WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Feb. 8-21, 2013 | Volume 74, Number 7 ORLANDO DIOCESE PALM BEACH DIOCESE VENICE DIOCESE Father Justin Vakko, associate pastor at Holy Family Parish in Orlando, blesses a parishioner during the sacrament of penance. (LINDA CALDWELL | FC) Archbishop Carlos Merlos of Acapulco speaks to a The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm who woman picking tomatoes during a visit to Immokalee work at Lourdes-Noreen McKeen Residence facilities Jan. 30. (BOB REDDY | FC) in West Palm Beach gather to honor Sister Mary Angeline Teresa, the woman who founded their order. (COURTESY PHOTO) Mexican Carmelites ask archbishop An time for for prayers, visits reconciliation and a miracle farmworkers Will the foundress of the Carmelite Sisters for As farmworkers worked among row upon row As the Lenten season begins, and especially the Aged and Infirm, become one of the next of- of tomatoes in a 1,000-acre field in Immokaless, during this Year of Faith, the U.S. Conference ficial saints of the Catholic Church? they received a visit from a shepherd of their na- of Catholic Bishops is encouraging Catholics It will take a miracle. tive country. In January, Archbishop Carlos Gar- worldwide to make going to confession an in- And that is why local sisters are praying that Sis- fias Merlos of Acapulco joined them in the fields tegral part of their spiritual journey. And local ter Mary Angeline Teresa, fondly known as Moth- to visit and learn about their plight, and remind Catholics agree healing helps the heart and soul. er Angeline, takes steps closer to being declared them to never forget their homeland. Click on the ORLANDO DIOCESE above for a saint. Click on the PALM BEACH DIOCESE for Click on the VENICE DIOCESE above for more more on this story. more on this story. on this story. Wearing Ash Retired Wednesday Cardinal ashes makes Mahoney a ‘spiritual of Los fashion’ Angeles statement relieved of public duties Immigration: A familiar road WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Feb. 8-21, 2013 | $1.00 Catholic FLORIDAYOUR FAITH. YOUR LIFE. YOUR COMMUNITY. OF ORLANDO HHS UPDATE SERVICE DAY AT BISHOP GRADY VILLAS Kevin, a resident of Bishop Grady Villas in St. Cloud, joins community volunteers for a national day of service Jan. 21, sponsored by the St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Department. On the day the nation remembered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., nearly 100 volunteers helped beautify The headquarters of the U.S. Department the grounds of of Health and Human Services is seen the Villas by in Washington in this file photo. The planting flower department Feb. 1 issued revised beds, a fruit regulations related to the contraception orchard, raising mandate and religious concerns under beds for the the Patient Protection and Affordable vegetable garden Care Act. U.S. bishops had lambasted the and pulling mandate as violating religious freedom. weeds. (JACQUE (NANCY PHELAN WIECHEC | CNS) BRUND | FC) Proposed exemptions issued from contraceptive An opportunity coverage PATRICIA ZAPOR for reconciliation Catholic News Service LINDA CALDWELL of the Florida Catholic staff WASHINGTON | Exemptions from the requirement to provide contraceptive cov- erage under the Affordable Care Act will ORLANDO | Participating in the sacra- be simplified to include many more types ment of reconciliation has brought Katrina of religious institutions and accommodate Jimenez closer to God. The parishioner of the needs of self-insured church entities Queen of Peace in Ocala said confronting that say they must keep a clear financial her sins on a monthly basis has not only al- and functional wall between themselves lowed her to get to know herself as she ex- and the provision of contraceptives. amines her heart, but also who God wants A new set of proposed rules announced her to be. Feb. 1 by the Department of Health and “I feel as if I am in God’s graces when I Human Services attempt to accommodate confess my sins,” Jimenez said. “I feel that objections raised by Catholic institutions, going to confession is an act of humility and among others, that said the previous rules obedience to God. It truly promotes self- would force them to stop providing employ- esteem because it is built on truth. Through ee health insurance because the federal re- the sacrament of reconciliation, God is quirement to include contraceptive cover- building us up, not tearing us down. He is age violates their religious beliefs. showing his love for us.” The Affordable Care Act includes cover- As the Lenten season begins, and es- age of contraceptives in all insurance plans. pecially during this Year of Faith, the U.S. Under what has become known as the con- Conference of Catholic Bishops is encour- traceptive mandate, the early version of aging Catholics worldwide to make going to Father Justin Vakko, associate pastor at Holy Family Parish in Orlando, blesses a proposed rules for this part of the nation confession an integral part of their spiritual parishioner during the sacrament of penance. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops encourages Catholics to make going to confession an integral part PLEASE SEE HHS, 12 PLEASE SEE LENT, 5 of their spiritual journeys during the Lenten season. (LINDA CALDWELL | FC) Feb. 8-21, 2013 www.thefloridacatholic.org Your Orlando cOMMUNITY 2 Our Catholic Appeal is an annual opportunity for diocesan Catholics to share in the pastoral work of Christ See Bishop John by funding the important programs and ministries of the Diocese of Orlando. Below are three stories that chronicle Noonan’s letter on Our Catholic Appeal, Page 4. how funds are used to further the mission of the Church. Visit www.cfocf.org/oca/give to make your gift online. Grow ... Lead ... Share ... Mary Agnew, a teacher at Morning Star Father Tom Wanitsky, parochial vicar at Holy Dorothy Klein, a volunteer at the St. Luke Free Medical and Dental Clinic in Eustis School in Orlando, prays the rosary with Cross Parish in Orlando, administers the (a program of Catholic Charities of Central Florida), smiles while assisting a patient students. sacrament of anointing of the sick. in October 2012. (PHOTOS BY MICHAEL HARKER | FC) GROW ... LEAD ... Special teacher brings Newly ordained priest leads the faithful to Christ MICHAEL HARKER prayer sessions. They also provided Now, as parochial vicar at Holy Gospel to special Special to the Florida Catholic tuition and housing for the seminary, Cross Parish, he leads people to including health benefits and trans- Christ by bringing them the sacra- students ORLANDO | Before entering the portation. ments. He ministers to young people, seminary, Father Thomas Wanitsky As a seminarian, he visited the Do- brings comfort to seniors at nursing MICHAEL HARKER attended the Diocese of Orlando minican Republic, where he learned homes and offers Christ’s forgiveness Special to the Florida Catholic Vocations Awareness Weekend not about the importance of bringing to prisoners through prison ministry. once, but twice. God’s word to the ends of the earth. “Just my presence as a priest, as a ORLANDO | Mary Agnew said it is a blessing to work at “That was wonderful. It put a He also served at Bishop Grady Villas, person sitting in for Christ, has un- Morning Star School in Orlando, which educates children lot of my fears to rest,” said Father where God’s love is poured upon the doubtedly brought a lot more people with special needs. Wanitsky, who was ordained last May. residents with disabilities. to Christ,” said Father Wanitsky. “It’s what I think the Lord wants me to do,” said Agnew. Staff from the Diocese of Orlan- “It was great leading them in eve- The Office of Vocations, Clergy Agnew shares her faith daily with her students. She reads do Vocations Office mentored and ning prayer, having meals with them Services, Mission Office and Bishop the Bible to them and teaches them how to pray. Many of her guided him during his journey and and just being their friend,” said Fa- Grady Villas are funded through gifts lessons and ideas come from catechist formation classes of- organized discernment groups and ther Wanitsky of his time there. made to Our Catholic Appeal. n fered by the Diocese of Orlando that she and other teachers have taken. Those classes lead to greater knowledge of the life of Jesus, Church history, prayer and the sacraments. Agnew has reached master-level certification. “The classes help me talk to the children in terms that they’ll understand,” she said. “It helps them become clos- SHARE ... er to God. There’s nothing better than hearing them say, ‘Good morning, Jesus,’ when they start praying. The Lord Volunteer brings healing and hope works through me into them.” Funds from Our Catholic Appeal help people of all ages MICHAEL HARKER ish, St. Patrick Parish in Mount Dora, Klein is among the hundreds of volun- with special needs throughout the diocese. Special to the Florida Catholic and Catholic Charities of Central Flor- teers who share their time and talent to The diocese’s Media Center offers materials to help stu- ida. help those who are in need of Catholic dents with special needs learn about Scripture and the sac- ORLANDO | Throughout her life, Volunteer doctors and nurses care Charities’ many services. raments. At diocese-supported Bishop Grady Villas, adults Dorothy Klein has put the lives of others for uninsured patients at absolutely no “The core of Jesus’ message is love,” with special needs live and pray in a Christ-centered envi- before her own. cost. Klein helps by scheduling doctor said Joseph Buranosky, executive direc- ronment, where they benefit from the staff’s commitment “I have been so blessed,” said Klein, a appointments and filling out paper- tor of Catholic Charities of Central Flori- to their spiritual, physical and emotional well-being.