WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | March 23-April 5, 2012 | Volume 73, Number 10 ORLANDO DIOCESE PALM BEACH DIOCESE VENICE DIOCESE The Holy Family statue found at the parish. (LINDA REEVES | FC) More than 425 women attend the fourth annual Diocese of Venice Women’s Conference March 10 at Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers. (COURTESY | DIOCESE OF VENICE) Father Ybain Ramirez imparts absolution to a penitent during the sacrament of reconciliation last year at St. Augustine Parish. This year, April 2 will be a Diocesan Day of Reconciliation at parishes throughout the Women discover Diocese of Orlando. (FC FILE PHOTO BY JACQUE BRUND) Reconciliation, truth, beauty Lenten season Holy Family’s at conference silver celebration A day filled with spiritual renewal and oppor- offers renewal tunities to discover inner truth and beauty was a Less than three years after the Diocese of Palm huge success for the women of faith who attended Beach was formed, Holy Family Parish was estab- the fourth annual Diocese of Venice Women’s The Catechism of the Catholic Church de- lished, setting the course for furthering the city of Conference. fines reconciliation as the sacramental cel- God here and growing faith and mission in South The conference drew the largest crowd yet with ebration in which, through God’s mercy and Florida. This year, the parish celebrates 25 years of more than 425 women from around the Diocese. forgiveness, the sinner is reconciled with God ministry as a faith community. The day featured a Mass celebrated by Bishop and also with the Church, Christ’s body, which What a joy as always to come here to Holy Frank J. Dewane, as well as dynamic speakers, the is wounded by sin. Therefore, it is important not Family Parish, especially today as you celebrate sacrament of reconciliation and plenty of oppor- only to confess to God, but also his Church. your 25th anniversary as a parish family,” said tunities for friendship. The conference was held at Read more about the sacrament of recon- Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito as he began Mass Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers March 10. ciliation in this electronic edition of the Florida March 18. Read more in this electronic edition of Read more about it in this electronic edition of Catholic. the Florida Catholic. the Florida Catholic. Orlando March priest caps appointed off as protest bishop of for just Panhandle wages Diocese Kids’ page: Stations of the Cross WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | March 23-April 5, 2012 | $1.00 Catholic FLORIDAYOUR FAITH. YOUR LIFE. YOUR COMMUNITY. OF ORLANDO Orlando priest ‘humbly’ accepts episcopal appointment Father Gregory Parkes will become the first priest of the Orlando Diocese to be named a bishop JEAN GONZALEZ Alone before the Blessed Sac- appoint the 47-year-old priest to be of the Florida Catholic staff rament, he prayed and asked for the fifth bishop of the Panhandle God’s help with his new assign- diocese. ORLANDO | After “humbly ment as bishop of Pensacola-Tal- The Vatican made the public accepting” an appointment that lahassee. announcement March 20. would change his life, Father “It was a phone call you never “Archbishop Vigano was very Gregory Parkes did the one thing expect to receive, and I didn’t kind and understood that it was an he knew would alleviate his shock know what to say,” said Bishop- emotional moment for me. … I was and initial anxiety. designate Parkes of the call he very grateful to the Holy Father for He left the chancellor’s office received from Archbishop Carlo the confidence placed in me to be where he serves at the Orlando Di- Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee,” Father Gregory Parkes baptizes Clare Rose Ziemba at Corpus Christi ocese Chancery and went down- the United States, who announced Parish in Celebration in May 2006. (COURTESY | CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH) stairs to the chapel. Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to PLEASE SEE BISHOP, 10 Reconciliation, Lenten season time of purification, renewal MICHAEL HARKER “I think it is necessary,” said of the Florida Catholic staff Ryan. “Beyond that, I think it’s helpful to have the assurance ORLANDO | For Ryan — a that forgiveness comes with junior who attends the Univer- the confession. When the priest sity of North Carolina — spring says, ‘Your sins are forgiven and break was an opportunity to re- I absolve you,’ that assures you turn to his home in Orlando and that you have been forgiven.” spend time with family. During He added going to confession his last day before returning to during Lent is an opportunity to college, he also participated in bear the cross with Jesus. “It’s a weekly ritual that keeps him important to realize that ev- renewed and rejuvenated: going ery one of our sins hung Jesus to confession. on the cross, and confession, if “It’s a primary means by nothing else, helps us to realize which we are forgiven,” said that we are sinners and that our Ryan, who asked that his last sins have real consequences,” name not be used. “It’s impor- he said. “It’s part of the way that tant in fighting sin in the future, we bear the cross with Jesus and because we’re given the grace to participate in his redemption.” fight those sins.” While it is difficult to confess The Catechism of the Catholic one’s sins, it is an opportunity to Church defines reconciliation as receive God’s grace and healing, the sacramental celebration in Bishop John Noonan said. which, through God’s mercy and “To have an intimate relation- forgiveness, the sinner is recon- ship with Christ is to really sur- ciled with God and also with the render to Christ totally, and rec- Church, Christ’s body, which is ognize that one of the great sur- wounded by sin. Therefore, it is renders is to let go of our faults important not only to confess to and failings, really feel God’s God, but also his Church. Jesus forgiveness in our lives,” Bishop granted his apostles and dis- Noonan said. “Unfortunately, ciples the authority to forgive we are always afraid that we are sins, and this continues by right sinners. But there is also a whole Father Ybain Ramirez imparts absolution to a penitent during the of succession to priests. In James experience of God’s grace in our sacrament of reconciliation last year at St. Augustine Parish. This 5:16, we are told: “Confess your lives, and we can trust in God’s year, April 2 will be a Diocesan Day of Reconciliation at parishes sins to one another and pray for grace to give us the strength and throughout the Diocese of Orlando to provide an opportunity one another, that you may be for Catholics to journey back to God and receive the sacrament healed.” PLEASE SEE DAY, 4 during Lent. (See Page 3.) (FC FILE PHOTO BY JACQUE BRUND) 2 Your Orlando cOMMUNITY Florida Catholic March 23-April 5, 2012 Student conveys Christ-like message with anti-bullying essay JENNIFER POWERS LOCAL ANTI-BULLYING EXPERT Florida Catholic correspondent TEACHES CONFLICT RESOLUTION ORLANDO | Eighth-grader Julie WINTER PARK | Mary McDaniel child’s actions on the computer, to keep Beu believes the story of her friend’s speaks to teens and parents about how them from becoming a bully or a victim. experiences with bullying “needed to prevent bullying from a Catholic “They have the responsibility of open- to be told.” perspective. ing the lines of communication and raising So she told Amanda’s story in an A program coordinator at the San responsible children,” McDaniel said. anti-bullying essay on “Jesus and Pedro Retreat Center in Winter Park, Bullying” sponsored by Maryknoll. McDaniel also said she teaches the McDaniel said it is important to teach differences between bullying and when And on March 2, with the entire children and their parents conflict resolu- adolescents say and do mean things from student body of Holy Family School tion and peacemaking skills, which can time to time. assembled, Julie received a third- help them through difficult situations. place award in the Maryknoll’s 23rd “Bullying is systemically and chronically McDaniel’s strategy is centered on how inflicting physical or psychological hurt, annual student essay contest. Jesus might have reacted to avoid the and that’s different than somebody being “From 6,296 entries, top three escalation of conflict. mean to you every once in a while,” is quite an accomplishment,” said “Kids today have the tendency to McDaniel said. Deacon Larry Hart, a representa- either strike out or say things in the face of Overall, she hopes these presentations tive of Maryknoll. “It is like winning bullies that can trigger further bullying or help protect children and give them the the bronze medal in the Olympics.” put themselves at further risk and danger,” resources they need to deal with situations Julie told about Amanda, who McDaniel said. “We try to present to them in a peaceful manner. has Asperger’s syndrome, an au- a way of looking at how Jesus acted and modeling some of that behavior with “I” “I think the biggest part of it is teach- tism spectrum disorder, which can Julie Beu of Holy Family School receives a third-place award in a ing our children to become responsible, negatively impact peer relation- national Maryknoll Missionaries anti-bullying essay contest from statements and looking at perspective and even compassionate listening. That to take responsibility for themselves in an ships. She described how Amanda Deacon Larry Hart. From second left, Father William Ennis, Holy appropriate way,” she said.