September - St. Augustine Catholic

April 2006 • www.staugcatholic.org
RETIREMENTS
WORK LIFE p. 27
SPIRITUAL FITNESS p.14
FATHER JOE p. 8
the dead?
THEOLOGY 101 p. 10
MARRIAGE MA TERS p.12
SPIRITUAL FITNESS p. 14
THEOLOGY 101 p. 10
a senior at FSU. “Onie has been a very
big influence in my life. My participation
here carries over to Tallahassee, where I’m
involved at St. Thomas More. After what
I’ve found at St. Matthew, it would be weird
not to be part of a parish.”
The St. Matthew model is not only
empowering, but also inclusive. It has
been unusually successful at bridging the
gap between Catholic and public school
students that is typical of many parish
programs. At St. Matthew, boundaries
merge as high school students from Bishop
Kenny and Bishop Snyder, Paxon, Stanton,
Ed White, Lee and Forrest come together
for social times and service projects – many
of them members of other area parishes.
For one thing, they’ve been interacting since
junior high.
“Our confirmation prep is the best
example of how we feel about inclusion,”
notes Onie. “The kids from the parish
school and the public schools all go through
confirmation together. The high school
kids, also a mix of public and private school
students, do the retreat. They meet for three
months before the date so they can put it on
for the eighth graders. They do all the talks,
plan all the activities, everything.”
There is also outreach beyond the parish.
Some St. Matthew youth participate in
SPLUNGE, an urban renewal ministry
that Onie helped introduce to the diocese.
Others volunteer at Camp Promise for
disabled children or attend the weeklong
diocesan summer program called Youth
Leader. “Kids want to contribute if you let
them,” says Onie. “It’s our job to facilitate
that generosity of spirit.” She notes the
importance of Father Luke McLaughlin’s
support and the way the parish has
embraced the youth program. “I like to say
that every parishioner can and should be a
youth minister,” she says. “It’s that holistic
concept again. If you see a kid in the
grocery store, you can reach out and talk
to them. Everyone has a chance to make a
difference.”
Building a Youth Network at St. Philip
Neri Mission
Several counties away, in the farming
community of Hawthorne, 20 miles east of
Gainesville, Linda Lussier is preparing to
launch St. Philip Neri’s new youth program.
Like Onie Lee at St. Matthew, she won’t
be going it alone: “This is a youth-led
initiative,” she says. “The kids will play a big
part in shaping and defining the program.”
Given the widely scattered population of
young people in the area. Linda plans to
use every means at her disposal to get the
word out. “Technology is key,” she says. “I’m
writing a grant to get a laptop we can use
to send emails. It will also make us mobile.
For example, we can plan meetings at a
centrally located café and take the laptop
with us to use for research and to record
the minutes. We can take it with us when
we travel, and we can even plan virtual
meetings. With a secure space on Yahoo, we
can connect to the group from their homes.
The possibilities are endless.”
Linda is also thinking outside the box
about what it will take to keep teens
engaged in the program. “The big thing
we’re vying for is their time, between
school and sports. The activities will have
to include things they might not otherwise
have the opportunity to try,” she notes.
With a degree in recreation management,
Linda’s personal preference leans toward
physical challenges: rock-climbing at a
gym in Gainesville, kayaking, and a rope
course to teach team-building skills. There
will also be a balance of service days
and an emphasis on attending Mass on
Sundays.
“We want kids to participate in all aspects
of the program,” she says. “As an incentive,
points will be awarded for attendance.
Those who participate regularly will get a
big break on their fun day admissions. And
at the end of the year, the high point winner
will receive an iPod.”
St. Philip Neri’s youth program will
include ecumenical awareness and
outreach. “We are open to kids of all faiths,”
says Linda. “I want to get parents involved,
to get them talking to their children about
issues that are important to them. I’m not
looking to convert, I’m just looking for kids
to identify with their faith, whatever it is.”
Like Onie Lee, Linda is grateful to her
faith community for their support of
youth. “Unfortunately, it’s more typical
to prepare them for the sacraments, and
then just set them free,” she says. “But
here at St. Philip Neri, even though the
population is generally an older group, they
are committed to youth. We are extremely
fortunate to have a wonderful, wonderful
church that does value their children.”
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AFFILIATED WITH THE DIOCESE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE
catholic
St. Augustine
FROM THE BISHOP
praying for the
imprisoned p.6
EASTER RENEWAL
catholic
St. Augustine
February 2006 • www.staugcatholic.org
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
how new
Catholics enrich
our parishes p.16
THEOLOGY 101 p.10
what is the Liturgy?
MARRIAGE MA TERS p.12
how to resolve
money issues
pastors ready for
new ministry p.24
WORK LIFE p.9
how to shift to
being the boss
By the Grace of God
catholic
One Lost Boy’s journey from the Sudan to America
St. Augustine
May 2006 • www.staugcatholic.org
Jacksonville’s Carla Harris
Wa l Street Banker, Recording Artist, Benefactor
spirituality in the
workplace
the freedom of
forgiveness
did Jesus raise
himsel from
FROM THE BISHOP
The Da Vinci Code
fact or fiction? p.6
Catholic Schools
liturgy of the Eucharist
overcoming
pornography
closing the door of
ignorance
ADULT FAITH FORMATION
opening yourself
up to God p.16
ST. VINCENT’S HOSPITAL
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St. Augustine
July/August 2006 • www.staugcatholic.org
FROM THE BISHOP
attending Mass leads to
a healthier marriage p. 6
ST. VINCENT’S CLINIC ON WHEELS
ALZHEIMER’S
treating the poor and
uninsured p. 16
ANGELS OF MERCY
a caregiver’s
trial of faith p.16
FORGIVENESS
restoring
relationships p.8
CATHOLIC HISTORY
from parish
priests to florida
missionaries p.7
celebrating
90 years p.24
Remembering our past, embracing our future
parishioners spread
their wings to help
community p. 24
Katrina One Year Later
St. Augustine
March 2006 • www.staugcatholic.org
Hope After Abortion
CHURCH ETIQUETTE
ULTIMATE GETAWAYS
PROFILE
St. Augustine
Starting Over for One New Orleans Family
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wedding liturgies
PARENTING JOURNEY p. 13
helping children deal
with i lness
SPIRITUAL FITNESS p. 14
are you dressed for
the Lord’s banquet? p.6
refreshing the mind,
body and soul p.16
who is Ernie Bono? p.24
embracing our crosses
catholic
June 2006 • www.staugcatholic.org
catholic
How three women found healing and forgiveness
WORK LIFE p.9
establishing a
purpose for your work
PARENTING JOURNEY p.13
parenting even when
you disagree
A New Beginning
SPIRITUAL FITNESS p.14
living out the spirit of
martyrdom
Discover how Ed & Ceci Birk saved their marriage
Call 1-800-775-4659, ext. 108
Email: sac@dosafl.com
THEOLOGY 101 p. 10
liturgy of the hours
PARENTING JOURNEY p. 13
how to respond when
your children lie
WORK LIFE p. 28
do I need a
personality transplant?
help spread
the faith!
St. Augustine Catholic September 2006 23
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