Florida Catholic | Aging Flock Gets Youthful Shepherd

Aging flock gets youthful shepherd

LOIS KINDLE | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 08.02.08

Father Joel Kovanis distributes the Eucharist at a Memorial Day Mass celebrated at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. As of July 1, Father Kovanis came from Blessed Sacrament Parish in Clair-Mel City to replace Msgr. Harold Bumpus, who retired the same day.
ED FOSTER JR. | FILE 2007

SUN CITY CENTER | Father Joel Kovanis might have felt a bit out of place as he scanned the sanctuary of his new parish for the first time. Before him, the sea of white and silver was an unfamiliar sight.

After all, members of his new flock at Prince of Peace Parish range in age from 50 to 100. Many are old enough to be his grandparents.

“I was very surprised when the Bishop (Robert N. Lynch) asked me to come here,” the 40-year-old priest said. “But I was excited to have this new challenge, a new chapter in my life.”

Parishioners shared kind words.

“He’s a very learned man,” said Hugh Burns, 81, a parishioner for 21 years. “We’re certainly looking forward to having a younger pastor here and have high hopes for his success.”

“I didn’t think anything about his age,” said Dot Jette, 73. “I just wanted a kind, thoughtful and knowledgeable priest. It’s kind of early to tell yet, but he’s very gracious. Time will tell.”

“I appreciated how open and honest he was about his colon cancer surgery in April,” Jette continued. “He’s a very courageous young man.”

Julia Kirby, 84, who has been a member of the church for more than 30 years, said she thinks having a younger priest is “wonderful. … I think he has an open mind. We’re very lucky to have him.”

Father Kovanis acknowledged the parish composition is unique. It reflects Sun City Center, a retirement community of about 15,000 in southern Hillsborough County.

“Everyone was very welcoming and grateful for my being here,” he said. “I’m happy to serve here as long as I’m needed.”

As of July 1, Father Kovanis came from Blessed Sacrament Parish in Clair-Mel City to replace Msgr. Harold Bumpus, who retired the same day. Father Kovanis was shepherd of that parish for three years. Prior to that, he served as parochial vicar at St. Raphael Parish in St. Petersburg and St. Ignatius Parish in Tarpon Springs.

Originally from Pittsburgh, he is the eleventh of 12 children of Albert and Ann Kovanis. Most of his siblings still live in the Tampa Bay area. His father died in 1990 and his mother now lives in Safety Harbor.

Father Kovanis entered college seminary as a sophomore and earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy from St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minn.

“It was a gradual revelation, a desire to be closer to Christ,” he said of his calling. “Vocations are sort of mysterious. For most of us, though, it’s a gradual awareness. I also think it’s part of the maturation process, of wanting to have a meaningful life, with purpose.”

From St. Mary’s, Father Kovanis moved on to St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, where he received master’s degrees in the arts and divinity. He was ordained for the Diocese of St. Petersburg at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in 1994. Over the next seven years, he served in the diocese at Holy Cross and the cathedral, and also taught ninth-grade religion at St. Petersburg Catholic High School.

In 2001, Father Kovanis took a trip of a lifetime to Rome, where he spent two years earning a sacred theology license from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

“It was a tremendous experience,” he said. “I was invited to concelebrate a private Mass with Pope John Paul II in the chapel of the papal apartment. There was a group of Spanish bishops visiting, so the Mass was said in Spanish. Afterward, we met with the Holy Father and he gave us each a rosary.”

“It was one of the highlights of my experience in Rome,” he said.

As Prince of Peace pastor, Father Kovanis plans to continue the Eucharistic Initiative and focus on the writings of St. Paul this year. He also plans to keep his 4,500-member parish active in community service.

“Geographically, the parish serves a huge area that has a lot of anticipated growth,” he said. “I look forward evangelizing the community and helping the church to grow.”

“What I enjoy most about being a priest is celebrating the sacraments and working with people during the important times in their lives,” he said.

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