December - St. Augustine Catholic

catholic 

St. Augustine 

December 2007 • www.staugcatholic.org 

FATHER JOE p. 8 

what’s up with 

Ouija boards? 

Theology 101 p. 10 

why is Jesus the 

best teacher? 

Spiritual Fitness p. 14 

the battle 

for peace 

A Christmas Tradition 

building a spanish 

nativity belén p. 16 

Migrant Farm Workers 

a call for 

solidarity p. 24 

Home 

from 

War 

Christmas has special meaning this 

year for Capt. Kathleen Michel

Msgr. Joseph James Writing Scholarship for High School Seniors 

this year only! 

And have your work published in the St. Augustine Catholic magazine 

How do you sustain your Catholic identity in today’s culture? 

Entries due February 29, 2008 

Contact your Campus Minister, DRE, Youth Minister, Pastor or Teacher for entry information 

or visit www.staugcatholic.org or email: kbaggmorgan@dosafl.com.

catholic 


contents 

December 2007 Volume XVII Issue 5 

The St. Augustine Catholic is the official magazine of the Diocese of Saint Augustine, 

which embraces 17 counties spanning northeast and north central Florida from the 

Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. The diocese covers 11,032 square miles and 

serves more than 164,000 registered Catholics. 

Elizabeth Gessner 

Tom Tracy 

features 

18 

Cover Story: 

Home from War 

Find out how Navy Capt. 

Kathleen Michel’s faith 

helped her get through the 

hell of war while serving at 

the Expeditionary Medical 

Facility in Kuwait. And 

now that she’s home, how 

is she adjusting to life with 

her husband and children? 

– Amelia Eudy 

16 Creating a 

Nativity Belén 

Learn the art of building a 

Belén – a popular and longestablished 

family custom in 

Spain. It’s a wonderful custom 

that gives families a real focus 

for Christmas. – Elizabeth Gessner 

From the 

24 Fields to 

Marketplace In part 

two of our two part 

series on immigration 

and migrant farm 

workers, writer Tom 

Tracy breaks down 

some of the issues and 

myths facing migrant 

workers today. – Tom Tracy 

On the Cover: Navy Capt. Kathleen Michel at Naval Hospital Jacksonville. 

Photo by Scott Smith 

Scott Smith 

what you’ll get 

out of this issue 

4 editor’s notes 

Celebrating the Holidays 

– Kathleen Bagg-Morgan 

5 saint of the month 

Mary on the Feast of the Immaculate 

Conception – Jan Rynearson 

6 bishop’s message 

“Born the Virgin Mary” – Bishop Victor Galeone 

7 from the archives 

First Parish Registers – Michael Gannon, Ph.D. 

8 in the know with Father Joe 

What does the church think about Ouija 

boards? – Father Joseph Krupp 

9 catholic world news – Zenit 

10 theology 101 Why is Jesus the best 

teacher? – Elizabeth Solsburg 

12 your marriage matters Reconciling 

two separate bank accounts – Tom and Jo Ann Fogle 

13 parenting journey Is Christmas making 

you crazy? Learn how to be a peaceful parent 

– Dr. Cathleen McGreal 

14 spiritual fitness The battle for peace 

– Father Bill Ashbaugh 

22 parish profile San José Parish, 

Jacksonville – Shannon Scruby-Henderson 

26 culture Windows of Peace 

– Michelle Sessions DiFranco 

28 around the diocese 

30 calendar of events 

10 

St. Augustine Catholic December 2007

catholic 


The Magazine of the Diocese of Saint Augustine 

Most Rev. Victor Galeone 

Publisher 

Kathleen Bagg-Morgan 

Editor 

Susie Nguyen 

Editorial Assistant/Subscriptions 

Patrick McKinney 

Art Director/Graphic Designer 

Father Bill Ashbaugh 

Michelle Sessions DiFranco 

Amelia Eudy 

Michael Gannon, Ph.D. 

Tom and Jo Ann Fogle 


Shannon Scruby-Henderson 

Father Joseph Krupp 

Dr. Cathleen McGreal 

Jan Rynearson 

Elizabeth Solsburg 

Tom Tracy 

Contributing Writers 

Tom Gennara 


Susie Nguyen 

Phillip Shippert 

Scott Smith 

Tom Tracy 

Tony Watson 

Frantizek Zvardon 

Contributing Photographers 


Advertising Sales Coordinator 

InnerWorkings 

Print Management 

St. Augustine Catholic Website 

www.staugcatholic.org 

Diocese of Saint Augustine Website 

www.dosafl.com 

The St. Augustine Catholic is a membership publication of the 

Diocese of Saint Augustine, 11625 St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville, 

FL 32258-2060. Published monthly except January and August. 

Subscription rates are $15 per year. Individual issues are $2.50. 

Send all subscription information and address changes to: Office 

of Communications, 11625 St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 

32258-2060; (904) 262-3200, ext. 108; fax (904) 262-2398 

or email snguyen@dosafl.com. ©St. Augustine Catholic, Diocese of 

Saint Augustine. ©FAITH Publishing Service. No portion of the St. 

Augustine Catholic may be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise 

reproduced or distributed in whole or in part, without prior written 

authority of the Diocese of Saint Augustine and/or Faith Publishing 

Service TM . For reprint information or other questions regarding use of 

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editor’s notes 

Celebrating the Holidays 

Not being with family during the 

holidays is tough for anyone. But 

for those in the military, spending 

the holidays away from home 

is often a reality. The uncertainty of unrest in 

Iraq will make this holiday season even more 

stressful than usual for the families of military 

members serving in harms way. 

Nurse and Navy Capt. Kathleen Michel is 

fortunate. She will be home when her four 

children unwrap their presents this Christmas 

day. But she didn’t expect to be. Capt. Michel 

was called to serve at the Expeditionary Medical 

Facility in Kuwait, the only coalition forces 

military hospital just south of Iraq. In our cover 

story this month, Capt. Michel explains how 

her faith helped her tend to the combat wounds 

of our soldiers and endure time spent 

away from her husband and kids. 

And while our armed forces are 

doing the business of the country, 

military chaplains, like Father Michael 

Mikstay are busy at home taking 

care of the families of our 

military personnel. Father 

Mikstay is Command 

Chaplain at Naval Air 

Station Jacksonville. 

He will be here for 

Christmas ministering to 

the families of St. Edward 

Chapel before joining the 

Marines as a Catholic chaplain 

serving in Iraq early next year. 

So how can we help those in 

uniform celebrate the holidays? 

It’s not too late to: 

• Donate a calling card to help 

troops keep in touch with their 

families at Operation Uplink, www. 

operationuplink.org. 

• Sign a virtual thank-you card at www. 

defendamerica.mil/nmam.html. 

• Make a donation to the Military Relief 

Societies: Army at www.aerhq.org; Navy 

and Marines at www.nmcrs.org; Air 

Force at www.afas.org, or the Coast 

Guard at www.cgmahq.org. 

by Kathleen Bagg-Morgan 

If you know a family that will be alone 

this holiday due to a loved one serving 

oversees, reach out to them and share the 

spirit of Christmas by exchanging family 

customs and traditions – or you can try one 

of two featured in this issue. 

Turn to page 16 for a complete guide to 

building a Spanish-style Nativity scene. 

Popular in Spain and throughout Europe, 

building a Belén (Spanish for Bethlehem) is 

a wonderful custom that provides families 

a real focus for Christmas. Elizabeth 

Gessner, a Spanish translator living in St. 

Augustine has traveled extensively to Spain 

to hone her linguistic skills and while 

there she discovered the art of making a 

Nativity Belén. She says it offers parents 

an outstanding teaching moment, and is 

simply a lot of fun. And Elizabeth’s Belén 

will be on display this Christmas at the 

Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine. 

In our new Culture column on page 

26, Michelle Sessions-DiFranco 

shares her recipe for making 

cathedral cookies for 

Christmas. She calls them 

windows of peace and they 

provide a message of hope, 

love and peace especially for 

people separated from loved 

ones during the holidays. 

On behalf of the staff of 

the St. Augustine Catholic, have 

a blessed Advent and very 

merry Christmas! 

Corrections: 

The headline for the Catholic 

Charities article that appeared 

in the November issue was 

incorrect. It should have read 

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty. 

We apologize for the error. 


from the bishop 

“Born of the Virgin Mary…” 

Why do Catholics say that Mary was always a virgin? 

by Bishop Victor Galeone 

Actually, it’s not just Catholics who believe Mary was a virgin 

throughout her life. So does the Orthodox Church. And the 

Protestant reformers Luther and Calvin held the same belief. To 

understand why, let’s go to Luke’s gospel (1:26-38) where the 

Angel Gabriel tells Mary that she’s going to have a baby. Her reaction 

was, “How can that happen since I don’t know man?” 

In Scripture, “to know man” is a euphemism for having sexual 

relations. Mary’s question is somewhat strange, since we learned in 

verse 27 that she’s engaged to be married to Joseph. Didn’t they 

plan to consummate the marriage after their wedding? 

To learn the answer, suppose that I offer you a beer (or a cigarette) 

and you reply, “Sorry, I don’t drink/smoke.” When do you plan to 

start? With your present mindset, never. Doesn’t Mary’s question fall 

into the same category? Did she ever plan to have marital relations? 

The early church fathers concluded that Mary and Joseph had 

made a private vow to live as brother and sister after the wedding. 

(We know from the historian Josephus that members of the Essene 

Community, who lived around the time of Jesus, were celibate.) 

When Gabriel explained that she was to conceive through the power 

of the Holy Spirit, Mary gave her consent. And she remained a virgin 

for the rest of her life. 

What about Jesus’ brothers and sisters named in Mark 6:3? 

In Hebrew, the word for brother (’AK) can mean blood brother, 

half-brother, stepbrother, uncle, nephew or cousin. The context must 

indicate the relationship. For example, Genesis 12:5 states that Lot 

is “the son of Abraham’s brother,” that is, his nephew. But in the 

next chapter, Abraham says to Lot, “Let us not quarrel, for we are 

brothers.” Besides, if Jesus had other siblings, why did he entrust 

Mary to the care of John while he was dying on the cross? Such an 

action would have been unthinkable if Mary had other children to 

care for her. So Jesus’ siblings mentioned in Mark were probably his 

cousins. 

But Matthew 1:25 says that Joseph had no relations with 

Mary until she gave birth to her son. Doesn’t the “until” 

imply they had relations afterwards? 

Not really. We’re dealing with another Hebrew idiom. In English, 

what is said before until is usually not true afterwards: “I didn’t drink 

until I was 21.” But there are exceptions: “Behave yourselves until 

I get back.” Does that mean the kids can tear the house apart once 

mother returns? Hebrew, however, stresses only what occurs before 

the until clause. What is said there may or may not be true afterwards. 

For example, 2 Samuel 6:23 

states: “Michal had no children 

until the day she died.” Are we to 

assume Michal bore children in 

the grave? So too, Matthew 1:25 

is the Hebrew way of stressing 

that Joseph had no role in Jesus’ 

conception. 

What about Luke 2:7 which says, “She gave birth to her 

firstborn son.” If he’s the first, there must have been others 

after him. 

Firstborn (bekor) in Hebrew was a technical term, conferring 

special legal status on the firstborn son. As St. Jerome explained in 

the fourth century: “Firstborn doesn’t mean there were any later-born. 

It merely excludes any previous-born.” Archeology has confirmed St. 

Jerome’s statement. In 1922 a tombstone was unearthed in Egypt of 

a Jewish bride who had died in 5 B.C., with the inscription: “Fate has 

ended my life in the birth pangs of my firstborn son.” 

Why is there no mention of Jesus’ virgin birth outside of the 

infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke? 

While there are no explicit references, there are some implicit 

ones. For example, in citing someone’s human ancestry, St. Paul 

usually refers to the father alone, or in some cases, to both father 

and mother. The only exception occurs in Galatians 4:4. “Now in 

the fullness of time, God sent his son, born of a woman, born under 

the Law…” Precisely when Paul reaches the end of Salvation 

History (“in the fullness of time”), he mentions only the mother of the 

promised Messiah – who is not linked to any human father. When the 

Messiah appears in our midst, he has only one Father (“God sent his 

Son”), and only one mother (“born of a woman”). 

Also, Joseph, Mary’s husband, is never mentioned in Mark’s 

gospel. This is especially striking in the passage where Matthew and 

Luke have, “Isn’t this the son of the carpenter (Mt)/Joseph (Lk)?” 

Instead, Mark has: “Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary?” 

Let us conclude this reflection with the opening lines of 

Wordsworth’s sonnet, “The Virgin.” 

“Mother! whose virgin bosom was uncrost 

With the least shade of thought to sin allied; 

Woman! Above all women glorified, 

Our tainted nature’s solitary boast…” 


archives 

from the archives 

First Parish 

Registers 

by Michael Gannon, Ph.D. 

Invest your time before 

you invest your money. 

A parish register is a blank book in 

which a pastor enters the names of his 

parishioners and the dates on which they 

receive certain ministries of the church, 

e.g., baptism, marriage and burial. The 

very first such registers at the infant 

parish of St. Augustine, covering the 

last four months of 1565 and the first 

months of 1566, have long been lost; 

our best information is that they were 

carried off by soldier mutineers in the 

spring of 1566. 

The registers from that date until 

1586 similarly are lost, but, again, we think 

we know what happened to them. In the 

summer of 1586 the city of St Augustine 

was plundered and burned to the ground 

by the English corsair Francis Drake. A 

member of Drake’s force wrote that not 

so much as “the leaves on the trees” were 

spared. When the then pastor Father 

Rodrigo García de Trujillo emerged with 

his parishioners from the western woods, 

where they had taken refuge, he found their 

church, Our Lady of Healing, a tangle of 

blackened timbers. If the registers had been 

left in the church, they would have turned to 

ash. 

The pastor and his people rebuilt their 

wooden church. In 1593, broken in health 

after 28 years of service, Father García 

retired and was replaced as pastor by 

Father Diego Escobar de Sambrana, whose 

name is the first to appear in the registers 

that survived. On Jan. 24, 1594, we find 

in the brittle but still readable initial page of 

the matrimonial register, Father Escobar 

brought a couple before the altar to be 

married. The groom and bride were Gabriel 

Hernández, “a soldier of this presidio,” and 

Catalina de Valdés. That entry on that page 

is the oldest European document of North 

American (north of Mexico) origin extant in 

our country. 

The first page of the St. Augustine 

Parish Register of Baptisms dated June 

10, 1594. 

The first entry in the baptismal register is 

also in Father Escobar’s hand, dated June 

25, 1594. It records the baptism of an 

infant named “María, legitimate daughter 

of S. Ximenes de la Queva and María 

Meléndez, his wife. 

The surviving registers of the First 

Spanish Period (1565-1763) offer us a 

near-continuous record (there are some 

lacunae or holes) of Catholic life in the old 

city from 1594 to 1763, for a total of 169 

years. In 1763, by virtue of the Treaty of 

Paris concluding the French and Indian 

War, Florida passed into the hands of Great 

Britain. The population of St. Augustine, not 

trusting the British to respect their Catholic 

faith, elected to depart Florida for Cuba 

and other destinations in the Caribbean 

basin. Only three Spanish families remained 

behind. In February 1764, the church’s 

possessions, including the parish registers, 

were removed to Havana on board a 

schooner named Nuestra Señora de la 

Luz (Our Lady of the Light). There the 

registers were placed in the basement of 

the cathedral church. And there they would 

remain, forgotten, for the next 107 years. 


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fr. joe 

in the know with Fr. Joe 

Dear Father Joe 

What does the church think about 

Ouija boards? 

Q: 

A: 

What does the church 

think about Ouija 

boards, crystals, and 

enneagrams? 

OK, these are three totally 

different things, so first, let’s 

define each one and then look 

at what they purport to do 

from a Catholic perspective. 

First, let’s look at Ouija boards. According 

to Princeton’s Wordnet, they are boards with 

the alphabet on it; used with a planchette to 

spell out supernatural messages. 

Apparently, the name comes from 

combining the French word for “Yes” (Oui) 

and the German word for “Yes” (Ja). 

In terms of crystals, I assume you are 

asking about the way some people claim to use 

crystals for spiritual protection or channeling, 

or in any religious way. 

The enneagram is a nine-sided shape that 

is used as a model for different things; the 

most common being its use as a personality 

assessment tool. This assessment tool focuses 

on the imbalance present in each person 

– their “hidden self.” Integration is essential in 

this model, and each personality type is shown 

the way to integration through the use of 

arrows. 

OK, we’ve got them now; let’s take it one at a 

time. 

The Ouija board was introduced as a board 

game, and was intended to be used as a way 

to contact the spirits of angels, demons, or the 

dead. This is a dangerous practice. People have 

approached me about this and expressed their 

concern over my “hard-line stance on a board 

game,” but that is precisely one of the big 

problems here: disguising a fundamentally evil 

spiritual practice into a game for kids is, in my 

mind, the definition of evil. 

Take a look at this passage: 

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices 

One December night, my 

friend Father Mark went out to 

sing Christmas carols. When 

he went to the first house and 

began singing, an elderly man 

came to the door and tears 

began to roll down his face. 

Father Mark, seeing that the 

man was moved to tears, asked 

“Are you remembering happy 

childhood memories?” “No,” the 

man sniffed, wiping a tear. “I’m a 

his son or daughter in the fire, who practices 

divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in 

witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or 

spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does 

these things is detestable to the Lord. (Deuteronomy 

18:10–12a) 

The Scripture is clear, and many exorcists 

in the Catholic Church speak very strongly 

against the Ouija board. Whether we intend 

it for “fun” or not is irrelevant; it’s a loaded 

spiritual gun and we should destroy any of 

these things that are in our home. 

Crystals are a little harder to nail down, 

as they are used in so many ways. However, 

the simple answer is this: I can’t find any 

circumstance under which a person can or 

should “use crystals” for a spiritual purpose. 

Again, its purpose seems quite clearly against 

the Scripture passage that I cited above. 

The easiest way to look at these things is to 

remember the story of Babel and the story of 

Adam and Eve. In both cases, what the people 

wanted was right, but they wanted to do it in 

their own way and not in the way God calls us 

to. The desire to have contact with the divine 

is holy and good, but we must do it in the way 

God invites us to. The problem is when we 

act as if our actions can somehow “force God’s 

hand” or as if the Scriptures and the guidance 

of the church aren’t sufficient. 

There are tons of fights on the Internet 

about the enneagram. Some people see them 

as helpful tools, others see them as an evil New 

Age practice. It appears that in this case, it’s 

best to avoid working with this model. Why? 

First, because of its roots. The roots of this 

practice appear to come from the Sufis, who 

seem to combine Islam and paganism in their 

worship. 

Second, this model is a problem because of 

its focus on self-improvement through purely 

human means. In the mind of the church, it is 

essential that we base all of our efforts for “self 

improvement” on the person of Jesus Christ 

and the power of the Holy Spirit. One source 

I read indicated that Jesus calls us to “die to 

self,” while this model calls us to an almost 

obsessive focus on the self. 

Remember, brothers and sisters, Jesus has 

given us all we need to come to him. As he 

said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and 

the life. No one comes to the Father except 

through me.” 

Enjoy another day in God’s presence! 

Send your questions to: 

“In the Know with Father Joe” 

c/o FAITH Magazine 

300 W. Ottawa 

Lansing, MI 48933 

Or: 

JoeInBlack@priest.com 


world news 

the top-10 Catholic News 

events this month 

1 

Vatican Stamp and Coin Museum Opens 

A new museum featuring all the stamps and coins minted 

in Vatican City State since 1929 is open to the public. Materials 

illustrating the production of stamps and coins are included. 

2 

Israel tightens policy on re-entry visas 

The Israeli government is no longer granting routine 

re-entry visas to Arab Christian religious leaders who travel 

in and out of occupied Palestinian territories. The new policy 

means that clergy will no longer be able to move freely between 

their parishes in occupied territories. 

3 

Six Arkansas nuns excommunicated 

Six women religious were excommunicated in Arkansas 

for their involvement in the schismatic association Army of 

Mary. 

4 

Prayers for minority Christians 

Benedict XVI is praying that Christians who are in minority 

situations may have the strength and courage to live their faith 

and persevere in bearing 

witness to it. 

5 Global 

cooling 

A “cooling off” of love and 

solidarity is even more 

dangerous than global 

warming, claims the 

archbishop of Prague. 

6 

Spirituality over 

logistics for World 

Youth Day 

Youth are challenged to 

ensure that organization of 

logistics does not interfere 

with spiritual preparation 

for the 2008 event. 

7 

Pope encourages 

youth to 

evangelize in hometowns 

The pope said that missionary work is essential to Christian faith 

formation. 

8 

Personal development through sports 

Sports are beneficial when pursued in the right spirit with 

respect and dignity, Benedict XVI said. 

9 

Nobel Prize winners join the 

Pontifical Academy of Sciences 

Klaus von Klitzing, who won the Nobel Prize in physics, and 

Yuan Tseh Lee, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry, are now 

ordinary members of the academy. 

10 

U.N. needs to focus on health care 

The pope called for the U.N. to renew its commitment 

to the preservation of life at every level and in every corner of 

the world. 

Finding cures and protecting life 

Apacket of information about the 

church’s stance on stem cells was 

delivered to 

every Catholic 

home in Michigan that’s 

registered with a parish. 

A letter signed by the 

state’s diocesan bishops, 

a 12-minute DVD, and 

a brochure explaining 

the church’s support 

for adult stem cell 

research were sent out 

as part of the Michigan 

Catholic Conference’s 

The Science of Stem Cells: 

Finding Cures and Protecting Life campaign. The 

conference aimed to reach 500,000 homes and 

nearly 800 parishes. 

The Michigan Catholic Conference campaign formed in light of 

embryonic stem cell research supporter’s movement to overturn 

the state’s ban on research that involves the destruction of human 

embryos. 

Paul Long, the vice president for public policy at the conference, 

said the central message of the statewide education program is 

the church’s support for adult stem cell research and opposition 

to research which involved destroying human embryos. Long 

said that the campaign is intended to counter all of the attention 

focused on embryonic stem cell research which has overshadowed 

the real hope that adult stem cell research can provide. 

According to Long, “ Medical science, along with people 

from different faith and political backgrounds, have recognized 

that human cloning and the destruction of living embryos for 

research purposes may not be the most promising way to move 

forward with stem cell research. Yet because of the great deal of 

attention given to unproven embryo destructive research, partly 

through misinformation and even deceit, necessary funding for 

and the promotion of adult stem cell research have been nearly 

nonexistent.” 

Often people do not know that adult stem cells are already 

providing treatment and even cures without harming donors. 

The letter that was included in the mailing said, “Catholics have the 

right and duty to assist all who are suffering, and medical science, 

through adult stem cell research and its proven track record of 

success, has opened a door of hope.” 

– ZENIT 


theology 101 

by Elizabeth Solsburg 

Who is Christ? a year-long conversation with theologians 

Why is Jesus 

teacher? 

the best Why did Jesus 

some and not 

others? 

This year, the St. Augustine Catholic is exploring 

Christology – the study of Jesus Christ. We 

asked several eminent seminary professors 

some questions about Jesus. Their answers 

are enlightening and thought-provoking. 

Meet the 

professors 

10 St. Augustine Catholic December 2007 

Father Acklin Father Muller Father Stevens 

Father Thomas Acklin is a monk of St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pa. 

He is a graduate of Duqesne University, St. Vincent Seminary, The Catholic 

University of Louvain and Pittsburgh Psychoanalytic Institute. 

Father Earl Muller is The Bishop Kevin M. Britt Professor of Theology/ 

Christology at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. He formerly taught at Marquette 

University in Wisconsin. 

Father Gladstone Stevens is on the faculty of St. Mary Seminary 

in Baltimore. 

Jesus 

taught 

by doing 

QSAC: What is Jesus’ role 

as teacher? 

Father Acklin: Jesus teaches 

even more by what he does 

than what he says. It’s like the 

famous quote attributed to 

St. Francis: “Preach always 

– use words when necessary.” 

Jesus’ whole ministry is like 

this; he begins with teaching 

and miracles. Then, he begins 

to teach the hard stuff, about 

giving us his flesh and blood to 

eat and drink – and there are 

very few miracles at that point, 

because miracles are signs 

pointing toward something, 

not an end in themselves. 

Jesus teaches with parables to 

break through the resistance 

to understanding, to prepare 

us to enter into the mystery. 

theologian 

of the month 

Catherine 

of Siena 

(1347-1380) 

Catherine 

had visions 

and mystical 

experiences from 

a very young 

age. By the time 

she was 7, she 

had dedicated her 

virginity to Christ. 

As a teen, 

she joined the 

Dominican Tertiary 

order and began 

to live a solitary, 

consecrated life in 

her father’s home. 

In 1370, she 

experienced a 

series of visions 

of heaven, 

purgatory and hell 

– and heard God 

telling her to leave 

her cloistered 

life and enter the 

world of diplomacy 

and politics. She 

did so, beginning 

correspondence 

with king and pope. 

In fact, her urgings 

prompted Pope 

Gregory XI to return 

to Rome in defiance 

of France’s king. 

Catherine was 

responsible for a 

spiritual renewal 

and had a number 

of followers. 

Catherine was 

deeply devoted 

to the Eucharist, 

existing on 

nothing more than 

Communion wafers 

and water for long 

periods of time.

Heresy! 

Jesus as God, but not as man 

the heresy of monophysitism 

To Monophysitists, Jesus had only one nature, and it was divine. It 

resembles Apollinarianism, in which Christ’s divine nature overcame his human one. But 

in monophysitism, Jesus was solely and always divine. This heresy mostly affected the 

Eastern church, which excommunicated the monophysitists in the sixth century. 

Like many of the other heresies, this one is problematic because, without 

incarnation, there can be no true atonement for our sins on the cross. 

It was condemned by the Sixth Ecumenical Council in 680-681; the doctrine of 

hypostatic union was reaffirmed – Jesus is one person with two natures inextricably 

intertwined. He is fully human and fully divine. 

Otherwise, you could take 

this body of knowledge away 

and think you’ve “got it.” For 

It’s like the famous quote 

attributed to St. Francis: 

“Preach always 

– use words when 

necessary.” Jesus’ 

whole ministry is like this. 

example, the beatitudes – living 

them is a mystery; it’s not just 

about knowing them. 

We have teaching in the 

Scriptures and in other church 

teaching, like the catechism. 

But to live through the 

questions is where you really 

learn to know something. The 

Apostles fumbled and ran 

away, and learned through 

that. Ultimately, we slip and 

fall and miss the point, 

and that is where the 

opportunity for real 

learning occurs. 

For us to really know 

Jesus, all of his sayings 

have to become living 

for us. That happens 

through faith. And we 

have to recognize that 

everything Jesus taught was 

accompanied by things he did. 

Father Muller: Jesus’ 

teaching is connected with the 

Word – Jesus is the revelation 

of God. Revelation must touch 

on the human heart and the 

human intellect. When you talk 

Bible Quiz 

I heard the voice of God 

Who am I? 

My mother, Hannah, asked 

God to send her a son – and 

in exchange, she promised to 

raise him as a Nazirite, totally 

dedicated to the Lord. I am 

that son – and as soon as I was 

weaned, Mother brought me to 

Eli at Shiloh and that’s where 

I lived. When I was about 

12 or so, I began hearing 

a voice in the night, while 

I tried to sleep. I kept 

what does that 

symbol mean? 

Pelican 

The pelican 

was believed 

to pierce its 

own flesh with 

its bill, in order 

to feed its young 

with its own 

blood. As such, it 

became a symbol 

of Jesus and the 

atonement. The 

pelican is seen in 

paintings, stained 

glass and murals. 

getting up and asking Eli what he 

wanted. Eli kept telling me to go 

back to sleep, but the voice didn’t 

stop. Finally, Eli told me that it was 

God calling – and my response, 

“Here I am Lord,” has become 

the title of a song that is sung in 

churches regularly. I served the 

Lord the rest of my days, and was 

honored to select the first two 

kings of Israel, Saul and David. 

Who am I? 

about the communication of God to our 

intellect, you’re talking about a studentteacher 

relationship between us and 

God. So Christ, as a revelation of the 

Father, comes as one who enlightens our 

intellect. That is the root of what is meant 

by teacher. 

There were also cultural issues in the 

Scriptures that led to the use of that 

title – in the first-century Jewish culture, 

those who gathered disciples and trained 

them were called “teacher” or “rabbi.” 

Since Jesus did those things, he was 

often called by those titles. 

Father Stevens: Everything Jesus 

does is a teaching moment. When does 

he teach the most? It is when he says 

nothing – it is in his passion. In that 

moment, we have the sublime teaching of 

what it means to be human 

and God. So, how do we 

propagate this – how 

do we teach? We use 

a combination of words, 

actions and silence. If 

Jesus teaches by 

silence, we should 

too. For example, 

don’t judge. 

Don’t cast a 

stone. Ultimate 

teaching is 

through silence. 

And teaching 

is always more 

than a matter of 

utterances. Look 

at Matthew, chapter 

25 – we teach by 

visiting someone, 

by giving them 

water and clothing. 

This teaching is 

the way in which 

the truth of God 

reaches another 

human being. 

Elizabeth Solsburg 

esolsburg@faithpublishingservice.com 

Answer: Samuel 

St. Augustine Catholic December 2007 11

your marriage matters 

romance 

Romance 

Try going 

on a date in the 

“next town over.” 

Go to dinner, or 

see an attraction 

somewhere that 

requires some 

extra drive time. 

Make a little 

adventure out of 

it and go just far 

enough to feel 

free from the daily 

stressors. Have a 

collection of some 

of your favorite 

romantic music 

on hand. Use the 

extra travel time 

to talk and just 

enjoy each other’s 

company. 

money 

That’s 

entertainment! 

Eating 

out is fun and 

has become 

increasingly 

popular. But a 

candlelit dinner for 

two at your own 

table can be very 

romantic and save 

you money. To 

save a little money, 

eliminate one 

dinner out a week 

and eat in instead. 

Katherine and David have been 

married for eight years. Katherine 

just discovered that David has a 

bank account in his own 

name that she had not known about. 

It’s my money 

Katherine says: I have been 

bothered by David’s secretiveness 

throughout our marriage; for 

example, he will never tell me who was on the 

phone when he finishes a conversation. 

But I was devastated when I found a bank 

book in his desk while I was cleaning 

the office. It’s in David’s name only and 

there’s a substantial sum of money in it. 

I thought marriage was supposed to be a 

partnership. But I feel marginalized and 

betrayed. What else is he keeping secret? 

I thought 

we shared 

everything 

David says: I don’t understand 

why Katherine is so upset – it’s not 

like the phone calls I get are any 

big deal, but they are mine and not hers. We aren’t 

joined at the hip – I’m allowed to have some privacy, 

aren’t I? As it happens, the bank account Katherine 

found was money I’ve been setting aside to surprise 

her with a cruise for our anniversary. But frankly, 

given the big scenes she’s made about this, I’m not 

sure I even want to go on a trip with her! 

When ideas are not 

communicated and then 

discovered inadvertently by your 

spouse, there is a whole lot of explaining to do! Is it 

just poor judgment or is it “busted!?” 

The first comment made by Katherine was a red 

flag to Tom. Was David’s secretiveness a continuation 

of an existing pattern while dating and during the 

engagement period, or is this a new behavior? Most 

often, habits and behaviors are a continuation of 

existing patterns set long before a marriage. Sometimes, 

our strongest and most endearing qualities and 

attributes prior to marriage becomes our major 


He said 

She said 

what do they do? 

by Tom and Jo Anne Fogle 

weaknesses after marriage. 

The one question 

most couples don’t ask 

themselves prior to 

marriage is, “What if the 

current behaviors and 

patterns continue for 

the rest of our married life 

– can I live with it exactly 

as I know it today?” 

In marriage, spouses get 

to experience the other’s 

most intimate details – that 

means it is critical to really 

understand the person you 

are marrying prior to the 

wedding day. What you see is 

really what you get! 

Secrecy is the cornerstone 

of mistrust – especially within 

the context of marriage. When 

the wall begins to form between 

spouses you can rest assured 

Tom and Jo Anne Fogle

the cornerstone will be mistrust. 

That cornerstone has a way of 

attracting other building material 

that would normally be given little 

consideration. But attached to the 

mistrust cornerstone, they become 

bonded and meaningful to building 

the wall. For example, David’s 

phone conversations by themselves 

would not be significant except 

for the cornerstone of mistrust. 

The secretiveness of the phone 

calls bond with the cornerstone 

of mistrust to create a formidable 

barrier to communication and 

couple growth. Once the wall 

begins to be built, people would 

be surprised at what is put into 

the mix to make it even more 

formidable; items such as a letter 

addressed only to David and 

not to Katherine, David working 

unusually late at his job, David 

wanting to spend a weekend away 

fishing with his buddies, or a bank 

book that Katherine didn’t know 

about. Regardless how innocent 

these extra events/items are on the 

surface once they are placed next to 

the cornerstone of mistrust, there 

is serious work needed by both 

parties, David and Katherine, to 

chip away and remove the wall. 

In reviewing both David and 

Katherine’s comments, it struck 

us that communication is not one 

of their strengths. It appears there 

is a lot of “assuming” between 

them and very little “fact finding”. 

It might have helped if Katherine 

would first ask David about the 

bank account and let him explain 

the situation. Maybe indeed it was 

for a surprise anniversary cruise, 

in which case Katherine would 

be delighted and pleased, yet a 

little embarrassed at discovering 

his special surprise. Given his 

reactions at her being upset (now 

not wanting to take her on the 

cruise) our belief is that his story 

was a not quite accurate and that 

Katherine’s thoughts might have 

some validity. If it were truly going 

to be a surprise and a special event, 

discovery may be disappointing, 

but it shouldn’t be viewed as a deal 

breaker. 

communication 

Good 

marriage 

You want 

to celebrate 

Christmas in your 

own home this 

year. He wants to 

go to his mother’s 

for the Christmas 

he’s always 

known. Holidays 

can be highstress 

when your 

expectations are 

different. Set aside 

time to discuss 

your “perfect” 

Christmas, and 

make sure both 

of you get a little 

of what’s most 

important. Maybe 

this year at home 

and next year at 

your mother-inlaw’s! 

time 

Shop and 

spend 

together. 

Develop 

an ability to shop 

with your spouse; 

be it in a clothing 

store or hardware 

store. Shopping 

doesn’t need to 

be expensive 

(window shopping 

is free) and 

spending doesn’t 

need to break the 

bank. Walking 

together and 

exchanging ideas 

and thoughts tend 

to build strong 

relationships and 

lasting bonds. 

parenting journey 

Is Christmas making you crazy? 

How to be a more peaceful parent 

by Dr. Cathleen McGreal 

As we pray for international peace during the 

Advent season, parents often have immediate 

concerns for preparing a tranquil family Christmas. 

I’ve found Advent challenging because it coincides with 

deadlines for exams and grades. When my four children were young, 

I began spreading Christmas shopping over months, searching for 

bargains. Now that they make purchases on their own as Christmas 

nears I wonder if I’ve done a “good job.” I start balancing amounts in 

Following my head. Is this fair? Should I make one more purchase? Even things 

God’s will out? I have to rein myself in, reminding myself that when the voice 

might not feel 

cries, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him” (Mt 

“peaceful” at 

first because it 3:3) that our preparation is not about giving the right gifts to one another 

runs contrary in honor of Jesus’ birth! The straight path is an interior preparation and 

to our habits peace that comes from our relationship with God. 

Allow time as parents to experience the gentle 

guidance of the Shepherd. 

“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his 

arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that 

have young.” ( Isaiah 40:11) Many a stained glass window shows 

the comforting sight of Jesus carrying a lamb. But it is reassuring 

to know that he is guiding parents as well. How is God relating to 

you as a parent this Advent? Are there discoveries that will lead 

to stronger relationships or healing in the family? The parenting 

journey is one that lasts a lifetime. Has a younger generation 

expressed interest in hosting the Christmas dinner? Has there 

been a spiraling trend toward more expensive gifts? It may 

be that, despite the gentleness of the dialogue, there are 

prospects of change that seem disconcerting. Following 

God’s will might not feel “peaceful” at first because it runs 

contrary to our habits. 

“A heart at peace gives life 

to the body ... ” (Proverbs 14:30) 

There are many physical demands to parenthood, as 

Mary and Joseph knew well with their journey to Bethlehem, 

Jesus’ birth in the stable and the flight to Egypt. Parents struggle 

to get up night after night with newborns, wondering when the 

baby is going to sleep through the night. Preschoolers have bad 

dreams and there are long nights tending to feverish children. 

Parents of adolescents catch catnaps waiting for teens to come 

home from dates. Sometimes, “empty” nests are re-feathered 

and grandparents help out young families. Being a parent can 

be exhausting! This Christmas season, try to find one personal 

activity that brings your own heart peace. Make time for prayer 

and connect with your church community – it may help bring life 

to your body! 

Email questions and comments to: mcgreal@msu.edu 

Dr. Cathleen McGreal 


spiritual fitness 

by Father Bill Ashbaugh 

Feeling down? 

how to find joy when you feel joyless – 

beating depression during the holidays 

This has been difficult for me to write, 

because, just before I was asked to write 

it, I was going through a dark time myself! 

God’s timing, though. I’ll reveal some of the 

fruit of my own struggle. How can we work 

through our dark times – and even find joy – when 

we feel joyless? 

We all go through times when we are down or low. Some people 

suffer from this more than others, especially during the holidays. 

Why is this? Holidays are supposed to be fun and joyful! Many 

times they are, but they also can open up painful memories and 

instill extra anxieties. Sometimes depression is related to a chemical 

imbalance caused by a lack of light. The winter blues are real; 

doctors have studied the condition, and appropriately named it 

Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. During the winter months, 

daylight wanes and darkness grows, triggering chemical changes in 

our bodies that can lead to sadness or anxiety. 


Of course, the holidays bring other factors that can trigger “the 

blues.” They add stress to people who are already stressed, work 

for people who are already overworked and expectations on those 

already pushed to the limit. There are increased financial and social 

demands. People may feel overwhelmed because they have to 

shop, go to parties, host parties themselves, decorate, send cards 

– and do it all in a couple weeks. Somewhere in all this, we can 

lose Jesus. Now that is depressing! 

Also, because holidays are often very special family times, those 

who have lost loved ones may feel their absence more acutely. 

Holidays become a painful reminder of loss. And then, of course, 

we all are faced with the emptiness of over-commercialization 

which blurs the true meaning of the season and real source of our 

joy – Jesus Christ. 

How can a person deal with the blues that can come in this 

season? We cannot be little Grinches who try to steal Christmas, 

nor Scrooges who “bah! humbug!” it away. Feelings of gloom do 

not go away by turning off the season. 

One thing I have found helpful is to understand that dejection 

is not an enemy, but a sign. It is emotional darkness that points us 

to “move on, change your attitude and thinking.” My little nephew 

was reaching for a hot plate and someone yelled, “NO! HOT!” 

He stopped immediately. The words “No! Hot!” were a sign he 

understood. When people suffer 

feelings of melancholy, they may 

become frozen in a place of pain 

or anxiety. The dark feelings 

produce more sad thoughts 

that, in turn, produce more bad 

feelings. “O what a wretch I am,” 

says St Paul. “Who will save me 

from this? Thanks be to God 

for Jesus Christ our Lord.” (cf. 

Romans 7:13-25) 

Yes, Jesus saves us from all 

things! He saves us from this. To 

draw out of our distress we make 

a choice to draw close to Jesus. We stand in his light. When we do, 

the darkness shrinks. How interesting to know that to treat SAD, 

the sufferer is treated by being exposed to more light! He or she 

feels better by being in the light! 

The good news of this season is this, “Today in David’s city a 

Savior has been born to you, the Messiah and Lord .” (Lk 2:11) 

Today! Just hearing that proclamation can bring us out of a dark 

place. The present, the here and now, is the moment at which 

eternity touches us. God is eternally now. Now is the acceptable 

time. Now is the day of salvation. God makes every day and every 

moment new. 

If we start to think of sadness as a sign that says, “No! Hot!,” 

we can begin to break the pattern of dark thoughts and feelings. 

We can turn our thoughts to Jesus, our light. His light shines in 

the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it. (John 1:2) 

So when we focus on dark feelings, we must hear our minds say, 

“No! Hot! Do not go there.” Instead, seek Jesus. Say his name. 

Think about him as a baby in the manger. How poor. How little.

He wants you to be there with him. He is 

happy you are there with him. 

When the shepherds were in the fields, 

it was night. But in the darkness, God 

was there! Angels exploded the darkness 

and the message given to the shepherds 

was believed! The shepherds did not just 

sit around after the angels told them that 

a Messiah had been born. They were not 

frozen in the darkness. The light of God was 

breaking through and moving them to act. 

They chose to act in faith and considered 

the possibility that the Messiah had come 

to them. When they acted in faith at that 

moment, they found Jesus! 

The same will be true for us this holiday 

season. Jesus said, “Your father in heaven 

knows all that you need. Seek first his 

kingship over you, his way of holiness, and 

all these things will be given you besides.” 

(Matt 6:33) In our holiday madness, we 

must not miss the moment! Jesus is there. 

For our Spiritual Fitness this Christmas 

season, we practice being present to the 

“present” of Jesus Christ. 

Make a list of all the activities you think 

you must do. Cut out what is unnecessary; 

prioritize. Include time for quiet and rest, time 

for immediate family and especially, time for 

Jesus. Remember that “Jesus is the reason 

for the season.” 

1 

Focus on the present. Do not compare 

today with the “days of the past.” 

When you notice yourself feeling sad, say 

to yourself, “No! Hot!” Consider the gift of 

the moment and express your faith that 

God is with you. A simple sign of the cross 

or praying the Our Father may be helpful. 

Repetition is the mother of learning, so keep 

working on this new mental habit. Good 

feelings will eventually follow. 

2 

Sadness is often associated with 

loneliness. When we are down, we do 

not want to be with others. Resist this. Be 

like the shepherds who went to Bethlehem 

– volunteer some time by visiting hospitals 

or nursing homes. Jesus is there. Go 

Christmas caroling. Jesus is there. Say “yes” 

to party invitations. Do not be a Scrooge. 

Jesus is there. 

3 

Take some time to enjoy the beauty of 

the season. Turn on some Christmas 

music. Take a walk or drive to enjoy the 

lights and decorations. Live in the moment. 

Some people hate snow – but really look 

at a snowflake sometime and appreciate its 

intricate and delicate beauty. God created 

it for us. Think about the wondrous gift of 

Jesus. God made everything through him 

and for him. Jesus is the central point of the 

whole universe. He is not only the reason for 

the season. He is the reason for everything. 

Can we really ever make a big enough deal 

out of His birth? “God so loved the world 

that He gave us his only Son, that whoever 

believes in him may not die, but might have 

eternal life .” (Jn 3:16) 

God bless you and have a merry Christmas! 

Email your questions and comments to: 

frbillashbaugh@mac.com 

What does 

depression sound 

like? Here is a first 

person account 

It takes the greatest effort to get 

out of bed in the morning. I am 

tired all day, yet when night 

comes, sleep evades me. I stare 

at the ceiling, wondering what 

has happened to my life, and 

what will become of me. 

Nothing is getting done at 

work. 

I have projects to complete, but 

I can’t think. I try to focus on 

my work and I get lost. 

I keep wondering when the 

boss will discover how little I 

have accomplished. 

My wife does not understand. 

She keeps telling me to “snap 

out of it.” I’m irritable all the 

time, and yell at the kids, then I 

feel terrible later. 

Nothing is fun any more. 

I can’t read, and the music 

I used to enjoy so much does 

nothing for me. I am bored, but 

I feel like doing nothing. 

There are times, when I’m 

alone, that I think that life 

is hopeless and meaningless 

and I can’t go on much longer. 

– Anonymous 

How do you know if 

you’re depressed? 

What if you’re not 

just feeling “down in the 

dumps,” or if you’ve been 

“blue” for a long time? 

The following are some signs 

of clinical depression. If you 

have experienced several 

of these symptoms for 

more than two weeks, you 

should call a mental health 

professional: 

• Concentration is often 

impaired. 

• Inability to experience 

pleasure. 

• Increase in self-critical 

thoughts with a voice in the 

back of one’s mind providing 

a constant barrage of harsh, 

negative statements. 

• Sleep disturbance or 

inability to fall back to sleep 

• Feeling fatigued after 12 

hours of sleep. 

• Decrease in appetite or 

food loses its taste. 

• Feelings of guilt, 

helplessness and/or 

hopelessness. 

• Thoughts of suicide. 

• Increased isolation. 

• Missing deadlines or a 

drop in standards. 

• Change in personality. 

• Increased alcohol/drug 

use. 

Clinical depression 

is treatable, usually with 

a combination of cognitive 

therapy and medication. 

(Dartmouth College, Dept of Counseling and 

Human Development) 


Creating a 

St. Augustine takes great pride 

in its Spanish heritage, visible in 

so many ways – the architecture 

of its buildings, the names of 

its streets, and in particular the 

Cathedral-Basilica located across 

from the Plaza de la Constitucion. 

As Christmas approaches, there 

is another tradition that should 

be added to the many Spanish 

customs already alive here – the 

family custom of building a 

Nativity Belén. 

For more than five centuries, 

Spanish children and adults 

alike have greeted the Christmas 

season with the building of 

a Belén, a word that means 

Bethlehem in Spanish. It’s a 

Nativity scene that depicts life as 

it was in Bethlehem at the time of 

our Lord’s birth. 

Nativity Belén 

B y E l i z a b e t h G e s s n e r 


Camels cross a bridge in a large Belén on display in 

Madrid, Spain last year. 

The Nativity scene tradition originated in 

Italy with St. Francis in the 13th century and 

soon spread to Spain and could be seen in 

many Spanish monasteries or religious houses. 

Over the years, the Belén became an art form, 

prized by nobility and royalty, who spent great 

sums of money on building elaborate scenes 

with hundreds of figures. But it also became a 

humble family custom that continues today. 

We have no historical records of Nativity 

scenes in early St. Augustine, but it’s hard to 

imagine that they didn’t exist – at least in the 

parish churches. 

16 St. Augustine Catholic December 2007

scott smith 

In Spain, the Belén generally goes up 

shortly after the Feast of the Immaculate 

Conception (Dec. 8) although some families 

wait until the Christmas Novena (Dec. 16) 

while others wait until Christmas Eve. 

Building the Belén is an exciting project 

for the entire family. Nativity figures are 

passed down from generation to generation 

in Spanish families, so most families already 

have a collection of figures. But many people 

enjoy shopping for new figures at specialized 

stores or the Feria de Navidad, the outdoor 

Christmas markets that appear all over Spain 

in December. 

Adapting this custom to life in the United 

States is not difficult. While the beautiful, 

artisan-produced Spanish Nativity figures 

are hard to come by in this country, many 

American families have at least the basic 

figures for the Nativity scene, called the 

Misterio in Spanish – the Virgin Mary, Joseph 

and the baby Jesus. In Spain, the ox and the 

donkey and an angel are usually included 

in this basic scene. Then you can add 

shepherds, villagers and animals to create 

your little town of Bethlehem, Spanish-style. 

A good way to start is by reading the 

Gospel accounts of Matthew and Luke 

(chapters 1-2). Discuss them with your 

kids, showing them on a map where the 

events occurred. Do a little research on 

the Internet. Then have your children 

From her home in St. Augustine, Elizabeth Gessner builds 

a Nativity Belén that will be displayed this month at the 

Cathedral-Basilica. 

Nativity scenes in Spain can be quite elaborate. This large Belén in Madrid 

depicts daily life in Bethlehem. 

draw what they think the first Christmas 

looked like. Use their drawings to decide 

what kind of scene you are going to build. 

A small one in a box? Or a bigger one on 

a flat surface? Do you want to put your 

manger in a cave or in a stable? 

If you don’t have enough figures for the 

scene you have in mind, check out the 

local craft and toy stores. The figures don’t 

have to be expensive Nativity figures and in 

fact, they don’t have to be Nativity figures 

at all. You can adapt any small plastic figure 

for use in your Belén by 

some careful snipping and 

reshaping. Dress them 

up with new paint and 

bits of cloth, and your 

transformed figures are 

now ready for your Belén. 

You don’t have to go 

out and buy them all 

at once either. Part of 

the fun is adding new 

figures each year. And 

don’t forget to get lots 

of animals, because kids 

love to play with the little 

sheep, rabbits, chickens 

and other barnyard 

critters. You’ll probably 

also want to add tiny 

furnishings, utensils and 

things like food or tools. 

These can be bought, but 

they’re also fun to make. 

Creativity and ingenuity 

are the secret ingredients! 

Paint your backdrop, 

if making a box diorama, and assemble 

the larger parts of your scene, such as 

the buildings or the cave. Then add your 

figures and a few more finishing touches 

– perhaps sticking in some twigs or bits of 

moss or vegetation. But don’t put the baby 

Jesus in until Christmas Eve! 

In the days before Christmas, some 

people read a little prayer, prayed a decade 

of the rosary, or sang Advent hymns at 

their Nativity scene in the evening. You can 

also personalize it by doing things such as 

giving each child a sheep of their very own 

to move a tiny bit closer to the manger 

every day during Advent. 

In Spain, the Belén is generally left in 

place through Epiphany (Jan. 6), which is 

also known as the Día de Los Reyes and is 

the day Spanish children get their presents. 

You can also follow the Spanish custom of 

visiting other families to see their scenes 

and opening your home to your friends 

and neighbors to show off your Belén. 

But whatever you decide to do, you will 

find that reviving this historic tradition in 

your family will not only connect you with 

our Spanish past but will help your family 

build a rich and wonderful tradition that 

will make Christmas even more special 

every year. 

Elizabeth Gessner is a parishioner of the 

Cathedral-Basilica in St. Augustine and 

a Spanish translator. It was through her 

educational travels to Spain that she learned of 

the long-established custom of building a Belén. 

You can read more about the custom on her 

website at www.SpanishNativity.com. 

St. Augustine Catholic December 2007 17 

Elizabeth Gessner

Home 

from 

War 

Christmas has 

special meaning 

for one military 

family 

By Amelia Eudy 

Photography by Scott Smith 


c o v e r s t o r y 

f there’s no place like home 

for the holidays, no one 

would know that better than 

our U.S. troops who have 

been forward deployed or 

have served overseas. This 

Christmas, another year 

when service members 

will spend the holiday 

in harms way, one local family is 

preparing to celebrate a Christmas 

that was almost spent apart. 

Standing out front of Naval 

Hospital Jacksonville, Capt. 

Kathleen Michel holds a 

picture taken during her 

Individual Augmentee (IA) 

deployment to Camp Arifjan 

in Kuwait where she spent 

six months as head nurse. 

Nurse and Navy Capt. Kathleen Michel, 44, the 

mother of four children: Parker, 10, Griffin, 8, and 

6-year-old twins, Ethan and Seth, found her own ways 

to cope with the uncertainty of a six-month military 

deployment. 

“[The military] initially told me it would be for six 

months, then it was one year, then eight months, then 

back to six,” Kathleen remembers back home at Naval 

Hospital Jacksonville. Having missed Easter, her 16th 

wedding anniversary, and her twins’ sixth birthday, she 

can’t imagine what it would have been like to be gone 

for Christmas as well. “I think that would be really 

hard,” she says. 

Originally from Ohio, Kathleen completed her 

college undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees 

at Ohio State University. She joined the Navy for 

the choice of duty stations near the water and the 

opportunity for adventure. Earlier this year, she 

received an assignment of “adventure” as she was 

called for Individual Augmentee (IA) duty to serve at 

the Expeditionary Medical Facility Kuwait, the only 

coalition forces military hospital in the small country, 

located just south of Iraq. 

Camp Arifjan was Kathleen’s first tour in the Middle 

East and the new assignment took some adjustment. 

“When we first got there it was cold – in the 50s and 

60s. It quickly got hot and was 120 to 130 degrees 

when we left,” Kathleen explains. “It was windy and 

sandy – like walking into a hairdryer with sand blowing 

out of it.” 


As the head nurse for the tent-hospital facility, which included an 

emergency room, medical/surgical unit, a mental health ward and 

operating rooms, she also provided career support and guidance to 40 

military nurses in Kuwait. Because her specialty is in neonatal intensive 

care unit (NICU) nursing, Kathleen’s first exposure to a combat support 

hospital tested her wits and strengthened her faith. 

“I have never seen trauma before and we saw a lot in the first month,” 

she recalls. “We had a week of three mass casualty days in a row. I saw a 

bunch of stuff I had never seen before, like amputations, burns . . .” 

One difficult day, while looking for identification in an individual’s 

body armor belonging to a soldier who had died, she came across 

photographs and sticks of gum. “I started crying,” Kathleen says, “then 

thought, ‘I can’t do this as head nurse …I have to pull myself together. 

You can’t think of your emotions until it’s all over.’” 

During the long days, Kathleen found time to attend Mass as much 

as possible, daily if she could get away from her work schedule of six 

12-hour days. During Holy Week, she was able to attend Mass everyday, 

something she had never been able to do before. 

The chapel experience was different from her chapel back home, St. 

Edward at NAS Jacksonville, where she is an extraordinary minister of 

holy Communion. While she was accustomed to saying the “Soldier’s 

Prayer” at Mass at the Florida chapel, in Kuwait it meant so much more 

after actually caring for people who had been in combat. 

“We were immersed in it everyday. It was not just an idea – we got 

to see the effects [of combat] on a person’s mind, body and soul,” 

Kathleen says. 

Sunday Mass at the Army base was full, she recalls. Being in a forward 

deployed environment “definitely strengthened” her faith life and she 

remembers, “I was praying a lot more than I normally do. You really 

realize that life is short and you have to make the most out of it.” Being 

away, she learned to appreciate her children and husband more and 

missed being there for them. 

Military Chaplains: Supporting our Troops and their Families 

Catholic military chaplains wear many 

“uniforms.” They are spiritual leaders, 

counselors, companions, commanding 

officers and confidants. 

“It’s service to God, our church and 

our nation,” Navy Cmdr. Michael Mikstay, 

chaplain of 15 years, says. 

When St. Edward Chapel at Naval Air 

Station Jacksonville loses Father Mikstay, 

the current Command Chaplain, early 

next year, the base will lose its last active 

duty priest assigned to the 65-year-old air 

base. This is due to a shortage of military 

chaplains who are answering the call 

to serve the troops at home and those 

forward deployed. 

Father Mikstay, who spent the first 

five-and-a-half years serving in various 

“hot-spots” around the world, such as 

Somalia and Liberia with the United 

States Marine Corps, is preparing to 

leave his administrative position on the 

home front to rejoin the Marines as a 

Catholic chaplain serving in Iraq. 

“I am there to be their priest,” says 

Father Mikstay, who was ordained for 

the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio in 

1981. “To travel around to places where 

…anybody has a need for a chaplain is 

what I look forward to. The real calling 

for me is to be operational and be with 

the Marine Corps.” Serving overseas, for 

him, is “another opportunity to provide the 

power of the priesthood in an operational 

setting.” 

Overseas and during wartime, military 

chaplains help the men and women of 

the armed forces through many trying 

situations. “The type of ministry is much 

different,” Father Mikstay explains. “Our 

travel, supplies and services [are] done so 

we can take care of those people spread 

across the theater in which we operate.” 

But chaplains are also a valuable 

informational tool for the active duty and 

families at home. 

Father Michael Mikstay 

“We are faced with all sorts of issues 

when someone walks in our door,” Father 

Mikstay says. Financial difficulty is one 

of those issues. “Loan sharks charging 

astronomical [interest] percentages are 

commonplace outside many military 

bases. The military are going there 

because they are in financial need,” he 

says. But the Navy Marine Corps Relief 

Society (NMCRS) is an organization that 

provides interest free loans to military 

personnel. They work closely with the 

service member or the family to create a 

budget and a plan to repay the loan. 

The Fleet and Family Support Center, 

a government-funded organization 

found on almost all Navy installations, 

provides counselors who give advice 

about a number of topics such as finance, 

marriage, abuse, grief and others. 

“Especially beneficial for those who 

have a loved one deployed for the global 

war on terrorism are the family support 

groups which the center organizes and 

coordinates,” advises Father Mikstay. 

“Very high on the list of priorities for the 

Navy and Marine Corps is to take care 

of the military families,” Father Mikstay 

claims. “In my experience, when I am in 

an operational area, say a foxhole or the 

desert, and I ask [a service member] his 

three biggest concerns, [he] will say ‘Take 

care of my family.’ As chaplains assigned 

to shore installations, we are called to 

support the fleet or the war-fighter, but 

we can do that best by taking care of their 

families.” 

-Amelia Eudy 

For information about the Navy Marine 

Corps Relief Society call (904) 542- 

3515 and for the Fleet and Family 

Support Center call (904) 542-2766. 


One of her biggest concerns was knowing if 

her young family would be okay without her. 

“I wouldn’t want them to spend a lot of time 

being sad. I didn’t want them to cry or become 

dysfunctional,” she admits. Luckily, Kathleen was 

able to communicate regularly with her children 

and husband, John, 41, who works for the 

State of Florida Veteran’s Affairs Department. A 

webcam, set up in her room, enabled her to see 

her family as she talked to them every day. They 

also mailed packages to each other. 

John, who Kathleen calls ‘a saint’, was able to 

take time off during the summer months to care 

for and travel with the children. She could tell, 

however, that it was difficult for her husband to 

deal with things like the homework and dinner 

schedules alone. Although he is not Catholic, 

At a Time When 

Being Together 

is Most Important. 

Our beautiful cemetery and funeral home are in one 

location, giving you more time to be with your family. 

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Cemetery and Funeral Home 

Owned since 1958 by local Catholic family • 111 Blanding Blvd. • Orange Park, FL 

www.JacksonvilleMemoryGardens.com (904) 272-2435 

See Christmas 

through a child’s eyes… 

Capt. Kathleen Michel and her husband, 

John, savor reading time with their four 

children: Parker, 10, Griffin, 8, Ethan 

and Seth, both 6. When she deployed to 

Kuwait in the spring, Michel wasn’t sure 

if she would be home for Christmas. 

he took the children to religious education 

classes regularly and helped them with their 

nightly prayers, which still include a line to, 

“Please keep mommy safe.” 

Kathleen returned home in August to resume 

her job as associate director for medical services 

at the Naval Hospital. She doesn’t anticipate 

being called back to the Middle East any time 

soon but is watching as others get ready to take 

their turn overseas, many of whom will be away 

for Christmas. 

“We send nurses and other staff on 

deployment all the time from here,” Kathleen 

admits. “All you can do is stay in contact and 

celebrate when you get home.” 

This year, after Christmas Mass, the Michel 

family will spend the day at their own home, 

an important tradition they have established for 

their mobile military family. 

“I’m sure I’ll go overboard again this year 

with the decorations and presents …to 

celebrate that I am home and not deployed as 

was the initial plan,” she reflects. 

This Christmas, send greeting cards that feature 

the artwork of elementary school age children in the 

United States — young missionaries sharing their 

faith through art. 

This box of 24 cards showcases the winning 

color drawings from the Holy Childhood 

Association’s annual Christmas artwork contest. 

To view all winning art, visit the HCA 

children’s web site: www.hcakids.org. 

To purchase HCA Christmas cards for $10 a box, 

call your diocesan mission director, or 

1-(800) 431-2222. You may also buy these 

cards online at: www.givetothemissions.org. 

Holy Childhood Association …a Pontifical Mission Society 

national office - 366 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001 


parish 

parish profile 

San José Parish in Jacksonville 

A Vision for the Future 

by Shannon Scruby-Henderson 

Father James Moss, pastor of San José 

Parish since 1999. 

When San José Parish reaches its golden anniversary milestone in 

2009, the community plans to celebrate in style. A new parish 

center is at the heart of an ambitious $2.5 million capital campaign, Building 

Together to Serve Christ, that will also fund improvements to almost every 

building in the complex. In addition, money is earmarked for a parking lot 

expansion and debt reduction. 

“This is a very exciting time,” says parishioner Cheryl Roth. “The capital 

campaign is an opportunity for us to make an imprint that will impact the 

future. I like to think that decades from now, people will still be talking about 

what we accomplished.” 

Pastor Jim Moss concurs. “With the new campaign, we are building upon our 

past and remembering our ‘foundation’ in faith by a dedicated group of selfless 

parishioners,” he says. San José pioneer Ozzie Bonner, 91, is a bridge from that 

generation to the present, and he sees parallels in the new initiative. “Msgr. 

(Mortimer) Danaher had people skills,” he notes. “He knew how to bring people 

together, and so does Father Moss. He’s doing a good job of making sure the 

church stays up with the times.” 

Tony Watson 

The Spanish-style San José Catholic Church 

was designed by Junck and Walker Architects and 

dedicated by Bishop John J. Snyder on Nov. 4, 1990. 

Tony Watson 


At San José, a lot has changed in five decades – most noticeably, 

its multicultural population. “This parish is a microcosm of our 

nation,” says Cheryl Roth. “For example, we have a strong Albanian 

presence and Hispanic people from Mexico and nearly every 

country you can name in South and Central America.” 

Ministering to diverse groups is a joint effort. Deacon Gjet 

Bajraktari coordinates outreach to Albanian Catholics. Father Al 

Esposito’s Spanish Mass each Sunday is attended by as many as 

600. He has recently organized a Portuguese ministry for Brazilians. 

With a Hispanic population that now stands at 25 percent, San José 

has Hispanic Advisory Council that parallels and complements the 

English-speaking parish council. 

The community has become a mecca for immigrants seeking 

instruction in English. Sister Maria Maxwell directs an all-volunteer 

program that runs three evenings a week, 11 months a year. Last 

year, it served 400 adults. The program is open to everyone, 

Catholic or not. To ensure that language training is free, Sister Maria 

writes grants for funding. “We’re Sisters of Mercy and our mission is 

to people who are poor, so this was a natural fit,” she says. “I began 

S a n J o s é P a r i s h a t a G l a n c e 

San José Parish, est. 1959 

3619 Toledo Road 


sjcatholic@catholicweb.com 

Pastor: 

Father James Moss 

Parochial Vicar: Father Alberto Esposito 

Parishioners: 2150 registered families 

School: 500 students, Pre-K through 8 

Principal: 

Jan Magiera 

Diocesan visionary Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley 

purchased the parcel on Toledo and St. Augustine Roads 

that would become San José Parish back in 1954. In 

1959, he appointed Msgr. Mortimer Danaher to establish 

the parish. 

Msgr. John J. Lenihan succeeded as pastor in 1977, 

leading the parish until his retirement in 1999. During his 

tenure, San José dedicated a splendid new Spanish-style 

church. Father James Moss has been pastor since 1999. 

Under his leadership, the parish has embarked on a capital 

campaign that will modernize the faith community for a new 

generation of Catholics. 

A glimpse back to the beginning 

Local history buffs may be interested to learn that when 

South Jacksonville’s San José Parish was founded by 

Msgr. Mortimer Danaher in 1959, his younger brother Leo 

(now deceased) was also going door to door to canvas 

parishioners for a new parish – in his case, Sacred Heart on 

Blanding Blvd. Both Danaher’s built churches in 1960; each 

opened a school right away – and persuaded the Sisters of 

Mercy from two different convents in Ireland to help. 

Tony Watson 

The sanctuary area is dominated by a window wall of glass 

depicting the Trinity. The three large windows are fabricated 

in a combination of colored, painted and faceted glass. 

helping migrant workers in the Crescent Beach area, but then I 

realized that the need was right here in my own parish.” 

Father Moss credits “seven years of reflection and focus 

on stewardship of time, talent and treasure” as the force that 

encourages parishioners to engage in ministries that enhance parish 

life and to help others. “We continue to preach and teach about 

calling people to be faithful disciples and good stewards, as they 

recognize all as a gift from God,” he says. 

Sister Ambrose Cruise, director of religious education, sees 

generosity as a hallmark of the parish. “It’s a very alive place, and 

people are so enthusiastic,” she says. “In my own program, every 

year I’m looking for more teachers. I pray and end up getting 

more than I need. Lay people work together for our parish and the 

community.” 

There is also an emphasis on enjoying each other’s company. The 

parish has organized a FUNN (Fellowship Under a New Name) 

Committee, to sponsor social events. Recently, more than 60 

women met to reestablish an old parish tradition of ladies’ circles. 

These and other social ministries are part of Father Moss’ longrange 

plan. “When I arrived, I invited the people to consider a 

vision of parish as people who ‘pray together and play together,’” 

he says. “In doing that we build community, so that when we 

gather around the Lord’s table we know each other better as we 

pray together. Our prayer with and for one another leads us to get 

involved with others.” 

Email questions and comments to: sac@dosafl.com 


Part Two of a Two-Part Series on Immigration and Migrant Farm Workers 

From the 

Fields to 

Marketplace 

B y T o m T r a c y 

A Call for Solidarity 

Tom Tracy 

Migrant workers in the fern farms near Crescent City, Fla. perform 

back-breaking labor that pays just 25 to 28 cents a bunch. 


aAt a fern farm in Crescent City, Fla., under 

the hot sun and a mesh net cover, which traps 

the humidity, Aldegunda Albarran wades 

through rows of foliage exposing herself to 

snakes, insects, pesticides and the elements. 

She and the other mostly Mexican workers 

here only pick the ferns that are ready for 

harvest that will soon be shipped around 

the country and to markets as far away as 

Japan. They stoop over deeply in order to cut 

the ferns near the roots, starting early in the 

morning to avoid stifling late-afternoon heat. 

Albarran and the workers tell jokes, laugh 

and talk about things going on in their lives, 

their sore backs and the recent cost of living 

increases effecting things like milk, gas and 

housing. 

Weather permitting; with a good rate of 

picking, they may earn $40 to $50 a day. 

Some of these farm workers live up the road in 

mobile homes and apartments north of Seville, 

Fla. Some of them, like Albarran, are legal and 

have led stable lives in the community for a 

long time, while others are undocumented and 

worry about new measures being enforced by 

the Department of Homeland Security to target 

employers hiring non-resident workers. The 

situation has been a serious worry to not only 

workers but Florida’s agricultural industry. 

“Immigration will come into a town and 

take everyone they find, going into homes, so 

the people run,” said Albarran’s daughter Myra, 

a teenager who said her mother has been 

doing this work since 1989 when the pay was 

just 18 cents per bunch. Now, the rate is 25 

to 28 cents. Maira said she hopes to become a 

nurse one day. 

Albarran, who is a resident, is clearly 

respected by the workers here, and is a 

volunteer and point person for the Farm 

Worker Ministry of the Diocese of Saint 

Augustine. From two satellite offices, 

Crescent City and in Green Cove Springs, 

staff of the Farm Workers Ministry minister 

to local farm workers. 

Worried about loss of employment in 

agricultural jobs and a reduced demand for the 

ferns – a luxury item in a nervous American 

economy – more families are coming to 

the ministry to make ends meet this year, 

according to Olga Lara-Moser, who, with her 

husband Al, coordinates the Farm Worker 

Ministry for the diocese. “We are getting more 

requests for food and for help with utility, rent, 

and medical bills,” she said. 

Recently a farm worker’s mobile home 

burned to the ground. Olga arranged for the 

woman and her daughter to pick up some 

Tom Tracy 

furniture and clothing. Fortunately, no one was 

injured in the fire but the home was destroyed. 

The adult farm workers here are so busy 

in the fields and raising their children that 

realistically they don’t have time to learn 

English, but their children, mostly American 

born and attending public school, do, often 

becoming good students and citizens. A 

typical scenario is for the wife to work in the 

fields while the husband may take a job in 

construction. 

Aldegunda Albarran with her daughter 

Maira. Aldegunda has worked at the 

fernery for 18 years earning between 

$40 and $50 a day. 

Pedro, a legal resident, who has been 

working in the fernery for 18 years and 

supports a wife and four children, said he 

doubts many other people will ever want to do 

this kind of work. The Mexicans here work in 

tremendous heat, cold winter mornings and 

suffer from insecticide induced itchy skin. They 

encounter snakes and rats. “Nobody else will 

do this work if they deport us to Mexico; and 

everybody here is Mexican,” he said. 

The U.S. Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants 

Campaign, created to educate Catholics and 

the general community about undocumented 

persons in this country, breaks down some 

of the myths that may be driving the antiimmigrant 

sentiment in the United States: 

• Immigrants do pay taxes – federal, state 

and local. 

• Immigrants come here to work, not for 

welfare. 

• Immigrants may send some money back 

to Mexico, but most of it stays in the 

community. 

• Immigrants contribute in a positive way 

to the economy. 

“The people here now are contributing to 

the community and they do pay taxes but 

often don’t get anything back for that,” said Al, 

who points out that the Farm Worker Ministry 

assists workers with annual tax preparation 

during tax season and connects adults with 

English-speaking classes and tutoring programs 

run by the ministry. “I would like to improve 

communications with the growers so we can 

help each other deal with the problems that 

come through our doors,” he said. 

Father James May, pastor of St. John the 

Baptist Parish in Crescent City, said he views 

the farm worker and immigrant population 

in his midst as good people trying to do 

the best they can under the circumstances, 

and that he is impressed with how the 

community unites to help one another. He 

organized a special collection for the family 

displaced by the mobile home fire and was 

touched by the mother’s reticence to even 

mention her tragedy to him. 

“We need to open our hearts more and 

be bothered by the situation of these people 

and about their well-being,” Father May said, 

adding that new immigration measures taken 

in Florida and around the country are not 

helping the situation. “We allow the Mexican 

people to come here to work but conditions 

are poor and it is difficult for them to carve 

out a decent living. We act as if the ‘American 

Dream’ is not really for them.” 

“But the greatest happiness you can have is 

to make other people happy and my job as a 

priest is to show how the Gospel is speaking to 

us now. If you are going to be a Christian then 

let your light shine. When you respond to the 

Gospels your own faith is increased,” Father 

May reflects. 

Dignifying Human Work 

• Do our attitudes show respect 

for the dignity of work and the 

human person? Or do we see 

not human persons, but “labor 

costs” or “illegals”? 

• Do our laws and institutions 

protect workers? Or do we see 

human persons as a “workforce,” 

which exists to produce 

economic goods? 

• Do we honor the “work of 

human hands”? Or do we accept 

as normal that many of Florida’s 

working poor can only afford to 

live in dilapidated rental trailers. 

-Florida Catholic Conference 


culture 

culture 

Bake these 

cathedral cookies 

for Christmas 

Windows 

of Peace 

By Michelle Sessions DiFranco 

Philip Shippert 

I’ll never forget that first day of being 

away from home when I went to college. 

I remember fighting back tears when 

my folks drove off after a day of helping 

me move into my campus apartment. 

I tried to shake it off and get excited about the 

semesters that were ahead at the fine art school 

I had worked so hard to get into, but my heart 

sank even more when I caught a glimpse of 

the Detroit “neighborhood” surrounding the 

campus. I cringed at all the vacant homes with 

broken windows and trash littering the yards. 

My parents weren’t even gone five minutes, and 

I was already homesick. 

In the coming days, I started to acclimate 

to my new surroundings. I met a few fellow 

classmates and found contentment with 

class projects and decorating my new studio 

apartment. But what truly brought me a pure 

and complete sense of peace was something far 

beyond the distractions of interior decorating, 

homework and socializing. It was the peace I 

felt when I went to Mass just a few blocks from 

campus. There, in the darkest corridors of the 

inner city, stood a very large, old cathedral that 

wasn’t in the best shape on the outside. But 

inside, people who knew, believed, and prayed 

the same parts of the Mass exactly as I knew 

them, surrounded me. And I was listening 

to the same Gospel and receiving the same 

Eucharist as my family back home. I truly felt 

in communion with them. 

I once heard the Catholic apologist, Pat 

Madrid, say that the way people see the church 

can be likened to the stained glass windows 

that adorn the church buildings. From the 

outside, they appear dark, mysterious and nonvibrant. 

But inside the church, the windows 

glow, illuminating everything and depicting 

messages of hope, love, and – for me, peace. 

On that day, I was so glad to be inside that 

church. My homesickness was gone. 

Do you know of someone who is away at 

college or even serving our country overseas? 

Give them a message of hope, love and peace, 

Cathedral Window Cookies 

More Ideas 

1 cup sugar 

1/4 cup shortening 

1/2 cup softened butter 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

2 eggs 

2 ½ cups flour, sifted 

1 teaspoon salt 

1 teaspoon baking powder 


1 package of hard candy, finely 

crushed. 

Church cookie cutter 

(can be purchased online) 

• Design your own church or cathedral! Easy 

instructions for making your own cookie 

cutters can be found online. Using a search 

engine, type in “making your own cookie 

cutters.” 

• Make them in just minutes using store-bought 

sugar cookie dough (don’t forget to roll out 

dough 1/8”). 


and something to remind them of home. 

Send them a dozen or more of these 

cathedral window cookies. While they are 

perfect for Christmas, they are also a great 

reminder that wherever you are in the 

world, you will always feel at home in the 

Catholic Church. 

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Directions: 

Cream the sugar, 

shortening, vanilla, and eggs 

in a large bowl for one minute. 

Gradually stir in the flour, 

baking powder, and salt. 

Cover and refrigerate dough 

for an hour. 

Preheat oven to 375 

degrees. Cover cookie 

sheets with aluminum foil 

or parchment and set aside. 

Roll dough to 1/8” (thinner 

than a typical recipe) on 

a lightly floured and cool 

surface. Working quickly, so 

dough doesn’t reach room 

temperature, cut out as 

many cookies as possible. 

With cookie shapes still 

in position, cut out small 

circles or rectangles for the 

“stained glass” in the center 

of each cookie. Carefully 

place cookies on aluminum 

foil-covered (or parchment) 

cookie sheet. Fill the small 

circles and/or rectangles with 

crushed candy until it touches 

the edges. 

Bake for 7-9 minutes, 

or until edges of cookies are 

slightly brown and candy 

is melted. If candy has not 

spread within the cutout 

design, immediately spread 

with a metal knife or spatula. 

Cool completely on cookie 

sheet and gently remove with 

a spatula. 


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around 

around the diocese 

Mary T. Deering courtesy of CNS 

Bishop Baker Installed Fourth Bishop of Birmingham 

Bishop Robert J. Baker was installed as the fourth bishop of Birmingham at the 

Cathedral of St. Paul Oct. 2, a beautiful fall day that was the feast of the Guardian 

Angels. The three-hour ceremony began with Bishop Baker knocking at the 

Birmingham cathedral door, signaling his willingness to enter and become head of 

the diocese. Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, read the 

mandate from Pope Benedict XVI appointing Bishop Baker. Archbishop Sambi and 

Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb of Mobile escorted Bishop Baker to the cathedra, the 

chair that symbolizes a bishop’s teaching office and his pastoral authority in the local 

church. Archbishop Lipscomb then presented him with the crosier, the pastoral staff 

that is the symbol of his office. 

“I am happy to be the new bishop of Birmingham,” Bishop Baker told the 

congregation. He also thanked his predecessor, retired Bishop David E. Foley, for 

his “devoted leadership.” Bishop Foley retired in May 2005, but was diocesan 

administrator until Bishop Baker’s installation. 

Bishop Baker was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Saint Augustine in 1970 and 

has served as bishop of Charleston since 1999. 

Sisters of St. Joseph 

Celebrating 50 Years in God’s Service 

Four Sisters of St. Joseph celebrated their golden jubilees on 

Saturday, Oct. 13 at the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine. 

Bishop John J. Snyder was the celebrant of Mass and Father 

Tim Lindenfelser gave the homily in which he gave thanks 

to the sisters for sharing their many gifts and talents with the people of 

Florida. The congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph was founded in Le 

Puy, France on Oct. 15, 1650. Eight sisters came to the Diocese of Saint 

Augustine in Sept. 1866 at the invitation of Bishop Augustin Verot. 

“We are most grateful to our Jubilarians. We thank them for their 

faithfulness and their commitment in following the chaste, poor and 

obedient Jesus,” said Sister Ann Kuhn, general superior of the Sisters of 

St. Joseph. 

Susie Nguyen 

Law and Spirituality Award 

Bishop Victor Galeone celebrates the annual Red Mass on Oct. 

18 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Jacksonville. 

He is assisted by Deacon Paul Consbruck. 


Following the Jubilee Mass at the Cathedral-Basilica in St. Augustine, 

the honorees posed for a picture with Bishop John J. Snyder. From left: 

Sisters Mary Loyce Newton, Florence Bryan, Bishop Snyder, Joyce 

Marie Newton and Elizabeth Ann McCormick. 

Bishop Victor Galeone celebrated a Red Mass for 

members of the judicial, legal and law enforcement communities 

on Thursday, Oct. 18 at Immaculate Conception Catholic 

Church in Jacksonville. The special Mass is an adaptation of 

the church’s age-old expression of dependence on God to the 

peculiar needs and institutions of the courts and the law. 

Each year at the Red Mass the Catholic Lawyers Guild 

honors a member of the community who, through their actions, 

exemplify the best in the areas of law and spirituality. This year 

that honor went to Msgr. Daniel Logan, pastor of Our Lady Star 

of the Sea Parish in Ponte Vedra Beach and a Tribunal Judge 

where he adjudicates matters such as annulments and issues 

governed by cannon law. Unfortunately Msgr. Logan was ill and 

unable to accept his award in person. 


action alert Let Your Voice Be Heard 

The Florida bishops have launched a campaign to get Catholics to join the Florida 

Catholic Conference (FCC) Advocacy Network. “As Catholics we have a profound 

responsibility to pursue justice for our neighbors and protect the sacredness of the 

life of every man, woman and child – born or unborn,” said the nine bishops of 

Florida in a statement released last month. 

Collaborate with Catholics 

throughout Florida to help 

encourage lawmakers to defend 

all human life and promote the 

dignity of the most vulnerable 

in our society. Speak out 

on behalf of the poor, the 

disabled, the sick or dying, the 

unborn, the elderly, families 

and children, farm workers, 

immigrants, the imprisoned, 

and others in need. 

The FCC Advocacy Network informs you of current legislative issues that relate to areas of 

church teaching and provides an easily accessible channel of communication to assist you in 

sharing your concerns with elected officials. Sign-up by visiting www.flacathconf.org and click 

on Join FCC Advocacy. There is no cost to participate. For questions call (850) 205-6817. 

Knights of Columbus help Unwed Mothers 

The Knights of Columbus Palatka Council #5758 applied for and received 

a $2,200 grant from the Knights of Columbus Charities of Florida. The funds 

were given to the Alpha Women’s Center in Ocala, an organization that assists 

unwed mothers. In addition to the grant, the council gave the center in August eight 

handmade wooden cradles complete with bedding for mothers and their newborns. 

To date, the council has provided 95 cradles. On another note – Council #5758 

was recognized and awarded the status of Double Star Council for 2006-2007, one 

of 480 councils to achieve the recognition for their growth. 

The Knights of Columbus Council #5758 and Eulalia and Paul Wilcox contributed funds to the 

Alpha Women’s Center in Ocala. From left are Eulalia Wilcox, Lori Chamblin, director of Alpha of 

Ocala, and Knights W.L. Jones and Paul Vincent. 

around the diocese 

Special 

Upcoming Events… 

The Cathedral-Basilica of St. 

Augustine is hosting the 2008 

National Cathedral Ministry 

Conference, Jan. 14-17. An 

estimated 300 people from around 

the United States are expected to 

attend the four-day event. 

The public is invited to celebrate 

Mass with the conference 

attendees at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, 

Jan. 15. Bishop Victor Galeone will 

be the main celebrant. For more 

information on the event, and 

possible volunteer opportunities, 

call Christine McMillan at 

(904) 824-2806 or email: 

cathedralministries@gmail.com or 

visit www.cathedralministries.org. 

The annual Mass for Solidarity 

and Unity is Sunday, Jan. 20, at the 

Cathedral-Basilica of St. Augustine. 

Guest homilist is Benedictine 

Father Cyprian Davis, a professor 

of Church History at the St. 

Meinrad School of Theology and 

the Institute for 

Black Catholic 

Studies 

at Xavier 

University 

of Louisiana. 

Father Davis 

lectures widely 

on the topic of 

Black Catholic 

history and was a contributor to 

the U.S. Bishops’ 1979 pastoral 

letter Brothers and Sisters to Us 

and to the Black U.S. Bishops’ 

pastoral letter What We Have Seen 

and Heard in 1984. The Mass 

begins at 3 p.m. 


Special 


A Refreshing Stop 

books, gifts, religious items, more! 

Bell Tower 

Gift Shop 

(Inside the Cathedral Basilica) 

35 Treasury Street 

Downtown St. Augustine 

Open Daily 

Weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Saturday Noon-4:30 p.m. 

Sunday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 

Phone for mail orders 

(904) 829-0620 

Back thrown out 

with the trash? 

www.jaxhealth.com 

Only God 

reaches more 

Catholics 

The St. Augustine Catholic 

magazine reaches more than 

54,000 Catholic households in 

17 counties of North Florida. 

To advertise, call Susie Nguyen at (904) 262-3200, 

ext. 108 or email: kbaggmorgan@dosafl.com. 

calendar 

December 2007 

Dec. 2 

A Celebration of Christmas Customs 

– Sunday, 3-5 p.m., Marywood Retreat Center, 

Jacksonville. Cost: Free. 

Call (904) 287-2525 or visit www. 

marywoodcenter.org. 

Dec. 7-9 

Weekend Advent Retreat: Recovering 

Bethlehem’s Peace Leader: Jesuit Father 

Matthew Linn. Friday-Sunday, Marywood 

Retreat Center, Jacksonville. Cost: $140- 

$230. Call (904) 287-2525 or visit www. 

marywoodcenter.org. 

Dec. 8 

Feast of the Immaculate Conception 

Dec. 10 

27th Annual St. Joseph Academy 

Golf Classic – Monday, 10 a.m., The 

Slammer & Squire at World Golf Village. 

Various levels of sponsorships available. Call 

Jerry Grause at (904) 477-0399. 

Dec. 14 

20th Annual L’Arche Harbor House 

Living Nativity – Presented by the 

residents of L’Arche. Friday, 7 p.m., 

Christ the King Parish, Jacksonville. Call 

(904) 721-5992 or email: development@ 

bellsouth.net. 

Dec. 19 

Carols of the Faithful – A concert of 

sing-a-long Christmas carols and inspirational 

music. Wednesday, 7 p.m., Holy Family 

Parish, Jacksonville. Admission: Free. Call Joe 

Colsant, (904) 641-5838 or 

email: holyfamilychoir@hotmail.com. 

Dec. 25 

Christmas 

Dec. 31-Jan. 1 

Overnight Silent Retreat: Christian 

Meditation, Journey of Faith 

Leaders: Cenacle Sister Elizabeth Hillman 

and Linda Kay. Monday-Tuesday, Marywood 

Retreat Center, Jacksonville. Cost: $65-$115. 

Call (904) 287-2525 or visit 

www.marywoodcenter.org. 

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 

Spanish Mass Schedule 

Saturday, December 8 

Epiphany Parish 

Lake City 7 p.m. 

Sunday, December 10 

St. John the Baptist 

Crescent City Noon 

St. Catherine Parish 

Orange Park 6:30 p.m. 

San José Parish 

Jacksonville 12:30 p.m. 

Tuesday, December 11 

San Juan Mission 

Branford 7 p.m. 

Wednesday, December 12 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission 

Mayo 6 p.m. 

December 15 

Sacred Heart Parish 

Fleming Island 5:30 p.m. 

January Date Savers 

Jan. 19 & 20 

“Proud 2B Catholic” – Diocesan 

Youth Rallies for middle and high school 

teens with guest speaker Cooper Ray at 

Bishop Snyder High School, Jacksonville. 

Jan. 20 

Mass for Solidarity and Unity 

Sunday, 3 p.m. at the Cathedral-Basilica 

of St. Augustine. Guest homilist: Father 

Cyprian Davis. Call Gwen Robinson at 

(904) 854-0661 

Jan. 20 

March for Life 

Sunday, 1:30 p.m. 

Mission Nombre de Dios, St. Augustine 


A Gift 

That Never 

Stops Giving 

With a charitable gift annuity you can 

give and receive... make a perpetual gift 

to a diocesan parish, Catholic school or 

ministry that never stops giving... and 

receive fixed payments for life! 

• The transaction is iseasy to execute. 

• It Itprovides immediate tax benefits. 

• A portion of your payment is istax free. 

• You receive guaranteed payments for 

life. 

• Most importantly, you are supporting 

Christ’s work in the diocese. 

Gift Annuity One-Life RAtes 

* Rates effective October 1, 2007 2006 

Age Rate Age Rate Age Rate 

65 

 

74 

 

83 

 

66 

 

75 

 

84 

 

67 

 

76 

 

85 

 

68 

 

77 

 

86 

 

69 

 

78 

 

87 

 

70 

 

79 

 

88 

 

71 

 

80 

 

89 

 

72 

 

81 

 

90 

 

73 

 

82 

 

Opportunities Small 

for Sacrifices, Giving 

Great 

This is the story of a 

parishioner who recently 

made a charitable donation 

from her Dreams 

traditional IRA, 

and will be able to exclude 

Parishes can increase 

the amount of the gift 

their own Catholic 

from gross income for tax 

Foundation accounts. 

purposes. 

Every year since 1996, 

After learning about this 

the 3,000 parishioners of 

limited opportunity from 

St. Catherine Parish in 

a recent estate planning 

Orange Park take up a 

seminar held at her parish, 

special offertory to benefit 

and determining she met 

their parish on the feast 

the age requirements, 

of St. Catherine of Siena. 

this 75 year-old parishioner 

qualified by making 

Parishioners know that 

their donations will keep 

arrangements to transfer 

on giving and will never 

her cash gift directly from 

be used up. That’s because 

her IRA to the Catholic 

these offertories, which 

Foundation, to benefit 

total about $2,000 annually, 

her parish. She will not 

go into an endowment fund 

be required to include the 

for St. Catherine’s. 

amount of her gift from 

The earnings on these 

the IRA in her income for 

special annual gifts are 

tax purposes and, through 

available each year to 

her thoughtful generosity, 

benefit the parish. The 

she has, once again, helped 

original contributions stay 

her parish continue the 

invested and grow to help 

Lord’s work. 

St. Catherine’s continue 

Thoughtful and 

Christ’s work forever. 

generous planning can 

Today’s small sacrifices 

create new opportunities 

can fulfill great future 

for giving. 

dreams. 

■ 

Please send a Charitable Gift Annuity illustration. 

■ A one-life agreement: beneficiary birthdate: / / 

■ 

A two-life agreement: beneficiaries’ birthdates: 

/ / and / / 

Please return to: 

Name _________________________ Phone ___________ 

Deacon Ms. Nancy Jim Geary Fugit 

Address _________________________________________ 

Catholic Foundation 

11625 Old St. St. Augustine Road Road 

City ____________________________________________ 


State ___________________ Zip_____________________ 

904-262-3200, ext. 114 166 or 

1-800-775-4659, ext. 114. 166. 

Amount Considered ___________ ($10,000 initial minimum) 

Email: jfugit@dosafl.com 

ngeary@dosafl.com

catholic 


The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Saint Augustine 

11625 Old St. Augustine Road 

Jacksonville, FL 32258-2060 

NON PROFIT 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

PERMIT NO. 135 

MIDLAND, MI 48640 

Online: www.dosafl.com 

www.staugcatholic.org

December - St. Augustine Catholic

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