November 21, 2009 |
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 April 2009 Swine flu doesn’t stop Floridians’ Mexico pilgrimagePro–life pilgrims see a spiritual message in the coincidence of the date of the outbreak — April 24 — being the second anniversary of Mexico City’s legalization of first trimester abortions. ORLANDO | The swine flu outbreak did not deter a quartet from Florida from making a Human Life International pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe near Mexico City. The group also carried out a pro–life mission on the trip. Father Tom Euteneuer, a priest of the Diocese of Palm Beach who is president of the Virginia–based Catholic international pro–life group, led 35 pilgrims from Florida, California, Boston, Mississippi and Chicago on the trip, which included a visit to a hospital that performs abortions. Anne Lotierzo of St. Joseph Parish in Stuart, Susan Pine of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in West Palm Beach, Meg Albright of St. Martin de Porres Parish in Jensen Beach and Martha Gonzalez of St. Lucie Parish in Port St. Lucie took part in the pilgrimage. MORE... Lynn Ramsey | 04.30.09 | Return To Top New ‘Living Faith’ blog is for your storiesORLANDO | The Florida Catholic has always been about telling the stories of the Catholic Church in the Sunshine State — no matter the medium. The new “Living Faith” blog will help carry that message — your stories of faith — to the world. The “Living Faith” community blog debuts this week in tandem with the paper’s new “Living our Faith” page in printed editions. The Florida Catholic’s Lynn Ramsey will moderate “Living Faith” and introduce various faith topics and articles. Ramsey will provide his views and seeks to include community perspectives through readers’ comments in order to relate a complete story. To begin communicating with us, click HERE or on “Living Faith” under “Blogs” on the navigation bar to participate in this blog. Staff Report | 04.28.09 | Return To Top Shirt drive nets 34,000 sleeves, food and cash
LYNN RAMSEY | FC ORLANDO | Everyone loves a two-for-one deal, and Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida’s Tallahassee office benefits from such a deal. The Tallahassee office tied its contributions for the Florida Catholic’s Long-Sleeve Relief and Food-Diaper-Personal Hygiene drive to the Alan Feinstein Foundation, which has offered to match contributions up to $1 million. While the Florida Catholic’s drive ended April 5, the Tallahassee office’s drive continues through Thursday, April 30. The drive netted 17,000 shirts, down 4,000 from last year. Mary St. Pierre, parish services manager for the Florida Catholic and drive coordinator, said agencies received lots of diapers and personal hygiene items, but the food donations weren’t as plentiful. She attributed that to the economy. “People are struggling to pay their own grocery bills,” she said. “We’re happy to receive what they could contribute.” MORE... Lynn Ramsey | 04.24.09 | Return To Top Divine Mercy Sunday, God’s torrent of special gracesORLANDO | It’s not often we hear the words “plenary indulgence.” But the Church teaches that the upcoming feast of Divine Mercy affords the grace of the complete remission of sins and all punishment. Divine Mercy Sunday, a relatively new solemnity of the Church, is the Sunday after Easter – April 19 this year. According to Church teaching, the indulgence is granted to those who go to confession within 20 days of the feast, receive holy Communion on the feast day, pray for the pope’s intentions and likewise extend mercy to all others. “Scripture teaches us that we have been loved first by God. That’s the bottom line of everything,” explained Father Edward McCarthy, rector of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando. “The greatest expression of that love is Jesus, and the greatest expression of his love is the Eucharist – one of the primary ways we come in direct contact with the mercy, the love and forgiveness of God. If we were to live out what we celebrate, there would be abundant forgiveness for everyone.” More, plus maps and resource links Laura Dodson | 04.15.09 | Return To Top Annual project ends, need does notORLANDO | Lent is a popular time to give to charities because the Church views the season as a reason for the faithful to look deep into their hearts and think of the less fortunate. But the need doesn’t stop with Easter. So agencies and ministries affiliated with the Florida Catholic’s Long-Sleeve Relief and Food-Diaper-Personal Hygiene drives need contributions year-round. Officials at the agencies acknowledge that economic woes are not only stretching their stocks, but also the resources of those who contribute. Many agencies and ministries, as a result, will accept help in other ways, too. MORE... Lynn Ramsey | 04.03.09 | Return To Top Reluctant retreat-goer finds healing, dignity for lost childI was very excited as I boarded the plane one late spring day to Tulsa, Okla. My sister had invited me to go on a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat with her in Tulsa where she now lived with her family. I was happy to get away from the stress of the recent death of my mother-in-law and the failing health of my dad. I really didn’t need any healing, I thought. The lifestyle I had led in the ’70s that led me to an abortion was thankfully long gone. I had finally confessed my sin to our parish priest and, after a long struggle with infertility (which I knew was God’s just punishment on me), I felt I had come to terms with that long-ago abortion. Of course, the child, whom I always thought of as a girl, was always invading my thoughts: How old she would be now? Would she have looked like me? “She would probably be in college now,” I thought as I realized she would have been 21 years old in November. But it was only the lure of a weekend away that got me on the plane that morning – I didn’t need any healing. Being 1,000 miles from my home to deal with this issue didn’t hurt either. My sin could continue to be concealed to all but a precious few. Continued... Loretta A. Judy | Special to the Florida Catholic | 04.03.09 | Return To Top |
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