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

Bishop Blesses New Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche

December 5, 2015

By Kathleen Bagg The new Santa Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in High Springs, Fla., was officially blessed Saturday evening, Dec. 5, at St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic Church by Bishop Felipe Estévez. Joining Bishop Estévez was Bishop Emeritus John J. Snyder and several clergy from the Gainesville Deanery and diocese, women religious, dignitaries and lay faithful. Read More

Bishop Estévez Ordains 12 Men to Permanent Diaconate

December 5, 2015

On Saturday, Dec. 5, Bishop Felipe J. Estévez ordained 12 men to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of St. Augustine. The ceremony was at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jacksonville and Msgr. Michael Morgan was the homilist. Read More

Fiat Festival encourages youth to seek vocation through Virgin Mary’s “yes” to God

November 24, 2015

By Tonia Borsellino Fiat. The word resonated through the halls of Bishop Kenny High School on Saturday, Nov. 21, in Jacksonville as more than 500 people attended the Fiat Festival. Read More

Bishop disturbed by calls to end resettlement of Syrian refugees in U.S.

November 18, 2015

By Catholic News Service The head of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Migration said he was disturbed by calls from federal and state officials for an end to the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States. Read More