sister of St. Joseph Elizabeth Worley walk in the March for Life. For more on Florida participation in the march, please see story, Page A5.
LINDA REEVESof the Florida Catholic staff
BOYNTON BEACH — Last Feb-ruary, a trail of white smoke led fire-fighters not only to flames and ashes at Russ Forester’s home, but also to a little “fire and brimstone.”
“A lot of smoke was going up into the air,” said native New Yorker For-ester, 90, a parishioner of St. Mark, about his annual palm-burning ritual that caused some excitement last year. “The first thing you know, I turned around and there is a fire-man.”
Burning the previous year’s blessed Palm Sunday fronds before Ash Wednesday so that the soot can be used to mark foreheads is a Cath-olic tradition that some parishes still perform. Forester, who retired to Florida in 1984 from Connecticut, burns the palms for St. Mark. He collects them from the church, sets a day for processing them and care-fully burns the fronds in a custom-made burner.
That day, a neighbor called 911. The fire department crew sounded the alarm and rushed to the scene.
Forester said he was cool and calm when the fireman appeared in his yard out of nowhere.
“I said, ‘What can I do for you?’ and he said, ‘Where’s the fire?’”
Forester, a former mechanical engineer for an industrial oil burner company, showed the fireman the 12-by-18-inch stainless steel burner that he designed and had made lo-cally. It stands more than 2 feet off the ground on thin, spiral legs.
Forester places bundles of palm fronds in the burner and with the click of a long lighter they go up in flames. The process is clean and no chemicals are used. The ashes fall to a bottom container.
Forester then cools and strains the ashes, which will placed on fore-heads on the first day of Lent.
The fireman “asked me what I was doing and I told him I make ashes for Ash Wednesday,” said For-ester in his heavy New York accent. “He said, ‘What’s that?’
“I explained to him what and why. Apparently, he wasn’t a Catho-lic. He said ‘OK, it looks like you have everything under control.’
Forester, a widower with three children, eight stepchildren, 32 grandchildren and 24 great-grand-children, suffered a heart attack while attending 5 p.m. Mass Jan. 7 at St. Mark. But a week later, he was on his feet and back at the church. He is doing fine.
“I thank God so much. I never stop thanking him, and never stop telling him I love him,” he said. ■
‘Where’s the fire?’Responder to 911 call gets the 411 on Ash Wednesday
If you would like to donate to this ministry, our address is 1330 Sunshine Ave., Leesburg, FL 34788
A ministry of St. Paul’s Catholic
Church in Leesburg
Sunday Afternoon with CCTN
The Catholic Community Television Network (CCTN)Catholic programming 2-4:30 p.m.
every Sunday on WLCB-TV 45
Bright House, Cox and Prime Cable ............................ Channel 19
Direct TV .............................................. Channel 45
Comcast ............................................... Channel 17
Heathrow Cable ............................. Channel 66
Decca Cable ........................................ Channel 15
Other available viewing channels
CCTN
Schedule for Sunday, February 32-3 p.m. Sunday Mass3-3:30 p.m. Octava Dies3:30-4 p.m. Christopher Closeup4-4:30 p.m. The Field Afar — Mexico
Florida Catholic Feb. 1-7, 2008A14 AROUND YOUR COMMUNITY
ORL A14
The Florida Catholic welcomes calendar items of coming events for your par-ish 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 32802-1800; 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.
OR�NDO DIOCESE COMMUNITY PAGE SUBMISSION DEADLINES
RETREATS/DAYS OF PRAYER
Retreat for life: Feb. 16, 8:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m., St. Rose of Lima Parish, 140 Pompeii Drive, Kissimmee. “Code Blue — Our Ultimate Challenge: Resuscitating Our Culture From Death to Life,” presented by Priest for Life Father Dennis Wilde. Continental breakfast provided. Participants bring own bag lunch. Free. Registration deadline: Feb. 2. Sister Madeleine Harper, SFO, 863-427-0703.
PARISH EVENTSWorkshop and parish
mission: Feb. 23, 8:15 a.m.-3 p.m., centering prayer workshop; Feb. 24-27, 7 p.m., mission, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Apopka. Father William A. Meninger, a Trappist monk, will speak on “The Process of Forgiveness.” Feb. 24-26, 5:30 p.m., potluck supper in parish center; Feb. 27, 8:30 p.m., dessert social. Father Meninger will speak in the education building, Room 2, Feb. 25-27, after 8 a.m. daily Mass. Contact the parish office, 407-886-4602.
CONFERENCES/MEETINGS/OTHER EVENTS
Peace Players International basketball fundraiser: Feb. 1, 4-6 p.m., grades K-four; 6-8 p.m., grades five-eight, at following schools: Ascension, Melbourne; St. Teresa, Titusville; Holy Name of Jesus, Indialantic. Advance registration and $10 fee required to play. Ascension, 321-452-0263; St. Teresa, 321-267-1643; Holy Name of Jesus, 321-773-1630.
The Helpers of God’s Precious Infants prayer vigil: Usually first Saturdays at different parishes. Each vigil
begins with Mass, followed by rosary procession to nearby abortion site. Feb. 2, 9 a.m., Mass, Resurrection Parish, Lakeland; March 22, Holy Saturday (fourth Saturday), 9 a.m., morning prayer, Cathedral of St. James, with Bishop Thomas Wenski. Sponsored by diocesan Office of Advocacy and Justice. Contact: 407-246-4819 or [email protected].
Fashion show/luncheon: Feb. 8, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Divine Mercy Parish, 1940 N. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island. Theme: “Fashions — Island Style.” Sponsored by Divine Mercy Council of Catholic Women. Card party, silent auction, raffles, door prizes and fashion show during lunch. Donation: $15. Call Marge, 321-452-1555.
Marriage SPA Day: Feb. 9, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. John Vianney Parish, 6200 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando. Developed by the Orlando Diocese Office of Family Life and Pastoral Care, this multifaceted day gives couples the opportunity to look at their marriage in a variety of ways: spiritual, practical and affirming (SPA). For information or registration, contact Judy, 407-246-4865 or [email protected].
Annunciation Council of Catholic Women: Feb. 11, 7 p.m., Annunciation Parish family life center, 1020 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs. Features Adele Azar-Ruquoi, speaker, workshop leader and author of “Money as Sacrament.” For more information, call Mary Schleske, 407-532-6683.
Wedding workshop: Feb. 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Diocese of Orlando chancery building courtroom, 50 E. Robinson St., Orlando. This workshop will address everything couples want to know about marriage preparation in the diocese. Contact Judy at 407-246-4865 or [email protected].
Maximillian — Saint of
Auschwitz: Feb. 18, 7 p.m., St. Teresa Parish, 203 Ojibway St., Titusville. Original 90-minute, one-man drama performed by actor and director Leonardo Defilippis, portraying St. Maximillian Kolbe’s life and martyrdom in concentration camp. Because of content, recommended for ages 10 and up. Admission: $10 per person; $25 per family.
PRAYER SESSIONS/MASSES
Healing service and Mass: Feb. 4, 7 p.m., Holy Name of Jesus Parish, 3050 N. Highway A1A, Indialantic; and Feb. 5, 7 p.m., Immaculate Conception Parish, 3780 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach. Stigmatine Father Robert Masciocchi, involved in healing ministry for 30 years, will celebrate Mass and conduct healing services.
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.
SECULAR COMMUNITIES
Lay Carmelites, St. James: First Saturdays, begins with Mass at 8 a.m., followed
by meeting and spiritual development until 11:30 a.m., St. James Cathedral, 215 N. Orange Ave., Orlando. Contact: Kathleen Richardville, 407-898-3902.
Lay Carmelites, St. Therese of the Child Jesus: Fourth Saturdays, begins with Mass at 9 a.m., followed by a meeting, Ascension Parish, 2950 N. Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne. Contact: Agatha Bobitka, TOC, 321-253-2833.
Lay Carmelites: For information about other communities throughout the Diocese of Orlando, contact Steve Riddle, regional coordinator, 407-855-9954.
Secular Franciscan Order, Lady Poverty Fraternity: First and third Tuesdays, begins with evening prayer at 7 p.m., Mary, Mother of God Chapel, San Pedro Spiritual Development Center, 2400 Dike Road, Winter Park. Meeting follows. Contact: Dan Hardester, SFO, [email protected].
Secular Franciscan Fraternity: Fourth Saturdays, 10 a.m., Queen of Peace Parish hall, Ocala. Secular Franciscans commit themselves by promise, not vow, to live the Gospel life of Jesus Christ in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. 352-854-5647 or 352-793-7071.
Secular Franciscan Order, St. Francis Fraternity: First Sundays, 12:30 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Building B, 834 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka. Call Jeane Fwaynos, SFO, 407-869-6716.
Secular Franciscan Fraternity, Little Flowers of
St. Francis: Second Saturdays, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass, Epiphany Parish, parish house 5, 201 Lafayette St., Port Orange. Peg, 386-677-7089.
Secular Order of the Servants of Mary (Servite), Our Lady of Sorrows Community: Second Fridays, 9:30 a.m., St. Timothy Parish ministry building, Lady Lake. Secular Servites are laypeople who commit themselves by promise to live the Gospel life of Jesus Christ, and to deepen the knowledge and acts of devotion to Mary. Contact: Donald Siple, 352-750-4877.
Secular Order of the Servants of Mary, St. Peregrine Community: Second Saturdays, 10:30 a.m., St. Catherine of Siena Parish, St. Peregrine Room, 2750 E. Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee. Contact: Adriana Bentum-Tilus, SOSM, 407-288-3701.
Secular Franciscan Fraternity, San Damiano: St. Mark Parish, Summerfield. Contact: Kathryn Hampel, SFO, 352-750-6334.
ONGOING MEETINGS
Msgr. Bishop Knights of Columbus Council 2112: Regular business meeting, first Mondays, 8 p.m., at the council hall, 5727 Cornelia Ave., Orlando. Rosary, 7:30 p.m. Meeting is open to all Knights who have taken their first degree. Contact: Grand Knight Bill Mazanec, 407-678-2112.
St. Patrick Knights of Columbus Assembly 2883: Regular business meeting, second Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Annunciation Parish family life center, Fireplace Room, 1020 Montgomery Road, Altamonte Springs. Meeting is open to all fourth-degree Knights. Contact: Faithful Navigator Bob Nettles, 407-297-1852, or [email protected].
Knights of Columbus St. Joseph Council 7408: Regular business meeting, second and fourth Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, Babcock Street, Palm Bay. All local and/or visiting Knights are welcome. Call Grand Knight Bob Burgess, 321 537-5240.
Catholic War Veterans: Father John Washington Post 1944, second Saturdays, 10 a.m., Prince of Peace Parish, Gold Room, 600 S. Nova Road, Ormond Beach. All Catholic men and women who have served honorably in the armed forces are invited to join. Gene Swarbrick, 386-255-3814, or e-mail [email protected].
The ONLY CATHOLIC owned andoperated funeral home in DeLand.We accept all Prearrangementsmade at other funeral homes.
Knights of Columbus Members386-736-0021 / 935 E. New York Ave.
ROBYN CONSTANTINO – Owner and Licensed Funeral Director
Diane Ohnemus, REALTOR® Keller Williams Advantage II Realty 12301 Lake Underhill Drive, Suite 111
Orlando FL 32828 Cell: 407-353-8794
Office: 407-393-5901 E-mail: [email protected]
www.dianesfloridahomes.com Parishioner, St. Maximillian Kolbe, Orlando
Bill Sereno, Broker Owner Dale R. Sereno, REALTOR®
Sereno Realty 330 E. Plant Street
Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-654-8222 or 1-866-703-8222
www.serenorealty.com Residential and commercial sales and leasing Parishioners, Resurrection Catholic Church
Serving Orange and Lake counties
GET LISTED!To advertise, please call
PAULA HEIDORN1-888-275-9953
CATHOLIC REAL ESTATE
D • I • R • E • C • T • O • R • Y
ORL A15
YOUR OR�NDO COMMUNITY A15Feb. 1-7, 2008 www.thefloridacatholic.org
Christians worldwide will observe Ash Wednesday Feb. 6Catholics in Ocala and Altamonte Springs share why they observe Ash Wednesday and why the day is important to them
‘I observe Ash Wednesday because it is the beginning of the Lenten season. As tradition, as far as I remember, I have observed Ash Wednesday. It is my belief and my religion to observe as a Catholic the Lent season. Even when I was living in Cuba, I observed Ash Wednesday.’
Julio RamosBlessed Trinity Parish
‘We are not citizens of this world. Ash Wednesday we are reminded that we are dust and we will return to nothing, like the ash. When we receive the ash on our foreheads we need to change and convert our lives as we prepare to go home to heaven.’
Dominican Father Alfonso CelyHispanic Ministry of Blessed Trinity Parish in Ocala, originally from Bogota, Colombia
‘I observe Ash Wednesday to prepare myself for the Easter season and for the sacrifice that Christ made for me. I sacrifice to be ready for Easter. I think that (I) have to be in the frame of mind to celebrate Easter and to appreciate what Christ has done for me.’
Vicki ReynoldsBlessed Trinity Parish
‘We recognize Ash Wednesday as we start working, praying and receiving our reconciliation with God. We continue to serve and state that Christ is our Lord in life. That day, we receive a mark on our foreheads and recognize we are Christ’s sons. This is important because it is a sign that we have.’
Israel ClaudioBlessed Trinity Parish
‘Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season. I was baptized and believe in the Lenten season.’
Rodolfo AcostaBlessed Trinity Parish
FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTOS BY JANNET WALSH
FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTO BY CAROL FERRAZZANO
‘My faith is very important to me and I look forward to observing Ash Wednesday each year. I know I couldn’t manage without my faith. Ash Wednesday becomes a meaningful time for my spiritual reflection at the beginning of the Lenten season in preparation for Easter.’
Helen BaileyAnnunciation Parish, Altamonte Springs
Blessed Creations Pet Grooming and Boutique
407-272-5884
3431 Edgewater DriveAcross from Hungry Howie’s
ABBEY’SHousekeeping
Introduction Special, $60 for 4 hours of regular cleaning. Schedule weekly, biweekly, or one time service.
Get a free cleaning, ask us how! Serving all of Central FL.
407-268-4435
Service with a smile!
Gigantic Flea Market575 Tuskawilla Rd. Winter Springs 407-699-5683
Welcome All Bargain HuntersTo The Best INDOOR Flea Market!
2008
FleaMarket
St. Stephen Catholic Community
Friday, Feb 1 - 7am - 5pm
Saturday, Feb 2 - 7am - 5pm
Sunday, Feb 3 - 10am - 1pm
Jewelry Antique Dishes FurnitureBicycles Baby Items ToysClothing Books HouseholdElectronics Christmas items Artwork
AND MUCH MORE!
Visit the WinterFest CaféBreakfast - Coffee & DonutsLunch - Burgers & Soft Drinks
Join us for WinterFest CarnivalFebruary 7-10
Carnival Food Family Fun
ORL A16
Florida Catholic Feb. 1-7, 2008A16 YOUR OR�NDO COMMUNITY
2 Convent RoadMorristown, NJ 07960-6989
www.cse.edu
Support a Catholic college
where women make a
difference.Your charitable gift annuity at the College of Saint Elizabethwill help prepare tomorrow’s leaders with the educationand values to make this world a better place.Your gift will also bring you tangible benefits:
• Guaranteed income for life • Tax benefits now and in the future • Safe investment with high interest rates (dependent on age) • One or two-life annuities available
Send today for an estimate of income you could receive for your charitable gift annuity,or call 973-290-4455 for more information. There is no charge or obligation, and yourinformation is confidential.Thank you for your interest and support!
Name_______________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________
City____________________________ State_________________ Zip___________
Birthdate (required)______________________________________________________
Phone (_____)_______________________ Annuity amount __________________
E-Mail______________________________________________________________
Minimum age: 55. Minimum annuity amount: $5,000Code: FC
Office of Institutional Advancement, College of Saint Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
CS
E P
hoto
by
Cou
rtne
y S
mol
en
�
FLORIDA CATHOLIC PHOTOS BY VALETA ORLANDO
Bishop Thomas Wenski, right, presents his coat of arms to Society of the Precious Blood Father Andrew O’Reilly, pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Orlando. Bishop Wenski said it is a tradition to present the coat of arms at a church dedication. “Maybe i t ’s because I hold the mortgage,” B i shop Wensk i sa id , eliciting laughter from the congregation.
Bishop Wenski censes the new altar in St. Andrew Catholic Church. Parishioner Tony Salvo built the altar and the ambo from white oak.
Bishop blesses refurbished churchORLANDO — An hour before Mass began Jan. 26, parishioners
began streaming into St. Andrew Catholic Church. They would pause in the narthex, faces beaming, and then walk slowly down the aisles to the pews, heads slowly turning from left to right, dis-covering something new with each glance.
Speaking of the refurbished church, Deacon Tommy Tate said, “It’s beautiful, very beautiful. Praise the Lord.”
“It’s incredible,” said Harry Avery, parishioner and hospitality minister. “We’ve been meeting across there in the gym for a year. Now we’re back in our church.”
At the beginning of the dedication service, Bishop Thomas Wenski said, “This is a great day. The school gets its gym back.”
In his homily, Bishop Wenski said, “God will live with his peo-ple here in this house, in this Domus Dei, this house of God. Here, in this temple, once again the word of God will be proclaimed and once again the sacraments will be celebrated.”
Society of the Precious Blood Father Andrew O’Reilly, pastor, expressed thanks to Bishop Wenski and to the parishioners for their contributions. “My thanks to everyone who gave their time, talent and treasure. You are a beacon of God’s faith, hope and love.”
Need a Prayer?
If you have a special need or intention, the staff of the Florida Catholic will pray with you. Just send in your prayer requests and we will include your needs in our prayers. Mail to: Florida Catholic, P.O. Box 4993 Orlando, FL 32802-4993or visit our Web site at www.thefloridacatholic.org. Please send no money. Just pray for us in return and for the intentions of all Florida’s bishops.
