Jacksonville's Carla Harris - St. Augustine Catholic

catholic 

February 2006 • www.staugcatholic.org 

St. Augustine 

Theology 101 p.10 

what is the Liturgy? 

Marriage Matters p.12 

how to resolve 

money issues 

Work Life p.9 

how to shift to 

being the boss 

Franciscan Spirituality 

how to become 

the good news of 

Jesus Christ p.14 

Alternative Spring Breaks 

trading surf boards 

for power tools p.16 

Treasures of the Church 

did Jesus own the 

coat he wore? p.8 

Jacksonville’s Carla Harris 

Wall Street Banker, Recording Artist, Benefactor

The 

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catholic 


February 2006 Volume XV Issue 4 

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 about 164,000 registered Catholics. 

features 

16 

College Students Seek 

Alternative to Spring Break 

Spring Break for college students 

means trading surfboards for power 

tools as they lend a helping hand to the 

poor of Appalachia. – Mark Udry 

contents 

what you’ll get 

out of this issue 

5 saint of the month 

St. Jerome Emiliani – Elizabeth Johnson 

6 bishop’s message 

Homosexuality and the Ordination 

of Priests – Bishop Victor Galeone 

8 in the know with Fr. Joe 

Did Jesus own the coat he wore? 

– Father Joseph Krupp 

9 work life How to shift to being 

the boss – Tim Ryan 

10 theology 101 A step-by-step 

guide through the church’s liturgies 

– Elizabeth Solsburg 

12 your marriage matters He’s 

frugal, she’s a spender. What should 

they do? – Cheval Breggins 

14 

■ Please send a Charitable Gift Annuity illustration. 

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

■ A two-life agreement: beneficiaries’ birthdates: 

/ / and / / 

Name________________________ Phone___________ 

Address_ _____________________________________ 

City ________________________________________ 

State__________________Zip_ __________________ 

Amount Considered_ __________ ($5,000 minimum) 

Please return to: 

Ms. Nancy Geary 

Catholic Foundation 

11625 St. Augustine Road 

Jacksonville, FL 32258 

904-262-3200, ext. 166 or 

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

Email: ngeary@dosafl.com 

18 

Cover Story: Carla Harris – Standing on Holy Ground A 1980 

graduate of Bishop Kenny High School, Carla Harris is considered one 

of the most powerful black women on Wall Street. She is also a gifted singer 

and benefactor of Catholic schools. – Kay Johnson 

24 

Palmer Academy Recognized 

Nationally The Our Lady Star of 

the Sea Parish School has been honored 

with the “No Child Left Behind-Blue 

Ribbon School Award.” They are the first 

school in the diocese to be recognized 

nationally. – Mark Udry 

special 

richard termine 

13 the parenting journey How can 

I make my children care? Teaching 

sensitivity to others. – Dr. Cathleen McGreal 

14 spiritual fitness Franciscan 

Spirituality: How to become the Good 

News of Jesus Christ – Father Bill Ashbaugh 

22 parish profile St. Pius V Parish, 

Jacksonville – Shannon Scruby-Henderson 

25 around the diocese 

28 catholic news from around 

the world – Catholic News Service 

30 calendar of events 

St. Augustine Catholic February 2006

catholic 


editor’s notes 

a new look for a new year 

saint 

saint of the month 

The Magazine of the Diocese of Saint Augustine 

Most Rev. Victor Galeone 

Publisher 

Kathleen Bagg-Morgan 

Editor 

Mark Udry 

Associate Editor 

Susie Nguyen 

Editorial Assistant/Subscriptions 

Patrick McKinney 

Art Director/Graphic Designer 

Father Bill Ashbaugh 

Cheval Breggins 

Elizabeth Johnson 

Kay Johnson 

Father Joseph Krupp 

Dr. Cathleen McGreal 

Tim Ryan 

Shannon Scruby Henderson 

Elizabeth Solsburg 

Contributing Writers 

Tom Gennara 

Richard Termine 

Contributing Photographers 

J. Michael Lenninger 

Advertising Sales Manager 

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

Jacksonville, FL 32258-2060. Published monthly except January and 

August. Subscription rates are $20 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. Periodicals Postage Paid at Jacksonville, FL or 

additional offices. ©FAITH Publishing Service. St. Augustine Catholic is 

a trademark of FAITH Publishing Service. No portion of the St. Augustine 

Catholic maybe published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise reproduced 

or distributed in whole or in part, without prior written authority of FAITH 

Publishing Service TM and/or Diocese of Saint Augustine. For reprint 

information or other questions regarding use of copyright material, contact 

the St. Augustine Catholic editorial offices at the Diocese of Saint Augustine. 

Give the gift of the 

St. Augustine Catholic Magazine 

Order a subscription today 

1-800-775-4659, ext. 108 

It gives me great pleasure to unveil our 

new look for the St. Augustine Catholic 

magazine. In our last issue, Bishop 

Victor Galeone shared with readers the 

transition the magazine will take beginning 

with the February edition. The transition 

includes increasing our frequency from six 

issues a year to 10; and mailing the magazine 

to the homes of all registered Catholics in the 

Diocese of Saint Augustine. 

Our editorial staff is excited about the 

changes, most especially our new partnership 

with Faith Publishing, Inc. of the Diocese 

of Lansing in Michigan. The partnership 

will mean a cost savings to the diocese in 

terms of printing and production, but more 

importantly, it will provide a broader variety 

of inspirational and educational features 

that will enrich the faith lives of Catholics in 

North Florida. 

The St. Augustine Catholic remains a locally 

produced magazine. We will continue to 

highlight the stories of local Catholics 

as well as provide news of the 

diocese, including upcoming events, 

programs and services. 

In 2006, the magazine will 

reflect a theme that focuses on 

the Corporal Works of Mercy. 

Traditionally, the works of 

mercy are defined as: 

feeding the hungry, 

giving drink to the 

thirsty, clothing the 

naked, sheltering the 

homeless, visiting the sick, 

visiting the imprisoned 

and burying the dead. The 

Catechism of the Catholic Church 

(#2447) refers to the works of 

mercy as “charitable actions by 

which we come to the aid of our 

neighbor in his spiritual and bodily 

necessities. Instructing, advising, 

consoling, comforting are spiritual 

works of mercy, as are forgiving and 

bearing wrongs patiently.” 

This issue addresses feeding the hungry 

and giving drink to the thirsty. Our cover 

story is an inspiring story about a young 

woman, Carla Harris, who has taken all 

that she has learned and knows about 

her faith and gives back generously to her 

community. Not only is she considered one 

of the most powerful women on Wall Street, 

Carla is a gifted vocalist that has recorded 

two albums. The proceeds of her albums help 

fund a scholarship program for students at 

Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville 

and educational programs for students at 

St. Charles Borromeo, a Catholic school in 

Harlem of New York City. 

Also inside, University of Florida students 

have found an alternative to the typical 

spring break. The students traveled to 

eastern Kentucky as part of the Christian 

Appalachian Project. There they rebuilt and 

renovated homes for families living in one of 

the poorest areas of the country. 

Our mailing list is a work in progress! All 

registered Catholic households in the diocese 

will receive one copy of the magazine. If 

you are not registered in a parish and want 

to receive this magazine, call your parish 

office or Susie Nguyen in the Office of 

Communications. Gift subscriptions are 

also available for $20 per year. 

I hope you enjoy the new and 

improved St. Augustine Catholic. Let us 

hear from you on your likes, dislikes 

and suggestions for content. 

– Kathleen Bagg-Morgan, editor 

In The Next Issue: 

• The Aftermath of Abortion 

– How three women have 

found hope and healing. 

• The Long Goodbye – 

The devastation of 

Alzheimer’s and the 

mercy of God. 

• Parenting Journey – 

How to build a parenting 

consensus when you 

disagree. 

• Work Life – How do I 

do the right thing and 

still make money? 

Establishing a purpose 

for your work. 

• Parish Priests – 

Missionaries in Florida 

St. Jerome 

a former soldier 

turned priest 

St. Jerome Emiliani 

born: 1481 in Venice 

died: Feb. 8, 1537 at 

Somascha, Italy 

Feast Day: Feb. 8 

Claim to fame: 

St. Jerome Emiliani is best 

known for his work caring 

for orphaned and abandoned 

children. A former soldier turned 

priest, St. Jerome ministered 

in 16th-century Venice during 

a time when war, famine and plague 

had left hundreds of children with no 

one to take care of them. Jerome had 

run away from home when he was a 

teenager, so he knew what it was like to 

be alone. 

Little-known fact: 

As part of his work teaching orphans 

about the faith, St. Jerome Emiliani 

developed the first catechism that used 

a question-and-answer technique to 

teach religious doctrine (a technique 

familiar to many Catholics who grew up 

with the Baltimore Catechism). 

What made him a saint: 

St. Jerome gave his whole life, including 

his own material resources, to help 

others. At first, he housed orphans in 

his own home, then went on to build 

six orphanages, a hospital and even a 

home for former prostitutes. During the 

plague, he went through the streets at 

night, finding and burying those who had 

died unattended. He founded a religious 

order to continue his work — the Clerks 

Regular of Somascha, also known as 

the Company of Servants of the Poor. 

Like their founder, their main ministry 

has always been caring for orphans and 

teaching young people. 

Scariest Moment: 

While serving as a soldier and military 

commander, Jerome was captured and 

chained in a dungeon. There, he had 

plenty of time to think — and to pray. He 

turned his life over to God and to Mary. 

After he was freed, he hung his chains 

on a church wall as a reminder of how 

God had freed him from the physical 

and spiritual chains that had bound him. 

Best quote: 

“If you remain constant in faith in the 

face of trial, the Lord will give you 

peace and rest for a time in this world, 

and forever in the next.” 

How Did He Die: 

St. Jerome Emiliani died at age 56 

of a disease he caught while tending 

to the sick. 

Prayer: 

St. Jerome Emiliani, watch over 

all children who are abandoned or 

unloved. Help us to show them God’s 

love through our care. Help us to loose 

the chains that keep us from living the 

life God intended for us. Amen. 

– Elizabeth Johnson 

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St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 

St. Augustine Catholic February 2006

from the bishop 

With the publication of the Vatican document last December on the 

issue of homosexuality and the ordination of priests, I received 

a number of inquiries and comments. Some comments were 

quite harsh; for instance, “A gross injustice!” Others felt that the 

document was a bigoted step backward. Convinced that a clarification was needed, 

I began to prepare this message. 

In the process, I came across an article in the National Catholic Register, where 

Scott McDermott addresses most of the significant points of this issue from the 

perspective of an insider. So in place of my usual message this month, I present 

Scott McDermott’s analysis of this important question. – Bishop Victor Galeone 

why I thank God I couldn’t be a priest 

the issue of homosexuality and the ordination of priests 

sight of blood should not become surgeons. 

Narcoleptics should not be night watchmen. 

And so forth. 

This is not discrimination. It is simple 

realism. It is God’s deep knowledge of 

us, calling us to true self-knowledge, the 

prerequisite of wisdom. 

The hue and cry over the instruction 

on vocations is part and parcel of the 

“clericalization of the laity” since the Second 

Vatican Council. Vatican II sought to 

recognize the proper, transcendent value of 

the role of lay people. But instead of honoring 

the irreplaceable call of the laity to sanctify 

the world, some Catholics have distorted the 

council’s teaching, in order to justify giving 

lay people more and more clerical functions. 

This process has now advanced to the point 

that some people think the lay vocation is 

meaningless, that lay people are somehow 

worthless unless they can be called to the 

priesthood. 

This is not the way of God’s Kingdom, 

where the last shall be first, and each calling 

has the proper dignity assigned to it by God. 

For myself, painful as my disappointment 

was, I soon realized that priesthood was not 

the only way I could strive to do “something 

beautiful for God.” I should have known that 

my real calling was to be a writer, and shortly 

after I accepted my lay vocation, God gave me 

the opportunity to publish a book. He rescued 

me from a vocation to which I was ill-suited, 

and led me to a fulfilling apostolate in keeping 

with my natural aptitudes. 

Since my collapse, which was really a 

conversion experience, I have often reflected 

on one of the lesser-known sayings of Jesus. 

“For which of you, desiring to build a tower, 

does not first sit down and count the cost, 

whether he has enough to complete it? 

Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation, 

and is not able to finish, all who see it begin 

to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to 

build, and was not able to finish’ (Luke 

14:28-30).” 

I wish I had pondered those words before I 

began my misguided request for priesthood. 

And I wish that the instruction on vocations 

with respect to homosexuality had come 

out sooner. Thank God we have it now. 

It will be remembered as one of the most 

compassionate acts of a merciful pontificate. 

quiz 

history quiz 

In February 

of what year was the 

College of William and 

Mary established? 

poll 

parish poll 

Saint Augustine 

Catholic asks: 

how do you plan to 

observe Lent in 2006? 

St. Augustine Catholic 

asked parishioners at Most Holy 

Redeemer Parish in Jacksonville 

about their plans for Lent in 2006. 

Here’s a sampling of what they said – 

The Vatican’s new document on the instruction on homosexual candidates for Trollope’s novels. 

ordination of homosexuals brings it all back. priesthood, many writers have already Priests tend to see people at moments 

I sat in the mental hospital for five days, discussed the need for priests to have a of crisis: not only death, but also in their 

reading Trollope, watching the Nagano healthy masculinity, so that they can act struggles with their own personal demons 

Olympics, and giving God an earful. as fathers to their flocks and as husbands of addiction, crime, mental illness and, 

Marie Barton: By going to 

Why me, Lord? Why, when all I wanted to the bride of Christ, the church. Others yes, sexual brokenness (not to mention 

daily Mass, serving at Mass 

was to serve God as his priest? 

have discussed the temptations to which actual demons). The priest must be strong 

and trying to bring my Catholic 

My desire for priesthood was born out homosexually inclined men may be exposed and healthy or he will be drawn into this 

King William III and Queen Mary II 

neighbors back to church. 

of gratitude for my deliverance from the in the seminary. But the issue is broader than maelstrom himself. 

granted a charter to establish The College 

homosexual lifestyle and from my history sexual identity. 

This is not to say that people, like me, who 

of William and Mary in Virginia on Feb. 8. 

of depression. Since my conversion to the Many scientific studies have shown that struggle with emotional difficulties and samesex 

attractions, cannot be great, committed 

for the college from taxes on tobacco. 

WHAT YEAR? The King provided funding 

Catholic faith in 1992, I had functioned homosexuals have a much higher incidence 

for five years without anti-depressants, of clinical depression, suicidal tendencies Christians. 

and I thought I had mastered my same-sex and drug and alcohol addiction than the Indeed, the Catechism of the Catholic Church 

John Henry Newman, noted religious 

attractions sufficiently to manage as a priest. general public. Scholarly articles proving this (No. 2358) teaches that Catholics who 

thinker and English clergyman who converted 

to Catholicism and was eventually 

My therapist knew I wasn’t ready. 

point are simply too numerous to list here. experience unwanted same-sex attraction, 

I didn’t listen, and unfortunately, the In fact, the scientific literature is completely like those afflicted with any other cross 

named a cardinal, was born on Feb. 21, 

religious community that had accepted unequivocal on this point. 

whatsoever, can offer up their sufferings for 

WHAT YEAR? Newman created a greater 

me to its novitiate didn’t ask for extensive In my own case, I had experienced the good of the church and the salvation of 

understanding of the Catholic Church and 

psychological documentation. Nor did the significant healing in terms of my gender others. But this does not mean, as the recent 

its teachings through his writings. Newman 

Karl Kayser: Quietly, by 

vocation director probe my struggles with identity, but my other psychological 

Vatican document makes clear, that people 

Centers, Catholic communities at colleges 

observing the fasts and reflecting 

homosexuality and depression in any detail. symptoms were sufficient to disqualify with “deep-seated” homosexual attractions 

and universities, are named for him. 

on the gift of Salvation. 

There was one obstacle, however. I was me from priesthood. After my collapse, a are capable of exercising the ministerial 

expected at the novitiate in January 1998, but vocation director from another religious priesthood. 

It’s not just polite, it’s the law. Pope 

first I had to pay off all my debts, as this was order put it to me kindly but firmly. “The In our culture, we have developed the 

Gregory the Great decreed that saying 

an austere community and I would be leaving priesthood is a stressful job,” he said. absurd habit of seeing vocation in terms of 

“God Bless You” is the correct response to 

the world behind. My plan was to write my To hammer this point home, he told me rights. But “equality before the law” does 

a sneeze, on Feb. 16, WHAT YEAR? 

way out of debt by marketing my fiction. about a young man, a friend of the religious not mean that everyone is equally capable 

As my unpublished novels remained community, who had been killed in a of fulfilling every role in our society. The 

Billy, Dolly, Jeffy and PJ were introduced 

unpublished, I grew increasingly hard to live motorcycle accident. At the crash scene, the priesthood is not an entitlement, it is a 

to readers when the Bill Keane comic strip, 

with, and as soon as the January deadline vocation director had the gruesome task of calling; God gives some men, and not others, 

The Family Circus, debuted on Feb. 19, 

passed, I went into free fall. Like Icarus, the “finding something to anoint.” 

the requisite gifts to live out the priesthood. 

– Scott McDermott 

WHAT YEAR? The popular comic often 

mythological boy who flew to the sun on His point was clear. Faced with that type Indeed, a moment’s thought should 

features Catholic themes, and the Family 

wings of wax, I had overreached. Flying too of priestly responsibility, I would have had convince anyone that this is true of every 

Reprinted with permission by the National 

Deborah Kayser: Spending 

Circus kids are featured on promotions for 

high, I crashed into the psychiatric ward, a panic attack. A few scenes like that, and vocation, not just priesthood. Someone who 

Catholic Register. Scott McDermott is the author 

more time in prayer, and 

Catholic schools. 

where my dream of priesthood vanished. I would probably have ended up back on panics at the sound of gunfire must not be 

contemplating all the gifts that God 

of Charles Carroll of Carrolton: Faithful 

In the debate over the recent Vatican the ward, with ample time to read all 47 of sent into combat. People who faint at the 

has given us – especially the gift 

Revolutionary, Scepter Press. 

of our Salvation. 

St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 

Answers: 1693, 1801, 600, 1960

fr. joe 

in the know with Fr. Joe 

Dear Father Joe: 

did Jesus own the coat he wore? 

The church seems to own a lot of 

gold, art, property; why don’t we 

sell all that and give it to the poor? 

Why do any of us own anything? 

Great question here. Did Jesus own 

the coat he wore? Absolutely. But 

maybe I can suggest that a better 

question would be “Did Jesus’ 

coat own him?” The answer to that would be 

a resounding “no.” The key to possessions is 

that we own them and they don’t own us. 

How do we know if that is the case? The 

first step to knowing if we own something or 

if it owns us is to break everything we have 

into two categories: wants and needs. 

Wants are things that are there for our 

enjoyment or pleasure. They bring us a small 

measure of happiness, but ultimately, they 

are not things that we must have. I think my 

sanity is an example of this. 

Needs are those things that are important 

for our survival, or enable us to function in 

the world. Great examples are my truck and 

phone – I need these to effectively function as 

a priest. A serious argument could be made 

that Double Stuf Oreos are essential to my 

survival, but I won’t go there. 

In terms of wants, we should be willing 

and able to part with them at a moment’s 

notice to help someone who will use our help 

responsibly. If we can do that, then we own 

our possessions and they don’t own us. 

Your next question is one a lot of people 

ask, and I am glad I finally have a chance to 

address it here. The church does own a vast 

storehouse of art and treasures; one look at 

the Vatican museum or St. Peter’s Basilica can 

A country lady, who has been 

taken to her first show at an art gallery 

in the big city, is staring curiously 

at several of the paintings. One is a 

huge canvas that is black, with yellow 

blobs of paint splattered all over it. 

The next painting is a murky gray 

color that has drips of purple paint 

streaked across it. 

The country lady, filled with curiosity 

over the unusual works of art, 

walks over to the artist and says, 

“I don’t understand your paintings. 

Could you tell me about them?” 

“I paint what I feel inside me,” 

shrugs the artist. 

“Have you ever tried Alka-Seltzer?” 

absolutely take your breath away. The sheer 

beauty of those collections is amazing. 

But here is the thing – did you notice that 

I typed, “One look at?” That is the key – 

anyone can see and admire these treasures 

whenever they are on display. The Vatican 

doesn’t collect any kind of wealth for and 

from them – they are available to view at 

the Vatican, and then often travel to museums 

around the world. The church acts as 

guardian of the beauty that various artists 

have created through the ages. 

I found a website that states the rest of 

this argument quite well: http://home.nyc. 

rr.com/mysticalrose/answers2.html. 

I guess Jesus’ words stand true: “The 

poor you will have with you always.” (Matt 

26:11) Incidentally, he said that in response 

to his disciples when they objected to a 

woman pouring expensive oil on his body. 

They thought she should have sold the oil 

and given the money to the poor. But Jesus 

told them that there was nothing wrong with 

her lavishing this expensive oil on him. In 

the same way, there is nothing wrong with 

people donating gold and precious items to 

adorn a beautiful church building, since this 

is done to the glory of God. 

Make sure and take a look at the 

Catechism, sections 2501 and 2502. They 

give us a great description of the beauty and 

power of art. 

That’s it for me! Enjoy another day in God’s 

presence. – Father Joseph Krupp 

Send your questions to: 

“In the Know with Fr. Joe” 

St. Augustine Catholic 

11625 St. Augustine Rd. 


Email: kbaggmorgan@dosafl.com 

Or: 

JoeInBlack@priest.com 

work 

life 

how to shift 

to being the boss 

I 

used to laugh at the 

incompetence, twisted logic 

and self-centeredness of the 

“pointy haired” boss in the 

Dilbert comic strip. The humor began 

to fade, however, when I became a boss 

and discovered the pressures of middle 

management. Not only did I have to keep 

my boss happy; I had to keep my team 

happy as well. It’s tough not to become a 

“pointy haired” boss. I can recall unwittingly 

using twisted logic myself to justify some 

action to my team just to make a good 

impression on upper management. It 

took me a while to realize that the more 

I focused on my own interests, the less 

effective I was as a leader. 

In his book, Good to Great, James 

Collins identified characteristics that are 

common to leaders of top performing 

companies. Most of these qualities are 

contrary to what we’ve come to believe 

characterize great leaders. They include: 

1 Modesty. 

2 Motivation through inspired standards 

rather than charisma. 

3 Focusing on long-term results. 

4 Channeling of ambition into the 

company, not the self. 

5 Preparing successors for even 

greater success in the next generation. 

6 Never blaming others for bad results. 

Each of these characteristics represents 

a spirit of selflessness and humility that 

reflect core principles we find in the Bible. 

“Choose to serve others.” (Matthew 23:11) 

We’ve been conditioned to think that 

business leadership is about individual 

career success. Instead, Collins has 

debunked that notion by demonstrating 

that truly successful and lasting companies 

are led by people who act in the interest of 

other people and the company as a whole. 

So, if you are ever called upon to be “the 

boss,” remember that true success can 

only be found by trusting God’s wisdom to 

guide your actions and by serving others. 

“Humble yourselves in the presence of the 

Lord and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10) 

St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 

–Tim Ryan 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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theology 101 

what is the liturgy? 

a 9-part exploration of the church’s public prayer 

genuflection: 

The gesture of bending 

one knee to the 

ground arose during the 

Middle Ages as a sign 

of penitence and adoration. 

Christians in the early 

church prayed while standing. 

The Romans introduced 

the custom of prostration before Caesar as a god, which 

was subsequently adopted by Christians. This evolved to a 

profound bow, which continues in the East. By about 1502, 

the custom of genuflecting before the Blessed Sacrament 

had replaced the deep bow. Now, it is customary to genuflect 

when paying reverence to the Blessed Sacrament in 

the tabernacle. When the tabernacle is empty, as it is from 

after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday until 

after Communion on Good Friday, we do not genuflect. 

The central liturgy, or public prayer, 

of the church is the Liturgy of 

the Eucharist, or Mass. The Mass 

derives its name from its former 

final words of dismissal: Ite missa est – 

“Go, it is the sending.” 

We are to leave the house of worship and carry the love of Jesus 

we have experienced out into the world. Today’s Mass resembles the 

liturgy of the early church in many ways. From the earliest days, the 

liturgy revolved around the Eucharistic meal. The word eucharist 

means “thanksgiving” and that is exactly what the early Christians did 

– they gave thanks for the presence of Jesus in their midst. From the 

beginning, the assembled brothers and sisters believed that Jesus was 

truly present with them – in their midst as they gathered and in the 

bread and wine they blessed and shared. The early churches were in 

members’ homes or outdoors. 

Passover ritual was incorporated into the Eucharist – continuing in 

many of the prayers we still utter: “Blessed are you, Lord God of all 

creation ... ” 

At the end of the era of Christian persecution, 

after an edict by the Emperor Constantine, communities 

became much larger due to the freedom 

to gather openly. They needed larger buildings 

and began to gather in public buildings like large 

courthouses or basilicas. Christians added 

rituals they had encountered there – such 

as great processions with vesture and 

incense. 

As the large church buildings were 

peopled with rapidly catechized members, 

the act of liturgy became more 

invested in the person of the priest. By 

the Middle Ages, the priest was perceived 

as reciting the Mass on behalf of the people, 

who often could not hear him nor understand 

what had once been the vernacular or 

common language of Roman citizens, Latin. 

This ancient language was now reserved for 

academics. The result was that the gathered 

assembly said private prayers while “hearing” 

the priest “say” Mass. An emphasis on 

the divinity of Jesus and his role as judge 

meant that reception of Communion was 

a rare occurrence among the laity and the 

cup was withdrawn from the people for 

fear of spillage. 

In the mid 1800s, there was an increased 

interest in liturgical renewal 

bible quiz 

wise sayings from Scriptures 

answers: 1: b; 2: e; 3: c; 4: a: 5: d 

10 St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 11 

a A wise saying 

from the Book 

of Ecclesiastes. 

b A wise saying 

from the Book 

of Sirach. 

c A wise saying 

from the Gospel 

of Matthew. 

d A wise saying 

from the Book 

of Sirach. 

e A wise saying 

from the Book 

of Proverbs 

1 Say nothing harmful, small or great; be not 

a foe instead of a friend. A faithful friend is 

a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a 

treasure. 

2 This is the fate of the greedy; unlawful 

gain costs the life of the person who 

acquires it. 

3 Not on bread alone does man live, but 

on every word that comes from the 

mouth of God. 

4 Two are better than one; if the one falls, 

the other can help. 

5 If you are willing to listen, you will learn. 

– Sister Janet Schaeffler 

and lay participation in the Mass. By the early 1900s, the congregation 

began making some of the responses that had previously been 

made only by altar servers. 

w h a t ’ s t h e s e a s o n ? 

Where did we get the liturgical calendar? 

The liturgical calendar, like the secular 

one, is a rhythmic observance of ebb and flow. 

The church seasons evolved, gradually codified into 

the calendar we know today. Easter and Pentecost 

were the earliest special observances. The entire 

paschal mystery, including the triumph of Easter, is 

celebrated every Sunday during the year. 

w h a t ’ s h e w e a r i n g ? 

In the early 1950s, Pope Pius XII restored 

By the early Holy Week and the Triduum to earlier practices. 

In 1963, the first document promulgated 

1900s, the congregation 

began at the Second Vatican Council, The Constitution 

on the Sacred Liturgy, called for a greater 

making some of 

the responses that appreciation of the theology of liturgy and for 

w h y d o w e d o t h a t ? had previously the reform of all our liturgical books, includ- 

w h a t ’ s i n t h e c h u r c h ? 

been made only ing a “new” order of the Mass. Once again, the 

by altar servers. priest faced the people. And once again, they 

could understand the readings and prayers 

and could participate more fully with songs and acclamations. 

Vatican II did not bring new elements to the Mass as much as it restored 

a sense of the early church with us today. As the early followers 

of the Risen Lord knew that Jesus was with them, so do we fully enter 

into a union with him at Mass. And so, when the words of dismissal 

are spoken – “The Mass is ended,” we reply with great joy, “Thanks be 

to God.” – Elizabeth Solsburg | Illustrations by Bob Patten 

clerical suit: 

Ordained clergy members often wear 

black suits with a white collar known as the 

roman collar. The collar originated in the 15th 

century, when it was a popular secular practice 

to turn one’s linen collar up and over the outer garment. By 

the 19th century, it became customary to insert a starched 

linen collaro onto the rabat, the high-collared, backless vest 

worn under a cassock. 

baptismal font: 

The baptismal font is the basin containing 

blessed water in which new members of 

the church are baptized. It is generally made 

of stone, although glass and metal are also used. 

If possible, the water in the font should be moving – this 

is the “living water” by which we are reborn into the faith. 

In the earliest days of Christianity, baptism took place 

in rivers or the sea. As specific containers for baptismal 

waters were built, 

they were often called 

swimming-baths or 

natatoria, as they were 

large enough for total 

immersion. The term, 

fons, or “spring of water,” 

became the name 

of choice, thus leading 

to our word, font.

your marriage matters 

he’s frugal she’s a spender what should they do? 

he’s frugal 

she’s a spender 

what should they do? 

Larry and Elaine have been married for 

just more than a year. They are both 

working full time and have no children. 

Larry is an accountant and Elaine manages 

a retail store. They have very different styles 

of financial management, an issue that has become 

a regular source of argument and irritation 

in an otherwise happy relationship. 

I’m getting really concerned about our 

financial situation. I know we’re both only 26, 

but we do need to think about our future. We’re 

both hoping to be blessed with 

Elaine seems to think we children and that’s a huge financial 

can just live paycheck responsibility. Not only do we have 

to paycheck and worry to consider what it costs to raise 

about the future when it them, but there’s also college. We 

comes. That’s what her also need to be financially independent 

in our retirement. I realize it’s a 

parents always did, and 

now they’re paying for it sacrifice, but it’s prudent to be saving 

with financial hardship. 25 percent of our monthly income. 

Elaine seems to think we can just live paycheck to paycheck and 

worry about the future when it comes. That’s what her parents 

always did, and now they’re paying for it with financial hardship. 

This is causing a lot of tension in our marriage. 

r o m a n c e 

Hide a note or surprise in your spouse’s suitcase 

before a business trip. It’s like sending a little bit of 

yourself along. 

Bring home a small souvenir when you travel. 

Your spouse will know you were thinking about them. 

12 St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 

I honestly don’t understand 

why Larry is so upset. 

We’re only 26, we have great 

jobs and this is the time we 

should be able to enjoy our 

lives a little. We’ll have to 

settle down soon enough and 

I don’t see why we shouldn’t 

splurge a little now. My parents 

always believed in living 

in the moment – one day at 

a time. After all, you don’t 

We’re only 26, 

we have great 

jobs and this 

is the time we 

should be able 

to enjoy our 

lives a little. 

really know what the future will bring. I agree with 

Larry that this is causing a lot of trouble between 

us; I feel as if we argue about it all the time. 

Although Larry and Elaine should 

avail themselves of financial planning 

seminars, budgeting guidelines 

and other information to 

address the practicalities of 

their divergent attitudes 

toward money, their fundamental 

need is to tackle the 

underlying philosophy about 

finances and stewardship. 

This can be addressed 

spiritually, and I would suggest 

that Larry and Elaine 

consider Benedictine spirituality 

and its focus on moderation, 

stewardship and stability. 

Stewardship is the godly use 

of our resources 

– including our 

time and money. 

Both of these 

things, like all our 

material possessions, 

are on 

loan from 

t i m e 

Volunteer Together. 

Volunteering as a couple provides an opportunity to 

share the joys and blessings of being and working 

together for a common goal. 

Good Marriage Tip: 

First thing after rising in the morning, say to your 

spouse, “I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.” 

Now live it – because actions speak louder than words! 

our Creator. It is our responsibility to manage 

them well and care for them, without 

developing an unhealthy sense of ownership 

over them. It is also our responsibility 

to use our resources to feed the 

Larry and Elaine 

should ask themselves 

whether the homeless, as Jesus asked us to do. 

hungry, clothe the naked and shelter 

their purchases Larry and Elaine should ask themselves 

whether their purchases and 

and material 

possessions are material possessions are things they 

things they need need or fulfillments of excessive desires. 

Is Elaine’s spending preventing 

or fulfillments of 

excessive desires. them from giving to the poor and 

supporting their parish? Is Larry’s 

desire to save prompted by a desire to prudently plan 

so that they will have enough to raise a family and not 

be a burden to their children, or is he hoping to live lavishly 

later in life? 

This couple will benefit from prayerfully considering 

their responsibilities as stewards of God’s creation, discussing 

with each other how they will manage their finances in 

order to do so, and then living a Christian witness of charity 

and moderation. If they focus on their common goals in this 

regard, their arguments should cease and their relationship 

will improve. – Cheval Breggins 

m o n e y 

As a couple, you should have ongoing family 

meetings to discuss the philosophy, direction and 

evaluation of your financial plan. Yearly at least, 

quarterly at best. One financial chat early in your marriage 

won’t cut it. Not only do our circumstances change 

in life, but so do we. 

parentin 

parenting journey 

how can I make 

my children care? 

teaching sensitivity to others 

On New Year’s Day, we welcome the new 

year and review the old. Once again, we watch 

images of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastating 

our country. Last August, the necessity of providing 

the corporal works of mercy was evident – we had to give 

concrete aid to our neighbors in their basic need. People were 

stranded and surrounded by water, yet thirsting. They were 

homeless, without food, without work. This generation of American 

children and adolescents began to understand the distinction 

between needs and wants in a solid and material way. How can 

we help them continue in this understanding? 

“You shall open your hand to your brother ... ” (Deut. 15:11) 

Encourage children when they desire to show mercy toward 

others. For example, soon after Hurricane Katrina, 6-year-old 

Lauren Barrett received permission from her mother to have 

a lemonade stand and send the profits to the Red Cross. Her 

efforts were publicized on her local TV station in Kentucky. Other 

children were doing the same in other states. Sunkist Growers, 

a huge farm cooperative, set up a matching fund program. The 

participating farmers donated supplies for more stands. Children 

can understand that their efforts provide necessities to 

other families: food, water, shelter and clothing. 

“ I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be 

content.” (Phil 4:11) 

“Do as I say, not as I do” just doesn’t work with 

children and adolescents. They are keen observers 

and note whether we “walk the talk.” Even 

adults can have trouble explaining some of their 

purchases. Are we content with the blessings 

in our lives? Do we stop to treasure those 

possessions which have a value measured 

by sentiment rather than dollars – an old baby 

photo, a quilt made generations ago? In my 

kitchen, I have a 60-year-old ceramic outlet 

cover from my grandma’s house. Its only value is 

the memory it sparks. Help your children define 

the things they treasure, not just what’s plugged in 

the world of advertising. 

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give 

you the desires of your heart.” (Ps 37:4) 

Games and balls, pools and dolls can bring 

laughter and joy. Or they can sit unused or discarded 

after a week of ownership. Help your children determine 

which items are “desires of the heart” and which 

seem special because they were intriguing on a commercial 

or at a friend’s house. If purchases are based 

on envy, then happiness will not follow. Someone else 

will always have more. As St. Teresa of Avila said, 

“Comparing is the death of the spiritual life.” 

– Dr. Cathleen McGreal 

St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 13

spiritual fitness 

Franciscan spirituality 

how to become the Good News of Jesus Christ 

The campus students were waiting for a priest. I was a graduate student in biochemistry at the 

time, and some friends of mine talked me into going to the campus Mass. They kept talking 

about a Franciscan priest who was great with the college students. To my surprise, a big 

heavy-set man came in. He was dressed in a brown robe with a rope around his waist and a 

large rosary dangling from his side. Over the months that followed, I got to know Father John. He was a 

man of faith and simplicity who deeply cared for us students. 

Before long, he had a group of us going out 

to visit the Franciscan monastery for retreat. 

He told us all about Jesus and St. Francis, and 

the great ways we could help the poor. It was 

my first introduction to St. Francis and Franciscan 

spirituality. Here was a man who lived 

the Gospel in a radical way. How refreshing! 

I came to understand that St. Francis was 

once a worldly and enthusiastic young man 

who dreamed of 

When St. Francis 

being a great knight. 

opened his heart to 

God showed him 

Jesus, Jesus ignited 

another way. When 

the flame of love 

St. Francis opened 

within him. Francis 

his heart to Jesus, 

used to spend long 

Jesus ignited the 

hours just praying, 

flame of love within 

“My God and my 

him. Francis used 

all!” He was opening 

and offering his 

to spend long hours 

just praying, “My 

heart to God. 

God and my all!” He 

was opening and offering his heart to God. 

He wanted nothing more than to imitate Jesus 

in all things. He renounced his possessions, 

and got in trouble with his own father for 

giving away his clothes and money. His father 

demanded them back, and wanted Francis 

to compromise his new love of Jesus and the 

Gospel. Francis would have none of that, and 

instead gave all his clothes back to his father 

– the clothes off his body. This encounter 

happened in the public square for all to see. 

Jesus said to the rich man, “Go and sell all 

you have and give to the poor, then come and 

follow me.” The rich man walked away sadly 

because he had many possessions. But Francis 

overcame this great obstacle with which we 

all struggle – our love of material possessions 

– and stood stripped of all things before God. 

The local bishop embraced him, and Francis 

embarked on a new journey of faith to rebuild 

the church. 

Francis found Jesus in the poor, and he 

devoted himself to serving them and being 

poor with them. That is what the Gospel 

called him to do. When others started to 

follow his way of life, Francis made clear 

that their “rule” was to follow the Gospel. 

All the members of God’s creation were 

“brother and sister” to him. In many ways, 

Franciscan spirituality is Gospel spirituality, 

for it centers on Jesus Christ and on living 

as Jesus taught us. It means embracing the 

cross – “Whoever wants to be my disciple 

must deny his very self, take up his cross 

each day and follow in my steps.” (Luke 9:23) 

It means self-renunciation – “Unless the 

Francis found Jesus in the poor, and he devoted himself to 

serving them and being poor with them. 

grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, 

it remains but a grain, but if it dies, it produces 

much fruit.” (John 12:24) It means being 

little – “Unless you become like a little child 

you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” 

(Matt 18:3) It means being a servant of others 

– “The greatest among you are those who 

serve the needs of the rest.” (Mark 10: 44) It 

means love – “My commandment to you is 

love one another as I have loved you.” (John 

15:12) It is a spirituality that is familiar to 

all Christians because it so well echoes the 

Gospel. It is a bridge to all people of good 

will, for charity and goodness spring from 

its steps. 

Spiritual Exercise 

For our spiritual exercise this 

month, we will pray to be the 

Good News of Jesus Christ. We will 

need charity to feed the hungry and 

give drink to the thirsty. Notice those 

are actions – the spirit of charity moves 

us to act and live as Jesus did. 

Begin this month’s exercise by meditating 

for about 15 minutes on the prayer 

of St. Francis: 

Prayer of St. Francis 

Lord, make me an instrument of 

your peace. Where there is hatred, let 

me sow love. Where there is injury, 

pardon. Where there is doubt, faith; 

Where there is despair, hope; Where 

there is darkness, light; And where 

there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, 

grant that I may not so much seek 

to be consoled, as to console. To be 

understood, as to understand. To be 

loved as to love. For it is in giving that 

we receive, it is in pardoning that we 

are pardoned, and it is in dying that 

we are born to eternal life. Amen. 

Now that we have prayed this 

prayer, we must put our prayer 

into action. Otherwise it is merely lip 

service. That is one of the big steps St. 

Francis took. He knew what the Lord 

was calling him to do – and out of his 

love for the Lord, he did it. When we 

put our prayers into action, we’ll experience 

spiritual growth. 

There are people in our own communities 

who need food, shelter and 

clothing. Reach out to them. 

Many more are hungry for love, 

kindness and company. Our world 

can be a lonely place. Think of those 

closest to you – in your family, in your 

neighborhood, in your church community. 

Go and feed their hunger and 

thirst. You are God’s bread and water. 

– Father Bill Ashbaugh 

C a t c h t h e S p i r i t 

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For more information go to www.spirit-radio.org 

If the Spirit moves you, send donations to: 

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412 NE 16th Ave. 

Suite 15 

Gainesville, FL 

32601-3701 

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14 St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 15

david durrett 

Spring break. 

Most college students associate the words 

with a chance to put away their books, let 

down their hair, spend a week lazing in the 

sun and partying with friends on beaches 

from Daytona to Cancun in Mexico. 

Another group of students however head 

for the freezing cold mountains of eastern 

Kentucky, hoping to make a difference in one 

of the poorest areas of the country. They are 

participating in Workfest, an alternative spring 

break program sponsored by the Christian 

Appalachian Project (CAP). Workfest provides 

an opportunity for students to roll up their 

sleeves and get to work on much needed 

home repairs for the poor in Appalachia. 

Appalachia is a mountainous, sparsely 

populated region in the eastern United States 

– a place where unemployment, substandard 

housing and poverty levels are among the 

highest in the nation. Father Ralph Beiting, a 

priest born and raised in the region, founded 

CAP in 1964 as an interdenominational Christian 

organization that empowers the region’s 

poor to help themselves. 

Workfest began 14 years ago as a five-week 

program providing college students service 

opportunities coinciding with the traditional 

college spring break season that runs from 

February to April. Families living below the 

poverty line and whose homes need major 

repairs are eligible. Groups of students begin 

work on a family’s home; subsequent crews 

complete the project and retired building contractors 

supervise their work and renovations. 

Sister of Notre Dame Margaret Harig, 

campus minister and volunteer coordinator 

at St. Augustine Church and Catholic Student 

Center in Gainesville, sends 10 young adults 

from the University of Florida each year to experience 

Workfest. Students are chosen based 

on class seniority and they pay a nominal 

fee to cover travel and living expenses with 

the parish assisting with the balance of their 

expenses. 

Sister Harig has coordinated Workfest 

programs on college campuses in Ohio and 

North Carolina. She believes the work is in 

tune with the church’s principles of prayer, 

giving and community. The volunteers act as 

ambassadors for the university and the parish 

and many return describing the week as a life 

changing experience. 

“It’s important for them (students) to see 

another part of the country, another culture 

and another economic class of people,” Sister 

Harig said. 

A typical day for volunteers begins before 

dawn with breakfast and morning prayer. 

They head to the worksite and labor until 

dusk. They eat dinner and reflect on their efforts 

that day or listen to local musicians and 

storytellers. 

Three students from UF – Tim Allen, Viviana 

Reyes and Will Sanchez – were among 

the group participating in Workfest last 

February. Not the typical spring break party 

types; they were drawn to Workfest with a 

desire to do something meaningful on their 

break. The students made the 12-hour drive 

from Gainesville to McKee, Ky., the heart of 

Appalachia’s poor. 

Reyes, an 18-year-old sophomore from 

Bogotá, Columbia, saw poverty in her own 

country but was unprepared for what she 

experienced that week in McKee. 

“When I thought of poor people I always 

thought of other countries,” Reyes said. 

“I never realized it was so close to me (in 

America). I never thought a first-world country 

would have so much poverty.” 

It was the first week of Workfest and they 

demolished a rotting porch, peeled off roof 

shingles and pried window frames from a 

home in preparation for the next crew. The 

house had been hand built in the 1950s and 

was “pretty dilapidated,” said Sanchez. 

Sanchez, 20, went on the trip at the last 

minute. He was apprehensive at first; spending 

spring break outdoors laboring in the bitter 

cold seemed like the last thing he wanted 

to do. But he soon warmed to the friendliness 

of the family they helped that week – an 

elderly couple who were raising their two 

grandchildren. 

One of the children, an 8-year-old girl 

named Stephanie, was wearing the same 

ragged pair of shoes since she was five, he 

said. Most of the time, she and her older 

brother, Dewayne, ran around the house barefoot. 

The students pooled their money and 

bought the children new shoes and socks. 

“The thing that touched me and inspired 

me the most was the faith of these people. 

It seems that the harder life is for them, the 

stronger their faith is,” he said. 

Allen, a 20-year-old junior from St. Petersburg, 

was awestruck by the amount of 

poverty he saw in Appalachia. The experience 

left him considering a Catholic mission trip to 

Central America after graduation – teaching 

English to impoverished schoolchildren. 

“I went into it (Workfest) not really knowing 

what it was, and it ended up being one 

of the most meaningful trips I’ve ever taken,” 

Allen said. 

At their camp on the last night of the trip, 

the UF students met with another Workfest 

group from Marywood University. Down 

by the lake, under the clear night sky, they 

huddled under blankets, meditated, prayed 

and talked about what they had seen and 

wondered if they had made a difference with 

their hard work. 

“It was the best spring break I ever had 

in my entire life,” Reyes said. “It taught me 

a lot about myself, my faith, to appreciate 

what God has given me and to be able to give 

something back to others.” 

Matt DeSalvo, 22, a University of Central 

Florida student from Jacksonville, traveled 

to a small parish in Holy Trinity, Ala., an unincorporated 

area near the Alabama-Georgia 

border for Workfest. 

Students from UCF and Florida State 

University spent the week sprucing up the 

church grounds and buildings. They cleared 

underbrush, hauled away rubbish, chopped 

wood, cleaned and decorated the community 

hall for a St. Patrick’s Day party. They also 

sorted and organized a huge pile of donated 

clothing that had accumulated over the years 

in a storage closet. 

DeSalvo said the week was also a miniretreat, 

with nightly discussions around a 

campfire with the other students, talking 

about Workfest, their Catholic faith and a 

desire to continue to help others. 

“I was thankful that I spent the time 

helping a community that needed aid and 

growing closer to the Lord …strengthening 

my relationship with him,” DeSalvo said. 


– Mark Udry 

Volunteer Opportunities: 

Catholic Network of Volunteer Service 

www.cnvs.org 

Phone: 1-800-543-5046 

Email: volunteer@cnvs.org 

Christian Appalachian Project (Workfest) 

www.chrisapp.org 

Phone: 1-866-270-4227 

Email: capinfo@chrisapp.org 

Notre Dame Mission Volunteers 

www.ndmva.org 

Phone: (410) 532-6864 

Email: natloffice@ndmva.org 

Break Away: The Alternative Spring Break 

Connection 

www.alternativebreaks.org 

Phone: (850) 644-0986 

Email: breakaway@alternativebreaks.org 

St. Augustine, Fla. 

America’s first mission and its 

most sacred and historic site. 

Here, in 1565, over 400 years 

ago, Father Lopez offered the 

first Mass in America’s First City. 

Shrine of Our Lady 

of La Leche 

• The Great Cross 

• America’s first 

Marian Shrine 

• Shrine Gift Shop 

• Tours Welcomed 

• Site of the 

Founding of 


27 Ocean Avenue 

St. Augustine, FL 

(904) 824-2809 

missionandshrine.org 

Roots of Faith 

both fragile and strong 

Your contributions to the Collection to Aid the 

Church in Central and Eastern Europe support 

• Dissemination of the Word of God over large 

territories 

• Social justice for the needy and dispossessed 

• Education for the faithful 

• Training and formation for religious 

• Services for the homeless, the elderly, children 

and families in need 

Please give generously to the second collection in 

your parish on March 1 or March 5, 2006. 

For more information visit: www.AidtoEasternEurope.org

c o v e r s t o r y 

Standing 

on Holy 

Ground 

Carla Harris is raising one half million dollars for education: $250,000 

for Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Fla. and $250,000 for 

St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Harlem, N.Y. Why she does it 

is a good story. What makes it possible is a better one. 

B y K a y J o h n s o n 

Carla Harris, listed as one of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in 

Corporate America” by Fortune magazine, is just as powerful when it comes 

to living her faith. Carla is a great inspiration for the students attending her 

alma mater – Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville. 

18 St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 


It only takes one syllable to talk about 

Cher. Two if it’s JLo. Three if it’s 

Madonna or The Donald. But when 

newspapers, magazines and 24 sites 

on the World Wide Web talk about Carla 

Harris, they use all four syllables of her 

name, because Carla Harris leads four 

concurrent lives. 

Carla Harris, Wall Street banker 

Carla Harris, recording artist 

Carla Harris, motivational speaker 

Carla Harris, benefactor 

Much has been said about her odyssey 

from St. Pius V Parish School to Bishop 

Kenny to Harvard, where she authored a 

senior thesis so profound it is housed in 

the Harvard archives alongside the work 

of John F. Kennedy, she graduated magna 

cum laude and earned a master’s in business 

administration that took her to Wall Street. 

Thousands of words have been written 

about her rise to managing director and 

partner at Morgan Stanley before age 40; 

and her skillful execution of the Martha 

Stewart Initial Public Offering (IPO) and 

the $5.5 billion United Parcel Service (UPS) 

IPO – one of the largest in U.S. history. 

She is on Fortune magazine’s list of 

“The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives 

in Corporate America,” Essence 

magazine’s list of “The 50 Women 

Who Are Shaping the World,” and the 

recipient of the 2005 Harvard College 

“Women’s Professional Achievement 

Award.” 

When writers aren’t lauding her as 

a banker they are applauding her as a 

vocalist. Carla Harris found her voice in a 

St. Pius V school talent show, developed 

it in Catholic and Baptist choirs in 

Jacksonville, advanced to the classical 

Radcliffe Chorale Society at Harvard, 

the St. Charles Borromeo Gospelites, 

the Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, two 

successful solo albums and now a concert 

in Carnegie Hall at $150 a seat. 

Indeed, is there anything the New York 

Times, Fortune, Essence, Ebony, Business 

2.0, et al, has not said about the gifted 

Carla Harris? 

“Well, yes, there is,” she offers. Her 

voice is velvet. “It’s my message to people 

who think they have no special gifts. To 

them, I say, oh, really? 

St. Augustine Catholic February 2006 19

I n H e r O w n W o r d s 

“When I was leaving Bishop Kenny for 

Harvard, people said, ‘Well, you know 

that’s a big school and all those kids come 

from Ivy League prep schools. It will be 

very competitive, so just do your best and 

don’t worry about it.’” 

Oh, really? 

“At the end of my freshman year a 

professor advised me not to major in 

economics because, as he put it, ‘You can’t 

think, girl.’” 

Oh, really? 

“By my senior year I was working 

three jobs, maintaining an A grade level, 

applying to great graduate schools, vying 

for an internship on Wall Street and 

writing my thesis. 

“That’s when I realized the power that 

exists in faith. I mean, I was baptized at 

three months old, and I went to Catholic 

school through 12th grade and, sure, 

I went to Mass and did things grade 

by grade, but I don’t think I grasped 

the power of faith and what I can do 

with it until I ran into adversity and the 

challenges of my college years. That’s when 

I realized, if I prayed for it, I would get it.” 

So what did the gifted Carla Harris pray for? 

“Courage. I think the difference between 

someone who finds their gifts and uses 

them to reach their goals, vs. someone who 

doesn’t, is the courage to believe and to 

understand where your power comes from, 

and then to confidently act. 

“I’ve had people say, well, they don’t 

have any special gifts. They do this 

average. They do that average, and I say, 

oh really? You’re just average? Well, 

Carla Harris serves on community 

and foundation boards ranging from 

the New York City Food Bank and 

A Better Chance Inc., to The Apollo 

Theatre Foundation, St. Charles 

Borromeo Catholic School, the 

Morgan Stanley Foundation and 

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity 

(SEO is the organization that helped 

pave her way to Wall Street). She 

also finds time to pursue a successful 

singing career. Her first album, Carla’s 

First Christmas and her newly released 

gospel album, Joy Is Waiting, are both 

available on www.Amazon.com and 

www.cdbaby.com. 

how about that you sew better than I 

can? That’s a gift. Speak better than I can? 

That’s a gift. What about the fact you’re a 

better listener and you can make someone 

feel he or she is the only person in the 

room? That’s a gift. 

“Once I actually start talking to people 

about who they are, and articulating it 

back to them, they can see they are special; 

they bring something to the table.” 

P e o p l e W h o L o o k L i k e M e 

“If a story headlines the fact that I am 

a black woman, I think it’s important. 

Race and gender can be fears or obstacles 

we put in our own minds so we end up 

thinking success is for other people; it’s 

not for people who look like me. But when 

you see someone you identify with, who 

is doing things, then all of a sudden you 

think perhaps there aren’t any obstacles 

and you find a message and an inspiration. 

“I view discrimination as other people’s 

baggage and I carry enough of my own 

without picking up theirs. So if I even 

smell discrimination, then I say ok, that’s 

their baggage, let me look at this as an 

educational exercise for them. By the 

end of this interaction they will love me, 

and maybe they won’t have to carry that 

baggage any more.” 

B a d , B a d D a y 

“Anybody can have a bad day, especially 

on Wall Street where things change minute 

to minute. You have a deal you’ve been 

working really hard on and you’re looking 

forward to bringing it to market, but the 

market doesn’t cooperate. People aren’t 

interested in owning that security now. Or 

a competitor comes out of nowhere with 

an offer your client takes. That’s a bad day. 

You feel the bite. 

“The lyrics to Standing on Holy Ground 

were inspired by a friend who tried to 

cheer me up on one of my rough banker 

days. I had emailed her, saying oh, boy, 

rough day on the street today. She emailed 

back saying don’t forget you are standing 

on holy ground – He is always with you. 

Later during a flight to Los Angeles, the 

lyrics came to me. 

“People ask how I can come back from 

a bad day and give my best the next day. I 

tell them what my paternal grandmother, 

who still lives in Jacksonville, told me long 

ago, ‘whatever you be, be good at it.’ 

“Completing the to-do list doesn’t matter 

as long you give it your best shot. Every 

time you interact with other people, no 

matter how rough they may be, give it 

your all. So often we let circumstances get 

us down when things don’t work out. But 

there is a satisfaction that can sustain you 

when you give it your best. If your job 

is to organize paperwork or file, just be 

the best organizer and filer there is. Be 

a steward of that filing. Show what you 

can do and something more will come 

your way.” 

P r e p a r i n g A P l a c e 

“I credit St. Pius for my foundation in 

education, and Bishop Kenny for the critical 

years. I also recognized that a lot of my St. 

Pius classmates could not continue to Bishop 

Kenny for financial reasons. Even then, it 

was in my mind, because these were friends 

Carla Harris, a member of St. Charles Borromeo Gospelites, is making a difference 

for St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School. She is a major benefactor of educational 

programs that help children who live in tough environments. 


I had grown up with. So I always thought if 

someday I could help people so money wasn’t 

a barrier to education, I wanted to do it. 

“When I got to Wall Street and became 

financially able, Bishop Kenny was the first 

place I thought about. St. Charles Borromeo 

Catholic School in Harlem was the other. 

I sing in the St. Charles Gospelite Choir, 

and it is so clear, when I look around the 

church, who attends St. Charles School and 

who doesn’t. Everything about the St. Charles 

students speaks volumes with respect to the 

curriculum, the teachers, the kind of support 

and nurturing these kids get. Most of them 

come from tough environments, but St. 

Charles School is making a major difference in 

their lives. So I want to be a part of furthering 

the next generation’s opportunity to attend 

these two schools. All the proceeds from my 

albums and vocal performances benefit them. 

My goal is $250,000 to develop math and 

science programs for St. Charles and $250,000 

to endow a scholarship fund at Bishop Kenny. 

And I’ll keep moving, and I’ll keep working 

toward my goal, and I’ll keep praying until I 

get there. 

I n G o d ’ s W o r d s 

“God never skimps on us; he always gives us 

his best at all times. When I don’t quite know 

where I stand, I believe I will still land on my 

feet because, in Romans 8:28, he said, ‘And 

we know that all things work together for the 

good of those who love Him and are called to 

His purpose.’” 

Thanks be to God. 

And thank you, Carla Harris. 

Attend a Worldwide 

Marriage Encounter 

weekend. 

Contact Tom & Susan Hughes 

800-923-WWME (9963) 

www.geocities.com/jaxMEweb 



Last November, Carla Harris performed 

in Carnegie Hall before a full house. Her 

repertoire included songs from her newly 

released CD, “Joy Is Waiting.” 

Back thrown out 

with the trash? 

www.jaxhealth.com 

Mission News 

“We can only pay him $3.52 a month 

but he is like a priceless gift to our people.” 

So says Bishop Joseph Willigers 

of Jinja, Uganda, about 

Mathias, one of his catechists. 

There are 185 full-time and 569 

part-time catechists in Jinja. 

Each is willing to give of themselves 

because, as one catechist 

put it, “We love Jesus Christ 

and know that but for our 

work of making Him known 

many of our people would not 

be reached at all with the ‘Good News.’” 

Won’t you help catechists in the Missions, through 

the Propagation of the Faith, as they continue to 

bring the “Good News” of Jesus Christ to those most 

in need of Him? 

The Society for the 

PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH 

…A Pontifical Mission Society 

Rev. Brian Eburn, local director 

c/o St. Michael Parish, P.O. Box 6310 

Fernandina Beach, FL 32035-6310 

❏ $100 ❏ $50 ❏ $25 ❏ $10 ❏ $____(other) 

Name__________________________________________________________ 

Address_________________________________________________________ 

City________________________________State_ __________ Zip_________ 

Visit us at our “home” on the web: 

www.worldmissions-catholicchurch.org

parish 

parish profile 

St. Pius V Parish: 

the mother church of Jacksonville’s African American Catholics 

St. Pius V Parish, established in 1921, was 

originally located at West State and Lee Streets in 

Jacksonville. Today it is located at 2110 Blue Ave 

and West 13th Street. The beautiful wood crucifix, 

pictured above, was crafted in Africa and a gift to the 

parish community by the late Father Joseph Dawson. 

Mark Udry 

From the beginning, St. Pius V Parish 

was special. It was the first church 

community in Jacksonville that 

African American Catholics could 

call home; it is the city’s only boundary-free 

parish; and it is the lone Catholic church in a 

neighborhood that has long been dominated 

by non-Catholics. All of this makes St. Pius a 

parish with a mission: “St. Pius V is committed 

to being a strong Catholic presence in the 

Northside,” says new pastor Father Jason Trull, 

who speaks often of the importance of evangelization, 

both in the immediate neighborhood and citywide. 

Father Jason, who in June of last year was appointed pastor of 

three parishes in the northwest quadrant: St. Pius V, Holy Rosary 

and Crucifixion, is impressed by the attachment that many people 

feel to St. Pius V. “There is a long history here, and generation 

upon generation have attended school here and have gone to 

church here,” he says. 

Just across the street from the parish school, a small house 

serves as a convent for three Sisters of St. Joseph – two of whom 

work at St. Pius: Sister Elise Kennedy, principal and Sister Rea 

Wurmnest, a teacher at the school. Sister Elise praises the community 

for its involvement in the school. 

“The majority of our students and parents are non-Catholics,” 

Sister Elise says. “But they believe in what we’re doing. A wonderful 

group of parents serve breakfast three days a week. The parish 

donates the money, and parishioner Janice Hice is our organizer. 

So it’s truly a team effort to benefit the children.” 

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the wider community chips in. 

“Cursillo men come from parishes all over the city to serve a 

cooked breakfast: eggs, grits and sausage. Most days, 50 to 75 

children participate,” says Sister Elise. 

Educating children at St. Pius V is a joint effort of parents, 

parish and the diocesan Guardian of Dreams Foundation, which 

is instrumental in keeping tuition costs low and providing 

scholarships. The school plays a key role in the parish’s 

evangelization efforts: “When our children who are not Catholic 

graduate, they know about the faith,” notes Sister Elise. “Their 

parents want them here so they will have a good education, but 

they also take away much more. Some go through school as non- 

Catholics and later become Catholic.” 

Earl Flournoy, a graduate of St. Pius school and a parishioner 

since the 1950s, converted to the faith while still in grade school. 

“Later in life, my mother and then my 

grandmother on her deathbed became 

converts, too,” he says. “All because of the 

experience of having me at the school, 

explaining to them the concepts I was 

learning.” 

Today, with an aging population and 

fewer young Catholic families, St. Pius V 

is more dedicated than ever to spreading 

the faith. “We are working toward growth,” 

says parishioner and Lay Pastoral Administrator 

Lucille Trotter. “We really would like 

to be the Light of Christ in this community. 

That’s the decision of the parish and 

it’s also Father Jason’s agenda – to reach 

out and make a difference.” 

Many see their biggest opportunity in 

a project that has been in the works for 

years: the Bruce Seldon Center, a combination 

gymnasium and auditorium/meeting 

hall with a kitchen that will be located on 

property across from the school. 

Named for one of St. Pius V’s most 

fabled leaders, the late Scoutmaster, coach 

and role model Bruce Seldon, the center 

will not only serve the parish, but also the 

surrounding neighborhood, where amenities 

are in short supply. 

“This would be an excellent chance to 

help our neighborhood and bring youth 

back to St. Pius,” says Trotter. “They need 

to step lively with it,” says Marguerite 

Seldon, who is concerned about the delays 

that have plagued the center’s fundraising 

efforts. “When they approached us with 

the idea, my husband was still alive. They 

St. Pius V Parish 

2110 Blue Avenue 


(904) 354-1501 

Parishioners: 179 registered families 

School: 179 students in grades pre-K through 8 

Pastor: 

Principal: 

Father Jason Trull 

Sister Elise Kennedy, SSJ 

Susie Nguyen 

The children at St. Pius V Catholic School are always happy to see their pastor, Father Jason Trull. 

wanted his name on it because of all he did 

to help young people. That’s still so important. 

The center could reach so many.” 

In the meantime, the parish works hard 

to make a difference. Medical workers are 

organizing a nursing ministry that will provide 

health fairs and related services. Every 

Friday, a pantry stocked by parishioners 

distributes food to the needy. As they team 

up to help others, the parish’s ongoing 

challenge is to stay relevant to all church 

members, from seniors to young families. 

“We have gospel music in our church 

now. That makes the younger people see 

that it’s all right to be ethnic and Catholic,” 

observes longtime parishioner Rosemarie 

s t . p i u s V p a r i s h a t a g l a n c e 

Tolbert Hickson of the choir that sings on 

the first Sunday of each month. 

Willie Lee Lucas, Ph.D., a retired librarian, 

hopes that change won’t obliterate the 

“serenity” that drew her to the faith as a 

14-year-old convert. “I value the quietness 

and the opportunity to pray quietly. But I 

adapt,” she says. 

“The parish, like every parish, has 

changed over time,” observes Hickson. 

“No matter what, it’s still the centerpiece 

church, from the time when that’s all we 

had. A lot of people come back, and I don’t 

think that will change. St. Pius is part of 

our community, and we will always feel 

pride.” – Shannon Scruby-Henderson 

In 1919, St. Pius V Parish was consecrated a non-territorial, 

“personal” parish with an outreach to African American 

Catholics throughout Jacksonville. The parish has links to another 

downtown church, Immaculate Conception. In the years following 

World War I, approximately three-dozen African American 

Catholics worshiped at Immaculate Conception. But the small 

group was denied participation in parish activities – and restricted 

to seats in the west wing of the church. In 1919, with the support 

of Bishop Michael J. Curley and the Josephite Fathers, they pioneered 

their own parish. The first St. Pius V church was consecrated 

in 1921 on West State and Lee near LaVilla. 

St. Pius V School continued the ministry of St. Catherine School 

for African American children, started in 1903 by the Sisters of 

St. Joseph at Immaculate Conception. In 1961, crowded by encroaching 

expressway work, the parish moved to its present site 

on Blue Avenue and West 13th Street. At that time, the school 

was positioned upstairs from the church in a two-story church 

and school building. Today, with the building to itself, St. Pius V 

School serves 179 students, of which more than 85 percent 

are non-Catholic. It receives support from the parish and from 

Catholics around the diocese through the Guardian of Dreams 

Foundation. 


Palmer Catholic Academy wins blue ribbon award 

the Ponte Vedra school ranks in top 10 percentile nationally 

They are feeling blue these days 

at Palmer Catholic Academy in 

Ponte Vedra Beach – but blue in 

a good way. 

The Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish 

School received the “2005 No Child 

Left Behind Blue Ribbon School award” 

– the first school in the Diocese of Saint 

Augustine ever to be honored and one of 

only five Catholic primary schools in the 

state to receive the award last year. 

“It’s like the Academy Awards,” said 

Linda Earp, principal of Palmer Catholic 

Academy. “It’s very much an honor to be 

nominated, because there are so many 

schools competing for it.” 

“The No Child Left Behind-Blue 

Ribbon School” award honors public and 

private schools that either show dramatic 

improvement in student classroom 

performance and test scores, or are high 

academic achievers in their states. The 

award reflects the national goal of high 

standards and accountability in primary 

and secondary education. 

Schools that meet eligibility requirements 

submit a detailed application, 

including several years of test scores; 

reading and math test scores must show 

incremental progress. The curriculum is 

inspected to see if it academically encourages 

success for the students; teachers and 

school administrators are factored into the 

evaluation as well. 

The school was selected for the award 

based on their consistently scoring in the 

top 10 percentile of schools nationwide 

in standardized tests of reading and math. 

The curriculum includes six specialty enrichment 

classes and a number of exploratory 

classes where students can discover 

other areas of interest, including Web 

Design, Sign Language, TV production 

and Yoga. Another measure of the school’s 

academic success: all of the students from 

Palmer’s first graduating class (2002) will 

attend college this fall. 

“They are bragging about their school, and 

that’s something every principal would 

like, for the kids to actually love where 

they go everyday to learn.” 

“This is one of those milestone moments 

for our schools in the Diocese of Saint Augustine,” 

says Patricia Tierney, superintendent 

of Catholic Schools. “We are so proud 

of the Palmer community for the time that 

went into the whole process.” 

c e l e b r a t e e d u c a t i o n 

Catholic Schools Week 2006 

Catholic Schools: Character, 

Compassion, Values, is the theme of 

Catholic Schools Week, celebrated 

nationwide Jan. 29 through Feb. 4. 

The Quick and the Pretty 

This year’s theme for the 

Great City Rescue Mission Bed 

Race was “movies,” and while no 

one took home an Oscar, two area 

parish youth groups won individual 

awards for their efforts. 

The annual event was held 

Saturday, Nov. 19 at San 

Marco Historical Chapel Park 

in Jacksonville with 25 teams in 

competition, including Most Holy 

Redeemer (Jungle Book), Sacred 

Heart (Bed knobs & Broomsticks ) 

and St. Patrick (The Lion King ). 

Sacred Heart swept the 

competition in the youth division 

and won a trophy for “Fastest Bed.” 

Judges awarded St. Patrick youth 

group with “Best Decorated Bed.” The three parishes raised a total of $1,020.45 

for Jacksonville’s City Rescue Mission, a nonprofit, faith-based organization providing 

help to the homeless in northeast Florida. 

around 

around the diocese 

not just a job 

are you called to the 

priesthood? 

Mark Udry 

About 35 men gathered at the 

Catholic Center in Jacksonville 

on Oct. 25 for Vocation Night, 

an evening where men can learn 

more about a life in the priesthood. 

The men were invited to the meeting 

by their parish priests after expressing an 

interest to in the priesthood. 

Our Lady Star of the Sea Pastor, Msgr. Daniel Logan and Principal Linda Earp, 

proudly show off their award as of one of the nation’s best schools. 

Linda Earp and media specialist Gail 

Kindle, who assisted Earp in the application 

and review process, traveled to 

Washington D.C. in November to receive 

the award. 

Upon their return, the student body 

held a weeklong celebration. Classes made 

chalk drawings in the parking lot expressing 

their pride in receiving the award and 

everyone dressed out, head-to-toe, in 

blue. Blue Bell ice cream was served one 

afternoon, and the week concluded with a 

huge pep rally. 

“The children are extremely proud and 

they take accountability for it,” said Earp. 

special 

Catholic Schools Week is a joint 

partnership of the National Catholic 

Educational Association (NCEA) 

and the United States Conference 

of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It 

emphasizes the important role Catholic 

schools have in shaping the intellectual, 

spiritual, moral, physical and social 

values of its students as well as the high 

standards set by these schools. 

“Catholic Schools Week celebrates 

education that goes beyond 

preparation for a secular life – it is 

an education that prepares students 

for a Christian life,” said Pat Tierney, 

superintendent of Catholic Schools 

for the Diocese of Saint Augustine. 

The diocese boasts a total enrollment 

of 10,919 students in 29 

schools. That includes elementary 

and pre-K schools as well as secondary 

and a special education school. 

Most recently the diocese dedicated 

St. Francis High School in 

Gainesville – its fourth high school. 

For more information on local 

activities for Catholic Schools Week, 

go to www.dosaedu.org. 

couples celebrate 7,189 years of marriage 

Theirs was a whirlwind 

romance. William and 

Evelyn Kuhn met during 

the Christmas holidays at 

the Columbian Club in downtown 

Jacksonville. Six months later, on July 7, 

1939 they were married in Immaculate 

Conception Church – across the street 

from where they met. 

On Nov. 19 the Kuhns joined 179 

other couples in the Diocese of Saint 

Augustine who have been married 25 

years or more. They renewed their vows 

in a ceremony at Blessed Trinity Parish 

in Jacksonville – celebrated by Bishop 

Victor Galeone. The Kuhns were one of 

75 couples present that were married 

for 50 or more years; 13 of those couple 

have been married for 60 or more years. 

The total number of years 

of matrimony celebrated at 

the service was 7,189. 

The Kuhns, parishioners 

of Prince of Peace in 

Jacksonville, say the secret 

to a long marriage isn’t 

really a secret, but just 

simple common sense. 

Choose the right mate, 

have a strong Catholic faith, 

placing trust in God and the 

Father Remigiusz Blaszkowski, ordained 

last year, shares his story of why he 

became a priest with participants. 

The evening, hosted by Bishop Victor 

Galeone and Father Alan Bower, director of 

Vocations included a light meal and several 

priests of the Diocese of Saint Augustine 

shared with those gathered why they chose 

the priesthood and how they continue to 

love their call to service. 

Father Bower said the key to attracting 

men interested in the priesthood is an 

invitation from priests who act as a mentor 

and spiritual guide. 

Surveys of seminarians taken through 

2003 show that 78 percent attributed their 

interest in the priesthood as a result of 

encouragement from a priest, said Father 

Bower. He said Vocation Night will become 

an annual event, and will be hosted at three 

locations in the Jacksonville, St. Augustine 

and Gainesville areas due to the positive 

response from participants. 


around 

around the diocese 

BJSHS’ First Varsity 

Football Team 

Bishop Snyder High School made 

its debut on the gridiron this fall as the 

Cardinals fielded its first-ever varsity 

team. The Cardinals joined District 

3-1A, competing with traditional 

prep powers University Christian and 

Tallahassee’s North Florida Christian 

after two seasons of junior varsity 

football as an independent. Although 

the Cardinals finished below .500 

with a record of 4-6, they posted a 2- 

1 record in district play and notched 

back-to-back wins against Arlington 

Country Day (15-12) and a 50-0 

blowout of Providence. 

Bishop Snyder running back Chris 

Brookins (20) eludes Warriors 

defenders during the Cardinal’s 

14-7 loss to Eagle’s View 

Academy on Oct. 7. 

Mark Udry 

teachers catch love bug 

The first time Kristen Canto saw 

her future husband was from the 

stands at a high school basketball 

game. Todd DeClemente was 

courtside, stealing glances of her in the stands. 

“I had been getting on to my players about 

looking up in the stands and not paying 

attention to the game when I found myself 

doing the same thing,” said Todd. 

The two formally met through Vicki 

Naughton, the athletic director at Annunciation 

Interparish School in Middleburg and girl’s 

basketball coach at Bishop Snyder High School 

in Jacksonville. Vicki worked with Kristen, 

a first grade teacher at the school and knew 

Todd from Bishop Snyder High School where 

he teaches English and is the assistant boy’s 

basketball coach. Vicki told Todd and Kristen 

about the other, saying they would make a 

great couple. 

“They come from the same kind of 

St. Ephrem builds new church 

Seeking to build a church that 

reflects the heritage, tradition and 

devotion of its parishioners, St. 

Ephrem Syriac Catholic Church 

in Jacksonville held a groundbreaking 

celebration of its new church and parish 

hall on Nov. 20. The architectural design 

incorporates Eastern influences from fourth 

century Iraq for the 7,000 square foot 

church. Elements from San Simon Castle in 

Syria are currently reflected in the parish hall. 

Connecting the two buildings is a traditional 

Western-style bell tower. 

Pastor Selwan Sulaiman Taponi said the 

background, with 

strong religious 

beliefs and strong 

family ties, and that’s 

where I got the idea 

that they should be 

together,” Vicki said. 

They didn’t 

meet the night of the basketball game, but 

they connected a couple of weeks later at a 

diocesan teachers meeting in the early spring 

of 2004. They talked for about 10 minutes 

and exchanged phone numbers. They’re first 

date was a Jacksonville Suns baseball game. 

On June 18 last year, Bishop John J. 

Snyder married the couple at Immaculate 

Conception Church in Jacksonville. They 

were also fortunate enough to receive a papal 

blessing from Pope John Paul II. 

The first, they hope, of many blessings 

to come. 

tremendous faith of his parishioners is the 

driving force behind the growth of the parish. 

“When you have these kind of people, you 

can’t sit around,” said Father Taponi. “You 

have to help them build a church.” 

Father Taponi also praised Bishop Victor 

Galeone for his help in securing a loan 

to aid in the church construction. “He 

showed us the highest love and respect. We 

couldn’t have done it without him,” said 

Father Taponi. 

Construction on the church and hall will be 

completed in about 18 months. The parish is 

located on a five-acre site on Kernan Blvd. 

Mark Udry 

special 

in the news… diocesan highlights 

Anthony Broomfield of St. Joseph 

Academy in St. Augustine was named a 2005 

Wendy’s High School Heisman state finalist 

– one of 20 nominees in Florida. The award 

recognizes the nation’s top high school senior 

men and women for excellence in academics, 

athletics and community service. Anthony has 

a 3.9 GPA and plays football, basketball and 

baseball for the Fighting Flashes. 

Hail & Farewell Loyal Servants 

The 13th annual Black and White Ball, 

and its sister event, Festival d’Vine, together 

raised more than $200,000 to help families 

in crisis avoid homelessness. The Jacksonville 

office of Catholic Charities sponsored the 

event with proceeds supporting more than 

40,000 services to 5,000 families in our 

community each year. 

. . . . . 

In December, Catholic Charities in 

Jacksonville unveiled a new logo that will 

better explain the mission of the agency to 

the community. Catholic Charities provides 

emergency assistance helping families avoid 

homelessness, counseling services, refugee 

resettlement, maternity and adoption services. 

Dominican Sister Patricia Eileen Consier retired as director of Liturgical 

Music for the Cathedral-Basilica in St. Augustine on Oct. 23. Sister Eileen was 

appointed director in 1979 by the pastor at that time, Father Harold Jordan. He 

mentioned to her that the Cathedral only had an organist and a few volunteer choral 

singers who performed during the holidays. 

She used her educational background (she has a 

bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in choral and instrumental 

music) to organize, train and lead one of the most gifted adult 

choirs in the diocese. They not only lead the congregation in 

music during Mass on Sundays, but they perform during the 

holidays and have attracted many from North Florida to their 

special concerts. 

Sister Patricia’s time is now devoted to playing the piano, 

organ and “if you are sad and want to cry, I’ll play the violin for 

you,” she said. 

Father Joseph Maniangat, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Chiefland 

and Holy Cross Mission in Cross City, officially retired from fulltime ministry on Nov. 

26. Father Joseph was ordained to the priesthood in 1964 

at the International Eucharistic Congress in Bombay, India. 

He came to the Diocese of Saint Augustine in 1983 and was 

appointed administrator and then pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in 

Macclenny. 

While in Macclenny, Father Joseph also served as the 

chaplain of the Florida State Prison in Raiford and Union 

Correctional Institution, which includes inmates on death row. 

As pastor of St. Mary’s he led the drive to build a new 

church, which was dedicated on Oct. 13, 1996. Father 

Maniangat was named pastor of St. John the Evangelist in 

June 1999. He was also instrumental in the expansion and growth of the church at 

Holy Cross Mission in nearby Cross City. 

The Putman County Knights of Columbus 

donated $20,000 to purchase ultrasound 

equipment for A Women’s Resource Center 

in Palatka. The center counsels and provides 

a variety of services for women facing a crisis 

pregnancy. 

. . . . . 

U.S. District Attorney for the Middle District 

of Florida Paul Perez was honored with the 

Law and Spirituality Award at the October 

Red Mass at Immaculate Conception Church 

in Jacksonville. Laurel Owens, president of the 

Catholic Lawyers Guild, presented Perez with 

the award that recognizes a member in the 

community whose deeds advance and protect 

the rule of law. The Red Mass, celebrated 

by Bishop Victor Galeone, brings together 

members of law enforcement, the government 

and the legal community to celebrate the 

Eucharist and ask for blessings and guidance 

in their professions. 

. . . . . 

St. Paul Parish in Jacksonville Beach held a 

Respect Life Fair to honor the Feast of 

Christ the King on Nov. 19-20. The event, 

featuring information booths and a youth 

group bake sale, promoted human dignity and 

the teachings of the Catholic Church on life 

issues. The day was dedicated to the memory 

of Teri Schiavo. 

. . . . . 

St. Vincent’s Health System, unveiled its 

newly revamped website: www.jaxhealth.com. 

The new site incorporates all aspects of the 

health system’s facilities and provides viewers 

easier, web-friendly navigation. The new 

look completes the first phase of the website’s 

redevelopment. The second phase will 

include Spanish language options, health risk 

assessment and increased access for doctors. 


Mark Udry 

Mark Udry 

Mark Udry

news 

catholic news 

Catholic community prays for the families of dead miners 

CNS photo/Jason Cohn, Reuters 

West Virginia priest kept vigil 

with miners’ families in tragedy 

When Father Andy Kranyc heard 

the news of the Jan. 2 explosion at the 

Sago Coal Mine in Upshur County, 

which trapped 13 coal miners 260 feet 

underground, he immediately left to be 

there for the families. “When I heard about 

it, I just went out there to see if I could 

help,” Father Kranyc said. 

As the son and grandson of Pennsylvania 

coal miners, Father Kranyc knew well the 

dangers of the coal mining industry and 

wanted to be present for the families as 

they waited to hear the fate of their loved 

ones. Upon his arrival he learned that three 

of the miners were from his community 

of Philippi, roughly 25 miles from Sago, 

where he is pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish. 

Father Kranyc stayed with the families 

through the duration of the ordeal, leaving 

only for a few hours. He was with them 

late in the evening on Jan. 3 in the Sago 

Baptist Church when they were told that 

12 of the 13 miners were alive. Father 

Kranyc said it was difficult to watch the 

jubilation of the families dissolve into 

overwhelming grief, despair and disbelief 

when they learned that all but one of the 

miners were found dead. 

A man breaks down while speaking to 

several hundred people during a Jan. 4 

candlelight vigil at the Sago Baptist Church 

in Tallmansville, W.Va., for miners who died 

in the Jan. 2 Sago Mine explosion. 

Questions about homosexuality 

already part of U.S. seminary process 

Years before the Vatican’s recent 

document putting restrictions on 

homosexuals entering seminaries, U.S. 

seminary candidates were being openly 

questioned about their sexual orientation. 

Within the past 20 years, such questioning 

has become a growing part of efforts to 

determine the suitability of candidates who 

want to enter a seminary. 

Psychological screeners for seminaries 

interviewed by Catholic News Service were 

quick to note, however, that the aim is 

not to single out people because of their 

sexual orientation but to determine if a 

candidate is psychologically and sexually 

mature enough to make a commitment 

to the celibate priesthood. They added 

that the sexual history is only a part of 

the psychological profiling that is done to 

judge the candidate. 

Catholic-Jewish meeting marks 

40 years of changed relations 

At a recent meeting in their twiceyearly 

consultation, representatives of the 

U.S. Catholic bishops and of Reform and 

Conservative Judaism commemorated 

the 40th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the 

Second Vatican Council declaration on 

other religions that dramatically changed 

Catholic understanding of Jews and 

Judaism. 

The consultation also discussed current 

concerns in Catholic-Jewish relations 

and honored Cardinal William H. Keeler 

of Baltimore, Catholic co-chairman of 

the consultation, who recently marked 

the 50th anniversary of his ordination to 

the priesthood. The meeting of delegates 

from the National Council of Synagogues 

and the U.S. Conference of Catholic 

Bishops’ Committee on Ecumenical and 

Interreligious Affairs was held Nov. 2 at 

St. Mary’s Seminary and University in 

Baltimore. 

Pope names new U.S. papal 

nuncio 

Pope Benedict XVI named a veteran 

Vatican diplomat, Italian Archbishop Pietro 

CNS photo from Catholic Press Photo 

Sambi, to be the new papal nuncio to 

the United States. Archbishop Sambi, 67, 

has served as the Vatican’s representative 

to Israel and Palestine, where he helped 

arrange Pope John Paul II’s historic 

pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2000. He 

replaces Colombian Archbishop Gabriel 

Montalvo, who was retiring at age 75 after 

serving as nuncio in Washington since 

1998. 

The Vatican announced the appointment 

Dec. 17. Archbishop Sambi is known 

in church circles as an energetic and 

gregarious man with an ability to bring the 

human touch to diplomatic challenges. 

He speaks Italian, English, French and 

Spanish. 

Italian Archbishop Pietro Sambi, named 

papal nuncio to the United States by Pope 

Benedict XVI Dec. 17. 

Philippine priest turns poor into 

tech-savvy e-traders 

Divine Word Father Benigno Beltran 

talks about bandwidth, e-trading and 

income streams with the ease of a Silicon 

Valley technophile, yet the ever-present 

smell of burning garbage betrays his 

surroundings. Father Beltran is pastor 

of Manila’s Parish of the Risen Christ, 

a congregation of scavengers who 

live alongside Smokey Mountain, the 

Philippine capital’s legendary – and ever 

smoldering – garbage dump. 

Father Beltran, who has lived among 

his parishioners for 27 years, knows 

Father Beltran, seen here in July in the 

kitchen of his parish house with his laptop, is 

pushing young people in the parish to learn 

technological skills and engage in e-trading. 

their desperate marginalization, so he is 

aggressively pushing a high-tech solution 

to their poverty. “Globalization is only 

antagonistic to those who aren’t prepared 

for it,” said Father Beltran, who was born 

on the southern Philippine island of 

Mindanao. 

“If the poor are unprepared, if they’re 

still linked to the industrial age when 

we’re living in the cybernetic age, then 

globalization won’t benefit them. So it’s 

the responsibility of the church and civil 

society to ready the poor. We shouldn’t 

hold back the march of history. Our faith 

tells us to move from the garden to the 

heavenly city.” 

Earthquake survivors carry tin 

sheets 

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• Catholic Italy • Marian Shrines • Journey of St. Paul • North American Shrines • Eastern Europe • Catholic England • Jordan & Egypt 


CNS photo/Paul Jeffrey 

CNS photo/Jason Cohn, Reuters 

Kashmirian earthquake survivors carry 

tin sheets meant for their shelter in the 

devastated village of Pieer Chanasi, east 

of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered 

Kashmir Jan. 5. Survivors of the Oct. 8 

earthquake are facing the harsh reality of 

winter, with most survivors living in tents or 

crude shelters. 

• Holy Land • Ireland • Medjugorje • Mexico • California Mission Trails •

calendar 

February 2006 

Feb. 9 12th Annual Good Samaritan 

Awards Dinner – Hosted by St. Augustine 

Regional Office of Catholic Charities. 

Thursday, 6 p.m., Casa Monica Hotel, St. 

Augustine. For tickets, call (904) 829-6300. 

Cost: $60 per ticket. 

Feb. 10-12 Catholic Charismatic 

Conference – “Awake: Salvation is Near.” 

Friday, 7 p.m. to Sunday, 11:45 a.m., St. 

Catherine Parish, Orange Park. Keynoter: 

Father Scott McCaig of the Companions of the 

Cross. Intercessory Prayer, Mass with Bishop 

Galeone, Reconciliation and more. All ages 

welcome. For information call Anne, (904) 

733-1492. 

Feb. 10-12 Diocesan Marriage Renewal 

– A retreat weekend for couples that want 

to enrich their marriage. Friday to Sunday, 

Marywood Retreat Center, Jacksonville. To 

register, call Tina or John Morrissey, (904) 

744-6843. 

National Conference 

July 21 & 22, 2006 • Jacksonville Riverfront Hyatt 

Sponsored by Family Honor, Inc. 

In cooperation with the Diocese of St. Augustine 

Join us for a remarkable spiritual journey 

through the mercy of God and Pope John Paul II’s 

Theology of the Body. 

Feb. 10-12 Engaged Encounter – 

A marriage preparation program open to 

couples of all faiths. Begins Friday, 7:30 p.m., 

Marywood Retreat Center, Jacksonville. Cost: 

$225 per couple. Call (904) 308-7474 or 

register online: www.dcfl.org 

Feb. 11 Pure Fashion Show – Saturday, 

11 a.m.-2 p.m., Marriott at Southpoint, 

Jacksonville. Guest speaker: Dr. Coleen Kelly 

Mast. For information or tickets, call (904) 

377-7229. Suggested donation: adults $30/ 

kids $20. 

Feb. 17-19 Retrouvaille/Rediscovery 

– A retreat weekend for couples with troubled 

marriages. Friday, 8 p.m. to Sunday, 5 p.m., 

Jacksonville. To register, call Bill or Trudy, 

(904) 992-0408. 

Feb. 18 English/Spanish Pre-Cana – 

A marriage preparation program for engaged 

couples that want to marry in the Catholic 

Church. Saturday, 8:15 a.m. -5:30 p.m., 

St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Jacksonville. 

Cardinal Francis 

Arinze 

Rev. Richard 

Hogan 

Lisa Militello 

Father Benedict 

Groeschel 

Sister Renée 

Mirkes 

Katrina Zeno 

Christopher West 

Details available at www.familyhonor.org or call Family Honor toll free at 1.877.208.1353. 

Cost: $69 per couple. Call (904) 308-7474 

or register online: wwwdcfl.org 

Feb. 18 Roots of Christian Mysticism 

– Leader: Religious of the Cenacle Sisters 

Elizabeth Hillmann, Rose Hoover and 

Annette Mattle. Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Marywood Retreat Center, Jacksonville. 

Cost: $35. Call (904) 287-2525 or visit 

www.marywoodcenter.org 

Feb. 21 Concert with John Michael 

Talbot – Tuesday, 7 p.m., Cathedral-Basilica, 

St. Augustine. For information and tickets, 

call Randy Bruner, (904) 829-1530, or Mary 

Grace, (904) 824-2806. 

Feb. 23 Successful Relationships: 

Intention and Results Are Always the 

Same – Leader: Therese Quinn. Thursday, 

7-9 p.m. Cost: $10. Marywood Retreat Center, 

Jacksonville. Call (904) 287-2525 or visit 

www.marywoodcenter.org 

Feb. 25 20th Annual Spirit of Charity 

Gala – Hosted by Gainesville Regional Office 

of Catholic Charities. Saturday, 

6:30 p.m., Hilton University Conference 

Center, Gainesville. For information or tickets, 

call (352) 372-0294. 

Feb. 25 Diocesan Youth Rally – Saturday, 

10 a.m.-9 p.m., St. Catherine Parish, 

Orange Park. For youth in high school. 

Keynote speaker: Father Stan Fortuna. 

To register, call Mary Ann Dufresne, 

(904) 264-0577, or email: mad@ 

stcathereinesiena.com. 

Feb. 26 Diocesan Youth Rally – Sunday, 

Noon to 7 p.m., St. Catherine Parish, Orange 

Park. For youth in middle school. Keynote 

speaker: Father Stan Fortuna. To register, 

call Mary Ann Dufresne, (904) 264-0577, or 

email: mad@stcatherinesiena.com. 

Feb. 28 Estate Planning Seminar 

– Tuesday, 7 p.m., Our Lady Star of the 

Sea Parish, Ponte Vedra Beach. Speaker: 

Attorney John Crawford. For more 

information, call (904) 262-3200, 

ext. 166. 

feed your spirit 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Largest Catholic 

Store in Jacksonville 

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Shop one of these 

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Deepen your knowledge of the 

faith. When you need a new bible, 

rosary, book, or a unique gift, please 

support these establishments. They’ll 

be happy to special order anything. 

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 

March 1 and Easter is April 16th. 

Jewelry 

Stationery 

Cards 

Queen of Angels 

Catholic Book Store 

11018 St. Augustine Road, Ste. 125 


288-0062 

The Gallavans 

St. Joseph Parishioners 

Art 

Music 

Rosaries 

 

 

 

Fine Gifts for all Catholics 

Religious Jewelry, Bibles, 

Books, Rosaries and More! 

a ministry of Queen of Peace 

10900 S.W. 24th Ave. 

Gainesville, FL 32607 

(352) 331-2035 

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 

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A Great Selection! 

Gifts • Books • Icons 

Find the classics, new arrivals 

in Marywood’s bookstore. 

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1714-5 State Road 13 


(904) 287-2525 

Books, Gifts, 

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3619 Blanding Blvd. 

(south of Wilson) 

Closed Sunday 

(904) 777-1880 


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catholic 


The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Saint Augustine 

11625 St. Augustine Road 


Online: www.dosafl.com 

www.staugcatholic.org

Jacksonville's Carla Harris - St. Augustine Catholic

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