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| May 9, 2008 |
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 DAY TWO | 03.12.08 Day two: red seeTALLAHASSEE | The old office joke of “Oh, I see you got the memo,” would have worked well as I walked into the Civic Center on day two of Catholic Days at the Capitol. While it was a red hat that struck me the first day, it was a sea of red that evoked the feeling of solidarity for God, life, justice, the poor and the vulnerable on day two. The majority of participants were dressed in the color that symbolizes the annual event. A powerful statement spoken without saying a word. Bishops meet with governor
F. ERIC TOURNAY | STATE OF FLORIDA In the absence of three bishops from this year’s Catholic Days at the Capitol, due to a meeting in Washington, D.C., Mike McCarron, executive director of the Florida Catholic Conference used humor to open up day two. McCarron noted that Bishop John J. Ricard, SSJ, bishop of Pensacola/Tallahassee Diocese would begin the day stating the Catholic Church in Florida was first established in Pensacola. Bishop Victor Galeone of St. Augustine Diocese would say, ‘Yes, but the first permanent residence was in the Diocese of St. Augustine.” Then, McCarron commented that Bishop Thomas Wenski from the Orlando Diocese would pipe up with — ‘Yes, but I am a native born during Hurricane King,’ a year when 11 tropical storms ripped through the state. With that said, Auxiliary Bishop Felipe J. Estévez, turned things over to a spiritual front in prayer, calling on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength and quoting from Isaiah 58:11 – “Then the LORD will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails.” The bishops who were able to attend the ninth-annual Catholic Days at the Capitol had a busy morning talking to legislators on Capitol Hill. Bishop Robert N. Lynch from the Diocese of St. Petersburg, approached issues relating to KidCare, Florida’s health insurance program for uninsured children under age 19. Bishop Frank J. Dewane, bishop of the Diocese of Venice, covered environmental, farmworker and international trade concerns. Education concerns regarding the corporate income tax credit scholarship program was brought to the attention of legislators by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach and Auxiliary Bishop John G. Noonan, tackled the difficult and diverse topic of immigration. — Mary St. Pierre Legislator awardsTALLAHASSEE | When Michael Sheedy, Florida Catholic Conference, associate director for health, made his way to the podium for the award’s presentations, I wondered what words of thanks the recipients would offer. Rep. Anitere Flores, recipient of the 2008 Defensor Vitae (Defender of Life) for her ongoing, courageous and valiant defense of the sanctity of life. She made it clear it has not been easy and spoke about the challenges she faces daily as a firm believer in the consistent ethic of life. Flores admitted there are mornings she would like to just stay in bed and let the other side win without a fight from one who believes all life is sacred. When Rep. Flores was running for the House of Representatives, she remembers thinking — “I can do a better job then that guy.” Read the rest of the story here… — Mary St. Pierre On Haitians’ rights, patience and prayerTALLAHASSEE | Archibishop John C. Favalora spoke to Catholic Days at the Capitol participants about talking to Gov. Charlie Crist about the horrifying state of destruction and poverty in Haiti. Archbishop Favalora has sent letters to the president of the United States as well as key legislative people and the governor regarding the state of affairs in Haiti, begging them to allow Haitians the right to seek asylum in this country. As of yet, he has not received a response from anyone. Read the rest of the story here… — Mary St. Pierre Bishop Kenny High School representedTALLAHASSEE | After Bishop Noonan’s closing prayer, groups dispersed to the capitol to meet state legislators and discuss issues of concern regarding bills that will be voted on this legislative session. With the dogwood trees in bloom and the weather a refreshing 75 degrees, many trekked the one-mile uphill hike. I was very fortunate to meet up with a group of students from Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville before heading to the capitol. The group was attending the second day of the event with their teachers, Deacon Robert DeLuca and Peter Wood. Deacon DeLuca a theology teacher at the school, felt such an experience would have a deeper affect then what they would ordinarily learn from a textbook. They had toured the Capitol in the morning and Anna Ajluni, a junior, was impressed with the legislative session and the openness of legislators to talk to the students. Dustin Layland, a junior, thought Catholic Days at the Capitol evoked a sense of community within the Catholic faith when it came to issues important to us. — Mary St. Pierre Dolls are for real
On the second floor of the Capitol building I had the opportunity to run into Rep. Anitere Flores (at right in photo) once again as Myrna Wong from Holy Family Parish in Port St. Lucie was presenting her with a doll. One of several that was given to legislators. The dolls represented children who were victims of child abuse. The dolls were an amazing testimony and work of love that provided, according to Gwen Allen from Church of the Annunciation in Longwood, a visual message to legislators of the crime of child abuse. — Mary St. Pierre Red Mass ends the day
The second day ended with the celebration of the 33rd Red Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More. It brought together the archbishop and bishops as well as several priests, deacons, legislators, parents, children, students, the “sea of red” Catholic Days at the Capitol participants and the combined Catholic choirs of Tallahassee. The church, on a Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. was full. Read the rest of the story here… — Mary St. Pierre DAY ONE | 03.11.08 Tally–bound Catholics accept call to educated actionTALLAHASSEE | In the past when I’ve traveled to our state capitol, the city has intrigued me with its rolling hills, political electricity and college hoopla. With an unpredicted drizzle of rain and FSU on spring break, the hills were about the only thing that seemingly held true to form for Tallahassee today, the opening day of Catholic Days at the Capitol, sponsored by Florida Catholic Conference. While the regular hustle of “Tally” gave a slight air of “sleepy little town” that all changed when I walked into the Leon County Civic Center where more than 200 Catholics representing all seven dioceses in Florida were waiting to learn more about key legislative issues. Read the rest of the story here… Catholic Days begins with legislative briefingTALLAHASSEE | Lynda Henry Alexander woke up at 3 a.m. to prepare for a 5 a.m. bus ride from Miami that would get her to Tallahassee just in time for the opening of the 9th annual Catholic Days at the Capitol. Alexander is the president of the Council of Catholic Woman at Christ the King Parish in southeast Florida community of Perrine. “Christ the King has not participated in Catholic Days for many years, so we decided this year was a good time to start,” she said. Alexander was one of a number of first-timers in the record crowd of 230 in attendance at the event, which began Tuesday, March 11, with a legislative briefing by the Florida Catholic Conference, the host of Catholic Days. The conference’s lobbying staff explained the following four priority items of legislation to the audience. They are: Read the rest of the story here…
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