Florida Catholic | St. Mary Star Of The Sea Pastor Retiring

St. Mary Star of the Sea pastor retiring

Father Edward Pick founded the parish 35 years ago.

FLORIDA CATHOLIC STAFF REPORT

Published: 04.25.08

Father Edward Pick receives a standing ovation as he leaves a special prayer service in his honor at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish on Longboat Key. Father Pick is retiring May 1 after 35 years at the parish he founded.
BOB REDDY | FC

LONGBOAT KEY | Parishioners of St. Mary Star of the Sea paid tribute April 13 to the only pastor they have ever known, Father Edward Pick.

He will retire effective May 1, and the many who gathered for a special prayer service and dinner showed their affection for their spiritual leader. As Father Pick left the prayer service, parishioners gave him a standing ovation.

Father Fausto Stampiglia, pastor of St. Martha Parish in Sarasota, called Father Pick a “gentle giant,” referring to his 6-foot-6-inch frame. He noted that Father Pick helped to raise the money to get Bishop Nevins Academy — which houses St. Martha School and the Dreams are Free Institute for children with special needs — up and running, and to keep St. Joseph School in Bradenton open during difficult financial times.

Susan Gilmore Clarke, a parishioner for 10 years, said she met her husband while attending the church and credits Father Pick for bringing her a great spiritual fulfillment.

The pastor’s first Masses were celebrated in a tiny meeting room in the town’s north fire station that seated about 50 people. The church itself was built in the center of the island in 1978 in Manatee County, a few hundred yards north of the Sarasota County line.

The parish underwent tremendous growth and the present rectory was built in 1984, the Stella Maris Activity Center came in 1991, and in 1995 the prayer walk with the memorial gardens and outside Stations of the Cross were cut through mangroves to connect the church layout to Sarasota Bay. The growth was evident as Easter weekend attendance topped 4,500 in 2008.

Father Pick has three interests aside from his faith and the Scriptures: art, the Cincinnati Reds baseball team and big dogs.

In 1993 he was named a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher by Pope John Paul II. He is a former dean of the Northern Deanery of the diocese, and for many years would go north each summer to speak at parishes in an effort to raise funds for the diocese’s migrant programs.

Born in Cincinnati, he came to Florida at age 3 and entered the seminary at 13. He was ordained in 1960. Before coming to St. Mary Star of the Sea, he served at Sacred Heart in Lake Worth, St. Catherine in Miami, St. James in North Miami, St. Joan of Arc in Boca Raton, St. Sebastian in Fort Lauderdale, Sacred Heart in Punta Gorda and Our Lady of Mercy in Boca Grande.

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St. Mary Star of the Sea pastor retiring

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