April 2009

‘Adopt-A-Laugh’ helps adoption program

Posted: 04.17.09

Catholic Charities of Central Florida Inc. will host its second annual “Adopt-A-Laugh” fundraiser Saturday, May 9, 6:30 p.m., at the Cocoa Beach Country Club. The event benefits the program “Creating Families with Adoption.” Catholic Charities is on a mission to connect children needing a home with loving families in Brevard County.

The organization provides counseling and support for both birth parents and adopting families. The adoption program provides parent education, financial assistance, information, referral and counseling. All proceeds from the event will go directly to the program.

The night’s entertainment will feature the humor of a comedy troupe from Groucho’s Comedy Club in Melbourne. The event will also offer casual food tasting from Brevard County restaurants. Tickets are $35 per person. To learn more or purchase tickets online, visit www.cflcc.org.

A good walk for Good Friday

Posted: 04.15.09

Mickey Hibbard portrays a traveler in the play, “Road to Bethlehem,” Dec. 18 at Annunciation Parish in Altamonte Springs.

Seven faith communities joined the first ecumenical Good Friday Prayer Walk sponsored by the JustFaith community. Lan Duong carries the cross and Cathy Miller, right, walks beside her. Both women are members of Ascension Parish in Melbourne. Participants in the April 10 walk took turns carrying the cross.

Parishioners from Our Lady of Lourdes, in Melbourne, as well as Our Lady of Grace in Palm Bay, were part of 170 people who marched 1.6 miles in downtown Melbourne to show solidarity with the poor. Walks similar to this take place annually around the country. The theme was, “Where is Jesus Crucified Today?”

According to JustFaith member Mary Kay Kantz, marchers stopped to pray at six locations along the route; each stop chosen to represent a particular need of the poor, needy or disadvantaged. “We hope that this will be the first of many Good Friday occasions for Christians of our community to come together in prayer for all our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in poverty,” Kantz said.
PHOTO COURTESY | ALINA SELVA

Students reenact the road to Calvary

Originally Posted: 04.09.09

Students from the University of Central Florida’s Catholic Campus Ministry, from left, Lynette Lopez, Megan Harris, Stephen Herrera, Will Mahler, Elijah Albright, Fernando Rosas, Charles Eligio and Zena Stoecklin, perform the Stations of the Cross live at the Basilica of St. Paul in Datyona Beach March 20.

COURTESY PHOTO | TRACY ALLEN
ORLANDO | Students from the University of Central Florida’s Catholic Campus Ministry, from left, Lynette Lopez, Megan Harris, Stephen Herrera, Will Mahler, Elijah Albright, Fernando Rosas, Charles Eligio and Zena Stoecklin, perform the Stations of the Cross live at the Basilica of St. Paul in Datyona Beach March 20. Students from the Catholic Student Union at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Daytona State College participated by being the readers for each station.

Women’s convention celebrates God’s blessings

Posted: 04.09.09

Women around the diocese will once again have a chance to revitalize their spirits at the convention for the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. The 41st annual convention will take place April 25-27 at the Lake Mary Marriott in Lake Mary.

This year’s theme is “Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women: Patchwork of God’s Blessings.”

Susan Harting, president of the diocesan council, explained the theme: “The Council of Catholic Women has been blessed in so many ways by the wonderful works of mercy and peace it has done since 1920. It has not been easy and sometimes it had hurts to patch. God is a merciful God and helps us grow and continue his work no matter what. CCW heals and supports so many of God’s people in need locally and around the world.”

This year at the convention, the council is collecting personal hygiene items – and more – to support Pathways to Care, a 40-bed facility that cares for homeless people who have special needs after leaving the hospital.

“I can’t image having a knee or hip replacement and have no place to go to recuperate from such a surgery,” Harting said. “This ministry is special to me and during this economic crisis, you never know if maybe one day you may be homeless. We would love to collect all items needed by Pathways to Care, but most of all, monetary donations would help with the day-to-day needs of the facility.”

For further information on the Orlando Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the convention and to get a complete list of items needed for Pathways to Care, visit http://tinyurl.com/odccw.

Local Easter Mass on TV

Posted: 04.09.09

Easter Sunday Mass will air at 2 p.m. from St. Paul Parish in Leesburg on WTGL-TV 45. Cable or satellite stations airing it are: Bright House, Channel 19; Cox Cable, Channel 19; Prime Cable, Channel 19; Heathrow Cable, Channel 66; Comcast Cable, Channel 17; Decca Cable, Channel 15; and Direct TV/Dish, Channel 19.

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