November 21, 2009 |
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Sister Mary Alice Ashton, 67Posted: 12.31.08 Let Us PrayAbsolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant Sister Mary Alice Ashton, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, she may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. We pray through Christ our Lord. ASTON, Pa. | Franciscan Sister Mary Alice Ashton, formerly Sister Robert Ann, died June 12. Sister Ashton, 67, had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 39 years. Sister Ashton was born in Baltimore where she was a member of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen Parish. In the Diocese of Orlando, Sister Ashton taught at St. John Vianney School in Orlando from 1972 to 1976. Funeral Mass was June 19 at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Baltimore. She was buried at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Baltimore.
RETURN TO TOP | RETURN TO DIOCESE OF ORLANDO FRONT PAGE  FRANK WEBER | FC FILE Father Stephen Phillips, 52Posted: 12.05.08 ORLANDO | Father Stephen Phillips, 52, pastor of St. Faustina Catholic Church, in Four Corners, died suddenly Dec. 4 at home. Born in Jacksonville, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orlando by Bishop Thomas Grady on Aug. 29, 1987, at his home parish, Our Savior Catholic Church, in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Father Phillips served as a parochial vicar in various parishes, including St. Paul’s in Daytona, St. Joseph in Winter Haven, Divine Mercy in Merritt Island and Blessed Trinity in Ocala. In August 2000 Bishop Dorsey appointed him pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary with additional responsibilities for Christ the King Mission in Citra. In September 2006, after returning from sabbatical studies, Bishop Wenski appointed him the founding pastor of St. Faustina Catholic Church in the fast growing “Four Corners” area of Central Florida. The growing congregation began with Masses celebrated at a hotel conference room, and is currently meeting in a former bar–b–que restaurant on US 27 near Rte. 192. In Spring of 2009, parish activities will move to a pre–fab multi–purpose building to be erected on the parish property. Let Us PrayAbsolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant Father Stephen Phillips, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. We pray through Christ our Lord. Father Phillips was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his sister Mary Gilmore. Visitation will be held at St. Faustina, 320 US Hwy. 27, Clermont, on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. The transfer of the body, to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Clermont, will take place at 8 p.m. with the Rite of Reception upon arrival. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Clermont. Rite of Committal and Burial will be held in San Pedro Cemetery in Winter Park at 3:30 p.m. Priests are invited to bring their alb and white stole to concelebrate. RETURN TO TOP | RETURN TO DIOCESE OF ORLANDO FRONT PAGE Deacon Samuel William Ryan, 60ORLANDO | The Oct. 25 death of Deacon Samuel William Ryan at age 60 has left a hole in the hearts and lives of his St. James Cathedral community as well as the wider Orlando community, according to many who knew him. Let Us PrayAbsolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant Deacon Samuel William Ryan, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. We pray through Christ our Lord. Deacon Ryan was born July 29, 1948, in Louisville, Ky., where he lived until he graduated from the University of Louisville in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in history. He was employed by Stromberg-Carlson in Lake Mary in 1971 and fulfilled a variety of middle-management positions until 1995. From 1997 to 2004, Deacon Ryan was employed in the telecommunications department of the University of Florida in Gainesville. Deacon Ryan was both married and ordained at St. James Cathedral. On July 17, 1981, he married Deborah Marie Bohlmann and on March 2, 1991, now-retired Bishop Emeritus Norbert M. Dorsey ordained him a permanent deacon. Deacon Ryan served at weekly Mass and coordinated the adult initiation program and the baptismal preparation program. He was a member of the St. James Cathedral Knights of Columbus Council 12402 and served as grand Knight from 2003 to 2005. He quietly served the many functions and activities of his parish. A former director of the Orlando Jaycees, Deacon Ryan assisted in many civic and cultural organizations, including the Orlando Science Center, the National Association of Dialysis Patients, Toastmasters International, the Goldenrod and East Orlando Chambers of Commerce and others. Sister of Notre Dame Mary Katherine Palisin, pastoral associate at St. James Cathedral, recounted the witnesses that were given at the wake service Oct. 29. “He was there for everyone,” she said. “The witness was amazing – he was so genuine, a very, very kind man, so good, so positive. He really lived his vocation as a deacon – he always served.” RETURN TO TOP | RETURN TO DIOCESE OF ORLANDO FRONT PAGE Msgr. Charles Aloysius Bartok, 87
ORLANDO | It is difficult to imagine the landscape of central Florida in the late 1940s and ’50s when Msgr. Charles Aloysius Bartok first arrived, yet today’s landscape bears the imprint of his love. “He was a strong, confident leader. He was an incredible visionary, a real pioneer in that this was barren countryside,” said Father John J. Bluett, pastor of St. Stephen Parish in Winter Springs. “He was building buildings — he was building faith communities.” Let Us PrayAbsolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant Msgr. Charles Aloysius Bartok, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. We pray through Christ our Lord. Msgr. Bartok was born in Hungary Jan. 19, 1921, and ordained on May 15, 1947, for the Diocese of St. Augustine. He died Oct. 30. A review of his pastoral assignments also provides a glimpse of his missionary spirit serving the then Diocese of St. Augustine. Msgr. Bartok’s first assignment was as assistant pastor at the Cathedral of St. Augustine in 1947. He became assistant pastor at St. Paul Parish in St. Petersburg in 1950, then in 1953 moved into what became the Diocese of Orlando, serving as founding pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Orlando. As pastor there, Msgr. Bartok oversaw the building of the church facilities, the elementary school, Morning Star School and the entire campus of Bishop Moore High School, becoming its first president in 1960. In 1968, he became pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Bartow; in 1973 he was the pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Mims and in 1974 returned to pastor St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. Read the complete article here. RETURN TO TOP | RETURN TO DIOCESE OF ORLANDO FRONT PAGE Msgr. Matthew John Connolly, 80
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS | When the community gathers on Nov. 1, All Saints Day for the funeral of Msgr. Matthew John Connolly, it will be in thanksgiving for his living witness to what it means to be holy. This much loved man of God passed away Oct. 26. “He was a good, dedicated priest who truly loved his priesthood and the people of God,” shared Dominican Sister Lucy Vazquez, regional advocate for Brevard County, who worked with and was friends with Msgr. Connelly for more than 30 years. Let Us PrayAbsolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant Msgr. Matthew John Connolly, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. We pray through Christ our Lord. “He dedicated his whole life to reconciling people to the church and the sacraments. He really believed in the healing ministry of the Tribunal and even after he retired, came in to work in his wheelchair a couple days a week just so he could help people,” Sister Vazquez added. Msgr. Connolly was born in Chicago on Sept. 8, 1928, the feast day of the Birth of the Virgin Mary. He was raised, however, in Waterford, Ireland. He was educated at St. John College, in Waterford, and ordained on June 14, 1953. Following ordination, he attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, graduating with a master’s degree in 1956 and pursued post–graduate studies in Madrid, Spain. Read the complete article here. RETURN TO TOP | RETURN TO DIOCESE OF ORLANDO FRONT PAGE Brother Jerome Francis Healey, 87The religious brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross served at the Christopher Lodge in Cocoa Beach for more than 15 years. Let Us PrayAbsolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant Brother Jerome Francis Healey, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. We pray through Christ our Lord. Brother Jerome Francis Healey, a religious brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross — Eastern Province, died at Holy Cross House at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind., Dec. 23, 2007. He was 87 and had been ill with cancer. Brother Healey lived in Cocoa Beach from 1981 until 2007. He was born Francis Healey on Oct. 5, 1920, in Kearny, N.J., the son of Michael and Winifred (Gannon) Healey. Following studies at St. Benedict Preparatory School in Newark, N.J., he entered the Holy Cross Congregation in November 1940. He made his first profession of vows in 1942 and final profession in 1945. He served at the University of Notre Dame from 1942 until 1949, first at Ave Maria Press and later in the campus post office and fire department. His next assignment was at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where he served as business manager of the campus bookstore until 1981. Read the complete article here. RETURN TO TOP | RETURN TO DIOCESE OF ORLANDO FRONT PAGE Philip John Brady, 70St. Thomas Catholic School principal, diocesan School Board member and long–time Catholic educator died Jan. 4. Let Us PrayAbsolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant Philip John Brady, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, he may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. We pray through Christ our Lord. LAKELAND | Principal Philip John Brady, a welcoming, smiling presence to the students of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in St. Cloud, died Jan. 4. He was 70. The Lakeland resident began his life in Catholic education as a student at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Bayonne, N.J. His journey continued through Catholic high school, college, graduate school and eventually led to eight years as principal at St. Joseph Elementary in Lakeland, and finally to his position as principal of St. Thomas Aquinas. He was serving his second term on the Diocese of Orlando School Board when he died. Father John P. Caulfield, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Lakeland, considered Brady a good friend and great gift. “He was a wonderful educator, a faith-filled mentor of young people. He had to carry significant crosses. He and his wife, Anne, had to give back their daughter Meaghan to the Lord in 2002 and his gift of redemptive suffering in his final illness was bravely borne. He will be well-remembered and sorely missed by many.” Read the complete article here. RETURN TO TOP | RETURN TO DIOCESE OF ORLANDO FRONT PAGE Haley Michele Smith, 9The brave fourth-grader loses her battle with brain cancer. Let Us PrayAbsolve, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the soul of Thy servant Haley Michele Smith, from every bond of sin, that being raised in the glory of the resurrection, she may be refreshed among the Saints and Elect. We pray through Christ our Lord. PALM BAY | Haley Michele Smith, a 9-year-old fourth-grader at St. Joseph Catholic School whose battle with incurable brain cancer touched the hearts of many Florida Catholic readers, died Dec. 19, 2007. Valiant through the end of her nine-month fight, Haley completed her schoolwork for the semester before she died, said Anna Adam, principal of the Palm Bay school. “She just loved school — everything about it — and we learned so much from her,” Adam said. Adam and Father Robert Hoeffner, pastor, visited each classroom to announce Haley’s death and to pray with the children, who spent the remainder of the afternoon writing letters and drawing pictures. Many of the letters told Haley not to worry about her younger brother, Drew, because her schoolmates would be brothers and sisters to him. Some of the pictures showed Haley trapped in her body here on earth, but up in the sky dancing and doing the gymnastics she loved. Adam marveled, “They expressed everything that we teach. Their faith is so strong that we got our strength from them. We’re a Catholic school and we live our beliefs.” Father Hoeffner presided at a memorial service for Haley on the morning of Dec. 20 with all the school grades and Haley’s family present. A lasting memorial will be decided in the near future. |
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