Guardian Catholic Schools Stock Food Pantry
February 8, 2016
The Guardian Catholic Schools – St. Pius and Holy Rosary – collected Ramen Noodles to donate to Catholic Charities’ Food Pantry as part of Catholic Schools Week, Jan.31 to Feb. 5. Read More
Father Mike Schmitz a Big Hit with Catholic Gators and Others
February 3, 2016
by Elena Castello The church was packed Jan. 29 when the Minnesotan priest began his talk. Instantly St. Augustine Church in Gainesville erupted into laughter as a crowd of students from Florida listened to Father Mike Schmitz. The event, called “Witnesses of Faith and Champions of Truth,” along with Friday Night Fever, left the University of Florida campus on fire for Christ. Read More
Catholic Schools Week Observed January 31-February 6; Focus is ‘Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service’
February 1, 2016
Catholic Schools Week 2016 will be observed in the Diocese of St. Augustine and around the country, January 31-February 6. This year’s theme, “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service,” focuses on the important faith-building, academic and societal contributions provided by a Catholic education. Read More
What Soup, Catholic Schools and Hungry Stomachs Have In Common
February 1, 2016
by Tonia Borsellino The 9th annual Souper Fun Sunday event held at St. Francis Catholic Academy on Jan.31 left soup-tasters with satisfied stomachs and even more excitement for the week ahead. Read More
Third Ecumenical Evening Prayer held at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Jacksonville
January 27, 2016
by Chau T. Phan, Ph.D. The Third Ecumenical Evening Prayer at the Bishop-level in Northeast Florida took place at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Jacksonville on the feast of the conversion of St. Paul, January 25, 2016, at 7 p.m. The Rev. Janis Kinley, interim pastor at St. Matthew's was the local host. This is noteworthy that we have so many leaders of Christian denominations gathered to pray together at the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Read More
The Power of Prayer and God’s Divine Mercy
January 26, 2016
by Tonia Borsellino In 20 minutes, three women from Catholic Gators at the University of Florida grabbed their bags, jumped in a car and drove to Jacksonville to board a bus to the 43rd annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Jonas – the oncoming blizzard – cancelled the Catholic Gators’ trip. The diocesan bus was however scheduled to leave Jacksonville in two hours and it would take about that long to drive between the two cities. The women trusted in God’s plan and started driving. Read More
Americans Favor Some Kind of Restriction to Abortion
January 21, 2016
By Catholic News Service Since the Knights of Columbus began commissioning polls on American attitudes toward abortion in 2008, the results have consistently shown that about 80 percent of Americans favor some kind of restriction on access to abortion. Read More
Bishop Estévez Shares Concerns with Proposed Human Rights Ordinance in Jacksonville
January 15, 2016
Bishop Felipe Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine sent the following letter to Mayor Lenny Curry and members of the Jacksonville City Council this week concerning the proposed Human Rights Ordinance. He urges changes to the proposed ordinance. Read More
Bishop Estévez responds to U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Death Penalty
January 15, 2016
On Tuesday, Jan. 12, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Florida's capital sentencing system in a ruling that found judges in the state have far too much power, and not enough for juries, when imposing a death sentence. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who spoke for the majority, said that Florida's sentencing process is unconstitutional as the jury simply plays an advisory role when it comes to recommending a death sentence. Read More
Jubilee Year of Mercy Begins Today for the Catholic Church Around the World
December 8, 2015
Diocese of St. Augustine Begins Holy Year on December 13 Seeing the great need for mercy and healing in the world, Pope Francis has called for an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy – a special period, also known as a Holy Year or Jubilee Year for the Catholic Church. It is a time for the Church across the world to take approximately a year to focus on forgiveness and healing in a special way. Read More