Birth: Second Century — Death: Third Century She is one of the seven women commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass The insertion of her name into the Roman Canon of the Mass towards the end of the fifth century indicates that she then occupied a unique position among the saints publicly venerated in Rome The legend of Saint Anastasia relates a story that transports us to the days of the early Christian Martyrs Read more I want to help America Needs Fatima spread the Fatima message the Parish of Saint Anastasia was established and the building of the permanent church could begin Father MacAran was appointed Saint Anastasia’s first permanent pastor and founding priest It would take three years to complete the building and to furnish it and anybody and everybody who could give some time to this holy work Saint Anastasia Church was finished and dedicated in 1902 he saw great changes and much growth take place A Parish Hall that would serve the CCD program and the Parish community for worship was needed The Parish Hall was designed as a multi-purpose building to meet these needs the dream became a reality in 1978 when Cardinal Cooke came to Harriman for the dedication of our new Parish Hall the Faith Formation building became a reality in 1981 the Parish Center was converted into a church Saint Anastasia parish consists of the parish church the Faith Formation Center and the rectory a small group of Spanish-speaking people sought to celebrate posadas at Christmas like they did in Mexico Saint Anastasia is blessed with a vibrant and growing Spanish-speaking community of parishioners Anastasia Church actively supports the Marantha Medical Mission in rural Nigeria The unwavering generosity of Saint Anastasia parishioners has made it possible for Maranatha to have provided free medical care to 68,980 patients in seven years and performed 570 cataract and pterygium surgeries enabling patients who cannot see because of cataracts to regain their eyesight Anastasia Church lost their memorable pastor Anastasia is administered by Father Bladi J The church serves a diverse family of faith in Harriman with 1,389 faithful households About half these households are primarily Spanish speaking; 180 young people are taught about their faith by 16 teachers and three assistant teenagers through our excellent religious education program the church supports a number of parish ministries Anastasia is having a gala dinner / dance at Palacio Catering on October 5 There will be an anniversary Mass to be celebrated by Cardinal Dolan at 7 p.m Johns County about a state plan to add a lodge pickleball courts and disc golf to Anastasia State Park The plans called for a adding amenities such as pickleball courts, disc golf, full golf courses and hotels or lodges at nine Florida State Parks, including Anastasia State Park a state-owned coastline recreation area located within the city limits of the City of St The DEP's Anastasia State Park Draft UPM Amendment proposes building a 350-room lodge in the southern region just south of the Island Beach Shop and Grill Four pickleball courts and a disc golf course are also planned for the park’s Salt Run area hundreds of people gathered along A1A with signs of protest against the initiative More reaction from city and county officialsSarah Arnold, chair of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners issued a public statement Sunday expressing concern and anger about the plan which she said blindsided the commissioners the commission was not contacted with any details of the project prior to DEP's announcement "Parks are for people and not about projects for profit," she wrote "Our board has been consistent in our views on natural resource conservation and protection This proposed project is absolutely contrary to the board's vision and priorities." Arnold said the board would address the proposed project with all available recourses "Anastasia State Park is a state-owned recreation area inside the city limits of the City of St "It may involve a review by its staff and its city commission." Commissioner Henry Dean said the land for Anastasia State Park was originally purchased in 1959 He recalled negotiating the purchase of Conch Island when he served as director of the Division of State Lands "The day I presented the item to the governor and cabinet was a happy day indeed," he said "I remember thinking 'No high-rise condos or hotels will ever be built on Anastasia State Park land Dean described the announcement as disheartening "Ocean breezes and intermittent storms have bent and withered the trees in the park over the years a proud testament to the strength and resiliency of Florida’s natural resources," he continued "We inherited our beautiful state parks from leaders who recognized the beauty in Florida’s natural resources and took bold action to secure them for future generations." Dylan Rumrell, mayor of St. Augustine Beach, urged residents to make their voices heard through emails and phone calls to DEP on social media Nancy Sikes-Kline, mayor of St. Augustine and a historic preservationist noting the old King's Quarries — Spanish Coquina Quarries located within the park "Any discussion regarding development of the park must take into consideration the value and location of this important historic resource," she said Sikes-Kline also urged residents to have their voices heard by contacting the DEP. She also included a description of Anastasia State Park from the National Register of Historic Places on social media "Although Anastasia State Park is best known now for its broad beach on the Atlantic Ocean and modern camping facilities in dense it is closely involved in the history of St The park is located just across the Matanzas River from this quaint city on a narrow strip of land known as Anastasia Island," the entry reads "The name 'Anastasia' is Spanish and may be literally translated 'of the resurrection.' Within the park's 1,035-acre boundaries are the original coquina veins from which the Spaniards quarried rock in the 17th century for the construction of Castillo de San Marcos — a fortification vital to the protection of the very heart of Spanish holdings for the coquina had to be cut into blocks of the desired size hauled by oxen across the jungle and marshland to Matanzas River where the blocks were loaded onto large lighters and sculled across to the mainland Because of its attractive color and texture The Matanzas River Keeper hosted a letter writing party while encouraging everyone to submit written comments on the draft proposals "Please fill out this survey "Let's send a clear message that golf courses do not belong in any of our state parks!" which were part of the plans for some of the nine state parks are not currently part of the plan for Anastasia Island The DEP originally scheduled public meetings around the state for each park plan saying it would reschedule for a later date It said it intended to set new meeting times and places by Sept In the meantime, it said, the public can submit comments to the agency through a special web portal at https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7983173/Great-Outdoors-Initiative or by emailing AnastasiaSPPublicMeeting@FloridaDEP.gov ST Augustine offers everything from camping to kayaking The state of Florida wants it to offer more Anastasia State Park is one of nine parks that are part of the “Great Outdoors” initiative the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced this week READ: Conceptual plans for Anastasia State Park The department released a map of where each new addition would go in Anastasia The lodge would be east of the campground and south of the beach The disc golf course and up to four pickleball courts would be east of the main park drive Augustine said that the announcement from the state was the first they heard of any planned changes to the park The city released a statement Thursday (read below) about the proposed changes which will be discussed at a meeting at 3 p.m Tuesday at First Coast Technical College in St Anastasia State Park is a state-owned recreation area inside the city limits of the City of St Augustine has been made aware of a project to construct a 350-room lodge pickleball courts and a disc golf course inside Anastasia State Park The City has not been contacted by the State of Florida with any details of this project The project will require a review by city staff for compliance with the city’s Comprehensive Plan and various sections of the Municipal Code of Ordinances If the State of Florida is required to obtain approval for aspects of this project by the city’s Planning and Zoning Board then the State of Florida will apply to the necessary board to obtain these permits Augustine respects a fair and transparent process and does not pre-judge this development proposal before the State has the opportunity to present this project to the community during the defined public hearing process To do so may jeopardize the integrity of the process and result in unintended consequences We ask for the patience of the community while we discover exactly what the State of Florida is proposing and how that project will move through the local review process While city officials are withholding judgment (for now) it seems many people who enjoy the park regularly are not One group is planning a protest from 10 a.m.-1 p.m Sunday in front of the state park to “Say No to the Lodge.” Robert Hendrick considers Anastasia State Park his favorite state park on the east coast and said absolutely not to the idea of the changes “It has the campground for however many sites I don’t think you need all of that other stuff to make it more crowded.” president of the Florida Wildlife Federation is built on its historical and conservation value,” Gledhill said “We come here to recreate in a passive way They are not here for private enterprises to come in and exploit and make profits off of.” Start your morning with our daily forecast trending news and stories curated by The Morning Show team posting comments like the following in our initial story about the proposal: Public lands set aside or donated for conservation should not be used for development Construction and massive tourist traffic will destroy this park Development like this is exactly what is spoiling Saint Johns County of Environmental Protection should be opposing the destruction of the environment Tonto: About time Florida’s state parks upped their game Captain Bob: Anastasia Park was the reason my wife and I moved to the area A 350 room resort will be the reason we move out The state is proposing similar changes at eight other state parks across Florida and criticism of the proposals is stretching across the state Some lawmakers shared strong words ahead of the scheduled public meetings about the plans “I would recommend you plan two or three days because I think you’re probably going to hear from thousands of people,” Rep. Brian Mast told WPTV. Mast sent a letter to the governor, FDEP and each of the seven members of the Acquisition and Restoration Council, which is the board that would vote on the proposed changes. None of them are scheduled to be at the meetings on Tuesday around the state. Copyright 2024 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The City of St. Augustine said it's monitoring a proposed development in Anastasia State Park that's caused a stir amongst neighbors During the city's budget meeting Thursday morning City Manager David Birchim said the city was not contacted by the state before it learned about the state's proposal to build a 350-room hotel and pickleball courts inside the state park The city said it needs to review the project to see if it is compliant with the city's comprehensive plan and code ordinances Birchim added if the state needs approval for any part of the project from the city the state will need to apply to obtain permits The state is holding a public meeting Tuesday from 3-4 p.m Commentary: Latest bad plan for Florida state parks? Golf courses, pickleball courts, big hotels. New this week: This iconic Florida waterway was voted among top 15 ‘most breathtaking views’ in the U.S. Did you know? Florida unseats California as the ‘most fun state in America' on this list. Here’s why A full statement from the city can be read below: Augustine has been made aware of a project to construct a 350 room lodge This story was first published by First Coast News Quality healthcare depends on the people who provide it and for them to stay and work in Bulgaria and to be motivated to choose this profession as quoted by the Government press office on Thursday Zhelyazkov visited the construction site of the St Anastasia Children’s Hospital in Burgas to inspect progress on the project He expressed hope that the hospital will soon open its doors and serve society and half a million children Burgas Mayor Dimitar Nikolov thanked the Government for its financial support He emphasized that the new hospital will serve nearly 1.5 million people in the region with a capacity of 147 beds and 16 departments It will also employ 120 doctors and 220 nurses The project is being developed by an international consortium sponsored and funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development which has already built 70 hospitals worldwide the hospital has been officially accepted into the European Children's Hospitals Organisation Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Ivanov said that all streets surrounding the hospital will be renovated the Municipality of Burgas has been prioritized as a direct beneficiary under the Regions in Growth Programme and will receive BGN 24 million in funding this year “This will be the first national centre for pediatric healthcare in Bulgaria,” Ivanov added Contacts +359 2 9262 210 By accepting cookies you can enjoy a better experience while browsing pages Among the clusters of churches in Fort Pierce there is one that particularly captures the eye of passersby: the Old St a century-old building that has loomed over the Peacock Arts District decades before the birds arrived Jutting from a grassy lot on the corner of Orange Avenue and 10th Street, the old school has weathered several bouts of neglect. The 8,900-square-foot building once served as a church, then a school and almost became an arts center in 2022. For the most part the old church has sat derelict since the 1970s People might have noticed new stirrings around the church. Since June, the city has been sprucing up the building’s exterior, restoring columns, replacing windows and detailing the trim with a fresh coat of white paint, all for the purpose of “eliminating slums and blight in the community and creating an inviting environment for all to enjoy,” according to the city’s website. “This project is focused on restoring and preserving the building’s original character while securing its exterior,” said city spokesperson Kaitlyn Ballard visually appealing environment fosters pride and encourages investment.” Anastasia Catholic SchoolThe final task is roof repairs and the city expects to finish the entire project by late November or early December the next step is to create a comprehensive master plan detailing the building’s future — in other words Though the city is only touching up the exterior much of the surrounding neighborhood is excited to see improvements made on the west side of U.S “This is a good start — appearances are monumental for change and development to follow,” said Dale van der Lugt an administrator with the Peacock House Art Foundation “Blight and disrepair will not attract development We need the city to create a plan of action and stick to it and continue the progress.” local landlords or past city administrations as well as enduring the lingering effects of racial segregation The city addressed these concerns in a 2016 community meeting and the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency has since unveiled a series of projects to brighten up the Orange Avenue corridor One project involved the installation of street lights bearing Peacock Arts District banners. Another was the Painted Pots Project, in which the city partnered with local artists to paint large terracotta pots along Orange Avenue. The city also proposed the Targeted Corridor Paint Program in 2022 which provided grants up to $1,000 for businesses and homeowners to paint their properties' exteriors “We are so happy the city is taking any effort to enhance the appearance of any building “We support and encourage the city to move in this direction for this area.” Fort Pierce isn’t just interested in sprucing up Old St but to preserve the building’s history as well Anastasia School is key to preserving the heritage and character of our community,” Ballard said Anastasia owes its existence to Philadelphia Sen a Catholic statesman from Philadelphia and a winter visitor who bought the land and donated it for the construction of a church The two-story building was finished in 1914 and named after the patron’s deceased first wife Old St. Anastasia Catholic School: Fort Pierce seeks developer to renovate Fort Pierce pulls plug: Lindsay School of the Arts St. Anastasia Catholic School remodel Anastasia expanded and enrolled its first high school class the school quadrupled to about 200 students in grades 1 through 12 The school not only served Fort Pierce’s budding Catholic community but Catholics living as far north as Vero Beach and Titusville The school’s legacy lives on through its offshoots St Anastasia Catholic School on South 33rd Street Anastasia Catholic School was added to the U.S National Register of Historic Places in 2000 Jack Lemnus is a TCPalm enterprise reporter. Contact him at jack.lemnus@tcpalm.com Elegant, beautiful, and solemn, this Gothic basilica church is located in the oldest part of the historic center of Verona The church is from the 13th-century and the complex was in the center of political and everyday life of Verona throughout the centuries It still plays an important role and is surrounded by other historic hotspots.  The complex and the church are very well kept the bricks are soft colored under the sunlit of the day Inside is where the true beauty lies.The interior is open but soft and elegant–light seems to float throughout the church Various works of art are also located inside the church.  Small fee entry and even smaller fee if you get a city pass or six churches pass which includes entry to other beautiful spots This fifth-century church is one of the oldest Christian sites in the Balkans so that residents of two rival villages had their own entrances Considered one of the oldest surviving churches in Goa This remote church calls a tiny island its sanctuary This quiet chapel was central to a community of settlers who reclaimed an abandoned fort Constructed during the 7th century this is one of the oldest largely intact Christian churches in England This church in Old Goa was established by eight Portuguese Franciscan friars who landed there in 1517 SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HEREIn the Basilica of Sant’Anastasia an extraordinary relic lies quietly: the sacred tunic of Saint Joseph offers an intimate glimpse into the life of the Holy Family and symbolizes the profound role of Saint Joseph as a caretaker and guardian The Diocese of Rome recently allowed EWTN exclusive access to film this relic especially during times when the essence of fatherhood is increasingly vital the world celebrates the model of fatherhood he represents - a beacon of strength echoed the indispensable role of a father figure in ensuring the well-being of families stressed the importance of children feeling safe and loved a sentiment reinforced by Matteo and Belen from Spain who highlighted the father’s role in providing identity underscored that fatherhood is not a status conferred by birth alone but a commitment to responsibly care for one’s child having silently but powerfully contributed to the nurturing and protection of Jesus Bishop Robert Barron and Monsignor Pietro Bongiovanni further elucidated Saint Joseph’s virtues Bishop Barron admired Joseph’s silent obedience and action-oriented life Monsignor Bongiovanni highlighted Joseph’s qualities of strength and humbleness as essential attributes for any father Saint Joseph's story is one of silent strength His life teaches that true fatherhood is not merely a biological relationship but an active Through the sacred tunic and the teachings of the Church Saint Joseph continues to inspire and guide fathers towards fulfilling their indispensable role in the family and society Explore more of Rome with the EWTN Travel Jubilee App:Click Here to learn more about EWTN Travel Jubilee App Benjamin Crockett is a journalist for the EWTN Vatican Bureau.  Tension has been building since the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced earlier this week its 2024-25 Great Outdoors Initiative in a news release that has blindsided America's oldest city Tentative plans, described as new construction, aim to increase public access and provide lodging options in nine Florida State Parks, including St. Augustine's Anastasia State Park The DEP's Anastasia State Park Draft UPM Amendment proposes building a 350-room park lodge in the southern region east of the campground An already present borrow pit is suggested as a viable site for a portion of the lodge Lodge views will include the maritime hammocks Four pickleball courts and a disc golf course are planned for the park’s Salt Run area The plan promises to keep the campground separate to ensure "distinct recreational experiences" and evaluate critical wildlife habitat Local residents' reactionsLocal reaction has been swift and loud Augustine Record received a flood of emails texts and social media posts in opposition to the proposal Philip McDaniel, co-founder of the St. Augustine Distillery expressed outrage at state leadership building commercial and sports facilities that should be built by the private companies or local municipalities "Anastasia State Park must remain protected as the peaceful and passive recreation space people use as an escape to recharge from life's hectic days," he said "Our state parks must remain sacred spaces untouched by human hands." realtor and president of the Florida Board Riders St Augustine chapter described Anastasia State Park as the real Florida Kling said the proposed enhancements will endanger habitats for native and endangered species "The runoff from paved surfaces will impact water quality in Salt Run and local waterways," he said "The 350-room lodge is larger than the Embassy Suites We have plenty of lodging in St Augustine already we don’t need to develop one of our few untouched natural preserves."  Resident Chris Parker described the “jewel” as a refuge and sanctuary for native wildlife and visitors and said building new installations would increase traffic pollution and noise while degrading the ecosystem and more parking lots do not complement the park’s unique character,” he said DEP can forward its mission of 'environmental management and stewardship water and land' and protect the current activities specific to Anastasia’s character." underscored his commitment to preserving "our unique and irreplaceable state park." "State parks should not compete with private companies to provide ancillary activities or lodging," he said "Allowing a 350-room hotel in Anastasia State Park is an outright betrayal of our commitment to conservation This development would devastate the ecosystem and destroy the essence of our protected lands We cannot and will not sacrifice our natural heritage for commercial gain I will do everything in my power to ensure this proposal dies on the invasive vine it has grown on." Sarah Arnold, chair of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners said she reached out to local and state leaders "I will use my position as chair of the BCC to fight against this proposal which is completely contradictory to everything the residents of this county have fought so hard to preserve," she said County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst described the initiative as contrary to the boards efforts to protect and conserve the area's parks, while Commissioner Krista Joseph said that she remains appalled at the idea of commercializing "one of the most beautiful preserves on Anastasia Island." The City of St. Augustine, in a written statement said it was not contacted by the state with details prior to the announcement The city said it will review the project to maintain compliance with its Comprehensive Plan and the Municipal Code of Ordinances "If the State of Florida is required to obtain approval for aspects of this project by the city’s Planning and Zoning Board then the State of Florida will apply to the necessary board to obtain these permits," the statement said Augustine respects a fair and transparent process and does not pre-judge this development proposal before the state has the opportunity to present this project to the community during the defined public hearing process." The city emphasized the need to avoid jeopardizing the integrity of the process which could "result in unintended consequences," and it asked the community to remain patient "while we discover exactly what the State of Florida is proposing and how that project will move through the local review process." "Citizen input is critical to the process," Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline said "I strongly encourage all members of the public to stay informed take every available opportunity to engage in the FDEP’s process but more importantly — provide their feedback." Augustine Record reached out to Nikki Clifton deputy press secretary for the DEP's office of communications Public meetings postponed statewideThe DEP originally said it would hold public meetings in the affected areas across the state on Tuesday Aug. 27, from 3 to 4 p.m. For the Anastasia State Park plan, that public meeting was scheduled at St. Augustine’s First Coast Technical College the agency announced on the social media platform X Draft proposals can be found on the DEP website at https://floridadep.gove/Parks/Public-Participation The Florida Wildlife Federation is encouraging residents to send emails expressing their concerns. Template emails are on their website - https://floridawildlifefederation.org/action-state-parks-threat Music from the Saint Augustine Amphitheatre can occasionally be heard from the campground See all fees More than 1,600 acres of unspoiled beaches maritime hammocks and ancient sand dunes make this a captivating destination for visitors Anastasia State Park is a haven for visitors and for wildlife Abundant wading birds hunt for food along Salt Run and painted buntings and warblers often flit about the hammock forests Visitors can observe wildlife along the beach from a canoe or kayak the park’s 139 campsites are just a short stroll from the beach FORT PIERCE — The city is seeking a developer to renovate the historic Old St and an operator to create artistic programs to revive the arts More: Fort Pierce is coloring its Peacock Arts District | Anthony Westbury at the corner of Orange Avenue and 10th Street was built in 1914 to serve the needs of about 30 Catholic families in Fort Pierce It closed in the mid-1960s after a new school was built at South 33rd Street and Delaware Avenue The building was used as a training facility in the 1970s before it was sold to private individuals in the 1980s The school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in August 2000 The 3.5-acre property is zoned general commercial The school is in the Peacock Arts District, named for the wild peacocks that roost in the area Deadline to apply to renovate the school or to develop arts programs is 3 p.m contact city Purchasing Agent Latonya Hubbard Flagler Hospital and the military community came together May 20 to celebrate the years of service and dedication of George Murati and his wife Anastasia Catholic Church as well as chaplain at Flagler Hospital Timothy Lindenfelser and church organizations two days after George graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point they both became Eucharistic Ministers in the Catholic church George’s military service took them to Fort Leavenworth George became Commander of the Officer Student Battalion at the Field Artillery School with encouragement from a friend who told him he would make a good deacon he entered the diaconate program in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Because of reassignments to several military sites he did not complete the required studies until 1996 he was released to the Archdiocese for the Military Services and sent to St Augustine to be the Senior Army Advisor to the Florida National Guard at St both Dawn and George knew the island community was the place they hoped to retire to so they purchased a house on Anastasia Island After serving his last three years in the military at the Pentagon “It was a true blessing to add George as a member of the staff,” the now retired O’Flynn said in a message from Ireland where he is visiting his family “We had a congregation of 200 registered families in 1992 when we were in the mission church,” the priest recalled Dawn also became active at the church where she has coordinated the Eucharistic Ministers for more than 10 years and assisted George in his ministries Ash Wednesday rituals and "other behind-the-scenes things that needed to be done," Dawn said said he appreciated the couple's dedication and service to the church "One of the biggest blessings of having married deacons in the Catholic church is that more often than not and we get two assistants for the price of one," Seamus said was certainly in this category and gave most valuable service all the years they have been here." In addition to helping Seamus prepare for Mass each week George also delivered homilyspent some time at the altar "George prepared well and preached well when his turn came around," Seamus said "The congregation and I appreciated this service I got a break from preparing a sermon every Sunday and the pious people in the pews got a change of style and pace at least once a month and Andy who is married to Courtney and lives in Cedar Park The Murati’s plans for retirement include taking time to enjoy family FORT PIERCE — A local performing-arts school hopes to restore a 105-year-old building in the Peacock Arts District The Lindsay School of the Arts in October signed a $10-a-year 20-year lease with the city to renovate the former St The free two-year-old school now operates from the Crain House Funded through the Children’s Services Council of St production and creative writing to children ages 8-18 Renovation is expected to be completed by the end of 2023 The new location would help the school increase enrollment from 148 to 450 “We want to help as many children as we can,” said Bridges “We want to create a safe outlet for kids to come and express themselves.” More: Fort Pierce seeks developer to renovate Old St. Anastasia Catholic School The school is soliciting donations at https://www.thelindsayschoolofthearts.com students must write a letter explaining why they want to participate Those selected must agree to being good citizens and volunteer to clean the school and to   perform chores at home “That way we know the child really wants to be in the program and it is not the parents or someone else pushing them to join,” creative writing teacher Heather “Hero” Wells said More: King's Landing gets mixed reactions, but many see 'booming market' for downtown Fort Pierce said the school helped her gain confidence and develop a love for writing and poetry “It’s a place where I can be myself and don’t have to be worried about being judged for how I dress or how I look,” Leah said said she has noticed positive changes in her daughter “She has come out of her shell,” Lydia Content “My daughter was not a talker before coming here The school fill a need in the community for kids who are not athletes whose 12-year old daughter attends the school  “There are so many programs out there for children who are athletes,” Cobbs said “There’s not much offered for kids who have artistic ability And what is offered costs so much money that families with more than one child can’t afford it.” Catholic Sisters of Mercy from the Diocese of Meath Florida by the Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Over the next decade additional sisters came to join them in Florida but in other parts of Florida including Jacksonville also Sisters of Mercy from Navan in County Meath accepted the invitation of Monsignor Mortimer Danaher pastor of San Jose Catholic Parish in Jacksonville to come to America and help staff that parish’s newly opened school Sister Enda went on to earn her bachelor of arts degree in 1967 by taking evening classes at Jacksonville University and in 1977 earned a master’s degree she studied and later taught sign language She also became involved in prison ministry She became principal of San Jose Catholic School in 1967 where she served until 1978 both Sister Enda and Sister Therese Horan began teaching at Christ the King School in Jacksonville Recent column by Lorraine Thompson: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is almost back in business Marineland: St. Augustine Historical Society opens new exhibit showcasing the history of Marineland More: Woman who grew up on the St. Augustine lighthouse grounds returns for 90th birthday the nun began a new career as pastoral associate at St Anastasia Catholic Church at the invitation of Father Seamus O’Flynn She continued teaching fifth grade for two years while assisting Father O’Flynn had a church that held less than 400 worshipers became a reality and was dedicated by Bishop John J Sister Enda retired in 2010 as pastoral associate after serving more than 19 years with Fr O’Flynn who had retired and returned to Ireland was completed and dedicated by Bishop Felipe J. Estévez many parishioners relate the building’s name choice to Sister Enda Egan “My first day in the classroom in 1961 with excited first graders was daunting I didn’t have the ‘American vocabulary’ and that was reinforced the next day when a parent stopped by the classroom to tell me that her son said he wasn’t coming back to school because his teacher didn’t speak English I very quickly learned the ‘basic idioms and phrases’ and all went well for the remainder of the year,” Sister Enda recalled 1965 was the 400th Anniversary of the founding of the Catholic Church in the United States A 200-foot stainless cross was erected on the grounds of the Mission of Nombre de Dios in St Ireland’s William Cardinal Conway participated in the celebrations highlighting Ireland’s contribution to the church in Florida “We were there — proud of our Irish heritage and being with William Cardinal Conway.” Sister Enda serves as chaplain at Flagler Hospital and at Community Hospice Bailey Family Center for Caring Anastasia Catholic Church in a variety of ministries Many of the original Irish Sisters of Mercy who came to Florida have passed away Frances Lalor and Enda Egan will be honored at a Sisters of Mercy program in Fort Lauderdale on Aug Frances Lalor and Anastasia Maguire plan to retire and return to Ireland by the end of this year but not so for Sister Enda Egan who is planning to remain here Augustine is my home and with God’s help I will carry on the legacy of the Irish Sisters of Mercy in Florida,” she commented Anastasia Catholic Church will celebrate her 60 years Jubilee and her accomplishments at all weekend Masses on Aug 21 and 22.  Receptions will take place in the Enda of Aran building following all Masses Johns County has published an informative Hurricane Preparedness Guide that residents should review in advance of any storms special needs options and other valuable information It is available for download and viewing at http://www.sjcfl.us/FloodFacts/media/FFWorkshop7.pdf With the current hurricane season expected to become more active residents are reminded that re-entry tags are no longer required for reentry to Anastasia Island and other local coastal areas after an evacuation Re-entry after storms now requires proof of residency (driver license Johns County Emergency Operations Center at 824-5550 Concerts by the SeaFive concerts remain in the 2021 Wednesday Night Concerts by the Sea series Augustine Beach Civic Association at the St features a different music group and local food truck each week The performers and the food trucks include: 25: Carpet Baggers Eclectic Americana music Visitors may bring their own food and beverages or purchase a dinner for $10 or less parking recommendations and other information With three months to go in the sea turtle nesting season there are almost seven hundred nests already on St Johns County beaches with 543 nests on the north beaches 98 on Anastasia Island and 31 at Matanzas Inlet South.  As the nests begin hatching much of the hatchlings’ survival chances fall into the hands of volunteers in the St Johns County Beach Steward and Washback Program which is seeking volunteers to survey the wrack line for stranded turtle hatchlings The sea turtle washback program is seeking volunteers to survey the wrack line for stranded turtle hatchlings The recently announced dates and training sites for volunteers include Aug. 6 The Washback Program does not have standard shifts or hours and volunteers are contacted through an on-call system to survey the wrack lines when needed possess a valid Florida driver’s license and attend one of the mandatory survey training sessions Children under the age of 18 are welcome to volunteer but they must be accompanied by an adult or guardian go to http://www.sjcfl.us/HCP/WashbackToolkit.aspx Johns Public Schools opens to students for the 2021-22 school year on Aug Hunt Elementary School for grades kindergarten to fifth the only public school on Anastasia Island except for early release Wednesdays when the hours will be 8:45 a.m Parents of children who will attend county schools are invited to a parent workshop: “Schoology Microsoft and so much more!”  The aim is to provide support for parents as well as students The workshop will be presented in three sessions on Aug For details and registration information go to  https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/media/edtech/schoology/schoology-for-parents If you have news to share about people and events on Anastasia Island or nearby areas please send your information to staugbeachwatch@aol.com or call 904-471-4851 After extensive studies in spiritual theology earning a doctorate from Gregorian University in Rome Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach Agatha Parish in Miami for 14 years and spiritual director of St he was appointed Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Miami Pope Benedict XVI named Auxiliary Bishop Felipe J Anastasia Catholic Church Christmas and New Year’s Mass Schedule Mass with Bishop Estevez and music by the Children’s Choristers which will also lead the singing of carols starting at 7:30 p.m Carols will also be sung before all Christmas Masses Memorial luminaries will be lit on the church grounds following the 4 p.m Christmas Eve Mass and will remain burning until after the 8 p.m The regular weekend Mass schedule will include Masses at 4 p.m Mass will also be celebrated at 8 and 10:30 a.m Anastasia Catholic Church is at 5205 A1A South Known internationally as the "armless guitar player," Tony Melendez will appear in concert at 7 tonight at St Melendez has performed before Pope John Paul II throughout the United States and in 40 countries He's appeared at Super Bowl XXIII and on television shows including the "Today" show and "Good Morning America." as a result of his mother's use of the drug Thalidomide while she was pregnant It was later discovered that thousands of babies worldwide were born with missing or malformed limbs to mothers who had used the drug during pregnancy Melendez was fitted with artificial arms in Los Angeles he "disposed" of them after realizing that his feet could be used to better advantage he became deeply involved in the Catholic Church and at one time even considered becoming a priest when he learned that priests were required to have an index finger and thumb using his talents as a guitarist and composer for church Masses and related events Melendez auditioned for a group that was organizing activities for the Los Angeles visit of Pope John Paul II he sang "Never be the Same" while playing the guitar with his feet in a special performance for the pope The pope descended from his chair and embraced Melendez is to continue of giving [sic] this hope to all That's just what the armless musician has strived to do "Hands In Heaven" (Toe Jam Music) includes "Lowly Servant," a prayer for help and guidance in the struggles of life; "Everybody Sing," an uplifting Calypso praise and worship song; and "Love Is the Answer," a remake of the 1970s England Dan & John Ford Coley hit "I Wish I Could Hold You," is dedicated to his wife Lynn and their children Melendez is also the author of an autobiography "A Gift of Hope," published in 1989 by Harper and Row "This truly is an incredible opportunity to spend time with a deeply spiritual Christian Catholic music maker," said Peter Morin Anastasia Catholic Church is at 5205 State Road A1A South on Anastasia Island A free-will offering to assist in covering artist and concert expenses will be taken Anastasia Catholic to host university singersThe RecordThe Jacksonville University orchestra and choirs will close out its 2018-19 concert series at 6 p.m The concert of choral and orchestral favorites will feature the JU Choral Union and the University Singers the JU Choral Union will sing an array of songs by women composers The Choral Union is directed by visiting Artist-in Residence in Choral Music Wayne Bailey Dean of the Linda Berry Stein College of Fine Arts the vocal ensemble University Singers will present excerpts from Haydn's "Missa Brevis No The two choral groups will join the orchestra in performances of Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Serenade to Music" and Mack Dilberg's arrangement of "Come The concert will conclude with the JU Orchestra in a performance of Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No "The Reformation." Richardson is Associate Professor of Strings and Director of Orchestral Activities at the university A free-will collection will be taken at the concert for those who wish to contribute to the event expenses Free parking is provided at the church which is located at 5202 A1A South on Anastasia Island HARRIMAN — Among the many improvements made at the 114-year old St Anastasia Church in Harriman is a refurbishing of the church proper but also an expansion of the parish’s cherished 100-year old cemetery a souvenir journal with 100 family stories about the souls buried within the cemetery’s boundaries between 17M and North Main Street in Harriman was published Where we came fromThese tender memories are also the history of all of us from Word War II veterans to transplants from the Bronx Queens and Brooklyn; the stories are poignant; some are filled with humor but all remind us of the kind of people we came from Copies of the journal are available for $5 at the church office Among the stories includes one by Sister Mary Rose immigrants from Ireland who met after each arrived by boat from County Longford Her father became a chauffeur for a railway company and mom answered the call for workers during World War II “She was ‘Rosie the Riverter’ assembling airplane parts,” wrote Sister Mary Rose Sharon Jolly wrote about visiting her husband Michael’s site every anniversary when seeing a family member start digging into the ground to plant a pot of mums On the day the cemetery was to have been blessed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan “This was an extraordinary day in the history of St “to be able to bless the many souls buried in the cemetery among them war veterans and residents of the community who helped build the parish.” Anastasia Cemetery has served the community of faith since 1912 and has been the central Catholic cemetery for southern Orange County will be traditional burial space for Catholics Patrick’s section is also open to all Catholics with three different burial options for the cremated remains of loved ones The Trinity Columbarium offers an above-ground inurnment and two in-ground inurnment Lisa Champlain needed a break from the long hours she was putting in as a CT Technologist in Radiology at Doctors Hospital of Sarasota So in late September Lisa and friends Becky and Jeanette Augustine Beach for some relaxing beach time the likes of which had not been seen in St winds and rain didn’t deter the trio as they pursued an alternative activity that most women love — shopping Their kind of shopping focused on thrift and antique shops on Anastasia Island as well as in downtown St I tend to check out thrift stores,” Champlain admitted adding that she had recently lost some weight and needed to “adjust” her wardrobe Number one on their thrift shop adventures was the Betty Griffin House Thrift Shoppe Champlain and her friends got lucky during their late September visit  “We found some new designer items with original tags still on them,” Champlain related COVID-19 forced both the Anastasia Island location and a second store located at 445 S.R Both reopened May 7 with limited hours After experiencing a $150,000 loss for the month of April Betty Griffin Center Chief Executive Officer Profits from the stores benefit the Betty Griffin Center at 2450 Old Moultrie Road in St The center offers a 24-hour help hotline — 904-824-1555 — and a confidential 24-hour a day shelter for domestic and sexual abused survivors and their children as well as safe and supportive services Advocates are available 24/7 to talk with domestic and/or sexual abuse survivors Seniors are offered 15% discounts on Mondays Wacky Wednesdays offer the ten for $10 specials on selected clothing clothing is 25 cents each and 50 cents for sizes 5T and up Retired and active military receive a 15% discount on Fridays sales specials are offered at both locations depending on the volume of items available Both stores accept donations from the community both stores generally offer a variety of household items including furniture Donations need to be clean and in good condition and appliances and electronics need to be in working order Small item donations are accepted at the Anastasia Island Thrift Shoppe from 10 a.m Small item donations are accepted at the Julington Square Thrift Shoppe from 10 a.m For pick-up of large furniture donations for either location call 904-495-8216 or email at pickup@bettygriffincenter.org Staff and volunteers at each location wear masks and follow all sanitation guidelines provided by local and state health organizations Mask wearing and social distancing are encouraged for customers at both locations call the Anastasia Island store at 904-471-4716 or the Julington Creek store at 904-230-5435 the annual summer Wednesday series at Pier Park The free concert series sponsored by the St Augustine Beach Civic Association held only four concerts A lottery series was used to limit the number of concertgoers to 250 for each event 30 featured local music icon Jim Stafford and friends Elizabeth Roth and Walt Kulwicki of Those Guys also marked their 18th straight appearance at the September events Civic Association President Bill Jones is looking ahead to the 2021 concert series with optimism “Season 19 is already in the planning stages,” Jones wrote “Our sponsors and the Tourist Development Council Grant will help make next season a reality We are hoping and praying for a full season that will allow our patrons a more normal concert experience,” Jones continued adding that business owners who might be interested in becoming part of the concert series next year can contact him at 904-347-8007 or email to president@sabca.org go to freebeachconcerts.com or on Facebook @sabmusicbythesea The concert will celebrate the past 10 years of music-making at St Anastasia with guest performers Carolyn Brown Peter Morin along with singers from the parish choirs will also perform Free-will donations will be accepted to offset stipend and concert series expenses There will be no intermission and the concert will last about one hour.  Free tickets are available at saccfl.org/concertseries One ticket is good for an entire party of household members or close friends not to exceed eight individuals All attending the concert will be required to wear face masks The performances will also be streamed making use of a new video system recently installed in the church The concert can be viewed at https://saccfl.org/stanastasiaconcertseries go to the parish website at www.saccfl.org or call 904-471-5364 Both the Wednesday Market at Pier Park and the St Augustine Amphitheatre Farmers Market are now open Hours at the Wednesday market at 350 A1A Beach Boulevard are 8 a.m The Amphitheatre market at 1340C A1A South is open from 8:30 a.m Both offer fresh produce and other foods as well as products by a variety of arts and crafts vendors Admission and parking are free at both locations With just two weeks remaining in the 2020 sea turtle nesting season the number of new nests has come to a crawl The season nest total was 852 at the end of last week 650 nests have hatched sending an estimated 54,255 hatchlings to the ocean Two hundred two nests remain in incubation A majority of this year’s nesting turtles have been Loggerheads FORT PIERCE — A performing-arts school's dream of remodeling the former St. Anastasia Catholic School has come to a screeching halt after the city terminated its lease of the historic 107-year-old historic building.  The Lindsay School of the Arts planned to transform the city-owned St Anastasia, 910 Orange Ave., into a community arts program with dance studios a children’s library, a recording studio and an auditorium.  But the school's failure to meet renovation deadlines, even after they were extended because of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the city to pull the plug last month on the $4 million project at the intersection of Orange Avenue and 10th Street.  I'm recommending termination of this lease agreement we can seek other alternatives to get this very vital corner developed," City Manager Nick Mimms told the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency March "It is the gateway to not only the Peacock Arts District but also the Lincoln Park District."  $4 million project: Lindsay School of the Arts to renovate St. Anastasia Catholic School  Lincoln Park revitalization: Incubate Neighborhood Center prepares to open  community hub by mid-May Historic landmark: Fort Pierce seeks developer to renovate Old St. Anastasia Catholic School The Lindsay School of the Arts, currently at 1717 Orange Ave., is a nonprofit offering free dance, art, drama, music, production and creative writing classes to children ages 1-18 and adults. It's partially funded by the the Children’s Services Council of St. Lucie County. the school signed a 20-year lease with the city for $10 a year The expansion would have helped increase enrollment from 148 to 450 and was expected to be completed by 2023 the pandemic significantly changed the project cost and timeline Lindsay School of the Arts owner Cindy Bridges said in an emailed statement and now would have cost three times more what we expected and take many more years to complete then  we hoped," Bridges said. "We were not able to keep up with the terms of our agreed lease with the city of Fort Pierce and complete the project as quickly as needed."  Although the school was behind on its contractual obligations, some progress was made, such as getting half of the engineering services donated and exploring a partnership with redevelopment agency Capital Group Enterprises, according to a January memo from the school to sent the city.  two local banks were interested in "being involved" and the school was planning to apply for a $500,000 state grant according to the memo, the nonprofit had $50,000 in cash, $150,000 in pledges toward the project and $125,000 in donated.  Bridges called the breakdown of the relationship with the city "bittersweet," but said she still hopes to expand to a larger facility as soon as possible adding that some students have been wait-listed for several years "We are ready for a space that we can own so we don’t have to depend on utilizing someone else’s property forever," Bridges said "We need to lay down roots in a facility that belongs to LSA that accommodates all our ends annually and has the right space for all 10-15 student showcases a year."  the private arts school plans to add up to 48 student slots annually Commissioner Tom Perona believes the school could have brought the project to fruition.  "I think it was a good decision (to lease the building to the school) at the time that we made it," he said at the FPRA meeting The city will create a new proposal to entice development partners for the old St It's been considered for an arts use and for offices, Mayor Linda Hudson told TCPalm. However the city wants to see what ideas developers bring to the table and is open to different options "I feel bad about the Lindsay School of Arts," Hudson said but I knew it was going to be a big challenge for them Anastasia — listed on the National Register of Historic Places for more than two decades — was built in 1914 to serve the needs of about 30 Catholic families in Fort Pierce it closed after a new school was built at South 33rd Street and Delaware Avenue Olivia McKelvey is TCPalm's watchdog reporter for St You can reach her at olivia.mckelvey@tcpalm.com 772-521-4380 and on Twitter @olivia_mckelvey.  A recent leisurely drive along the roads on Anastasia Island got me to thinking — who were these people that have roads and streets named after them Hoping this could be an interesting subject to write about I soon found out there is no such thing as easy It turns out that many of the names relate closely to the history of the island Augustine Beach City Manager Max Royle explained the basics of the names in this city “Very few of the streets in the City of St Augustine Beach have a name like Versaggi or Pope,” Royle wrote there are the numbered streets in the subdivisions of Atlantic Beach and the numbered avenues and lettered streets in Coquina Gables.” Johns County and was often referred to as the Lion of the Senate Edward “Red” Cox Recreational Facility located in Lighthouse Park were named after Margo Pope’s father Augustine’s recreation department and later served the St Johns County Recreation Department’s director until 1987 Anne Heymen recalled that back in the 1950s when A1A went through Anastasia State Park they changed their location to County Road 214,” Heyman said Her sources include her late husband Donnie and his friend Phil Genovar Phillip Whitley scared the stuff out of me by demonstrating how fast he could go in a quarter mile,” Heymen added located just south of where A1A South and A1A Beach Boulevard intersect the original developer of the Linda Mar subdivision and a member of the Versaggi shrimping dynasty Versaggi was just 18 in 1925 when the Versaggi family moved from Fernandina Beach to St Augustine to relocate the shrimping business Augustine was known as the shrimp capital of the world mainly because of the efforts of three Italian immigrants A few miles south of that area down A1A is a tongue-twister of a name — Dondanville Road which extends between the Atlantic Ocean and the grassy tributaries of the Intracoastal Waterway where Saltwater Cowboys restaurant is located It first opened in 1963 by the namesake of the road who was nicknamed “Cowboy.” The popular eatery was originally named Cowboy’s Restaurant locals knew it as a place to eat good seafood the new owners added “Saltwater” to the name And — just for clarification — Anastasia Island is named for the martyr according to documents reviewed by the Historic St labels the island “Santa Anastasia.” What is clear is that the island was not named for the elusive daughter of the last Russian czar Nicholas II — despite some theory and speculation — since it was designated long before her birth in 1901 Readers who have knowledge of the significance of other street and road names and who would like to share that information in this column can email staugbeachwatch@aol.com Augustine Beach City Commission and the St Johns County Board of County Commissioners will address important matters of concern to island residents Public hearings at the meeting will include a conditional use permit for “Outside Consumption of Food and Beverages at a proposed donut shop at 400 A1A Beach Boulevard.” There will also be a hearing on Ordinance 19-01 to allow pharmacies within certain areas of the city’s commercial land use district The third Ordinance 19-02 will be a public hearing and final reading to establish parking meter zones in the city The complete agenda is available at staugbch.com Johns County Board of County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m Item 11 on the agenda is a discussion item on vacation rentals The staff will present findings to the Board regarding recent discussions with the community and other findings on short-term vacation rentals The Board of County Commissioners will provide direction to either create an ordinance governing short term rentals and how to proceed with public engagement The staff will present findings from surveys community meetings and jurisdictional research and will provide a link to staff reports and supporting documents once available Augustine Beach’s Beautification Advisory Committee/Tree Board invites the community to its Feb 14 meeting to discuss environmental issues facing our area The Board will be gathering information and discussing several topics related to its Arbor Day slogan “Our Sustainable Future,” including periodic flooding The Tree Board embarked on an environmental education/research/recommendations program late last year Its first workshop in December focused on identifying the effects of sea level rise and associated sustainability issues affecting our community Individual members of the Tree Board agreed to research specific environmental issues and prepare presentation materials to be distributed to the public as part of the City’s Arbor Day celebration More information about the Tree Board is available at the City’s website Questions about the meeting can be directed to Dariana Fitzgerald at dfitzgerald@cityofsab.org or by phone at 904-471-2122 • Coastal Realty will host its fourth annual Golf Tournament on Feb which provides service dogs to military veterans The registration fee of $55 includes 18 holes of golf The event will also include awards for a best ball format There will be raffle prizes and a 50/50 drawing call 904-471-9212 or email Deborah@coastalrealtyfl.com • The 25th annual Arts & Crafts Show hosted by the St Anastasia Missionaries of the Poor Supporters (SAMOPS) This year’s event will be held both in the new St Enda of Aran Formation Center and on the grounds of St Food and drinks will be available for purchase including baked goods provided by ladies of the parish as well as donuts Proceeds from the event will be for continuing support for the needs of the Missionaries of the Poor in Haiti and other locations The registration form for vendors is available at saccfl.org/st-anastasia-missionaries-of-the-poor-supporters Have news to share about Anastasia Island or the adjoining areas? Send your information about people and events to staugbeachwatch@aol.com or call 904-471-4851 Anastasia Island residents are used to seeing and meeting visitors from nearby and distant places but not many — if any — can recall seeing an Amish family walking local streets and beaches. Nor has he or members of his family ever walked on a beach “I’ve never seen the ocean before,” Byler admitted as he sat in a rented condominium overlooking St The Amish enclave included Noah’s wife Barbara Katie and four children who range in age from 9 months to 7 years The group accompanied a family member here who is attending a conference Since the Amish do not own or drive automobiles they were transported here in a hired van from the Amish community of Dayton and will return home later this month via train As they walked the streets and beach off Ocean Trace Road the family attracted attention in their hobble shoes and typical homemade Pennsylvania Dutch attire with the women in tied bonnets and long dresses of black blue or brown and the men donning dark clothes and hats It was the children in the family that drew the attention of residents of the condominium When they learned that the family would be visiting until late December crayons and other drawing materials for the children and some home baked goods for the family Not knowing how they would be received and with a bit of hesitation the group knocked on the Byler’s door with the Christmas gifts were doing what most children do — playing The gift-givers left feeling good about their visit with one of the women commenting “This is the true meaning of Christmas.” photos of the Byler family were not taken.) followed by two simultaneous services at 4:30 p.m in the Sanctuary and the Christian Life Center The simultaneous services will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube email abc@anastsiachurch.org or go to www.abcastasiachurch.org Masses in both the church and in Celebration Hall Mass is also scheduled in the church on Christmas Eve It will be preceded by Christmas Carols by the Parish Chorale starting at 7:30 p.m Call 904-471-5364 or go to www.saccfl.org for information Seating will be limited in both locations in compliance with Covid-19 directives Anastasia Catholic Church and are recommended at Anastasia Baptist Church Johns County Christmas tree-recycling program will take place on the island between the hours of 9 a.m Trees should be free of decorations and debris Designated areas and signage will direct participants to the drop off area Augustine Beach will have a new mayor on Jan the mayor and vice mayors are not elected in the November general elections the beach’s form of government directs that the mayor and vice-mayor be selected by a majority of sitting commissioners at its January meeting 4 meeting, the first order of business will be the swearing in of two commissioners: Commissioner Dylan Rumrell who ran unopposed and whose current term expires on Dec who was elected to the Commission in November when he received more votes than the incumbent The four-year term of both Dylan and Ernesto will begin in January 2021 and end Dec Call 904-471-2122 for information or go to https://www.staugbch.com The 2020-21 concert series continues at St Anastasia Catholic Church at 7 p.m. Jan with the violin and cello music of the husband and wife team Physical distancing seating and wearing facemasks will be required throughout the performance The concert and parking are free. For information Have news to share about Anastasia Island or the adjoining areas Send your information about people and events to staugbeachwatch@aol.com or call 471-4851. Here’s wishing readers a sea of good health and an island of happiness in 2021.  See you next year Four months ago as churches closed their doors to conform to the “stay at home” coronavirus mandate Anastasia Catholic Church was put in a precarious financial situation when the April mortgage payment of $22,000 came due on the Anastasia Island church’s new St The closing came at a time that normally would have brought in hundreds of visitors (and their donations) to the church during Holy Week and Easter “I write with joyful news today,” advising that the bank has agreed to defer payment for April and to evaluate the payment each month until the pandemic is over but the length of the loan was being extended without penalty “The Bank deferred our mortgage payments through June,” Fr We are currently in the process of refinancing the mortgage at a much lower interest rate The bank and parish have worked very well together,” the pastor noted “The parish has many faithful parishioners who support us financially Online giving and the mailing-in of contributions have become the norm Current contributions allow us to meet our average monthly expenses The unexpected expenses that have arisen were met by using our savings and catastrophic fund,” he explained the parish has resumed in-person liturgies implementing Diocese of St Augustine and State of Florida health guidelines People entering the church are required to wear a mask during the entire liturgy can accommodate 95 families or approximately 200 to 250 people Every other pew is blocked off and then the available pews are partially blocked off to keep families in a zig-zag pattern Since the hymnals have been removed the music and scriptures are published in the weekly bulletin which is available at the church and online Parishioners must lower their masks for the reception of Holy Communion Plexiglass screens have been installed between the minister distributing the Eucharist and the communicant “We are no longer able to pass the collection baskets In response many parishioners have moved to electronic contributions with some mailing their contributions to the parish others contribute their minimum required distributions each year and some bring their contributions each week While in-person attendance remains down sharply between 36 and 80 families attend depending on the time of the Mass “The majority of our parishioners have chosen to continue sheltering in place,” the pastor said “The streaming of Masses has been successful While our parishioners can tune in to EWTN for Mass they can also participate in the live Mass stream from the parish We have been told by parishioners that being able to see their church and a Mass being celebrated by the priests has been an incredible blessing to them.” The church will soon resume religious education classes in the Formation Building Families are being given the option of in-person classes or homeschooling In order to maintain social distancing class sizes have been halved which requires double the number of classes students will alternate attending every other week for a longer period of time Student temperatures will be checked before entrance and will have to bring their own supplies instead of sharing them as a class Jude Celebration Hall multipurpose room which is in the Formation Building is once again available for rent and parish activities It includes a professional kitchen for caterers a long pedestal table that can be used as a buffet and a stage with state-of-the-art sound system plus high-speed fiber optic Wi-Fi throughout Groups desiring to serve food have to be creative with how to accomplish this without use of the buffet which is regulated under current mandates Anastasia Catholic Church was founded in 1985 as a mission church It has grown its faith community from 300 families to more than 1,500 families Places to visitAs schools reopen with either in-person or online learning there will be limitations on such things as field trips Parents and guardians can fill that gap and the “what can I do now” syndrome by taking advantage of offerings of annual memberships at local outdoor and historical sights here on Anastasia Island such as Anastasia State Park offer unlimited visits and if used frequently can average out to just a fraction of the cost of one-time visits COVID-19 and other restrictions are enforced at all locations and it is advisable that visitors check the websites of the attraction prior to a visit for hours of operation which can change from week to week Anastasia State Park: Join the Friends of Anastasia State Park for $25 per year and get 12 park entrances throughout the year admission fees are $8 for vehicles with 2 to 8 people The park is off A1A at 300 Anastasia Park Road For park information, call the ranger station at 904-461-2033 or http://friendsofanastasia.org/become-a-member Augustine Lighthouse Museum offers several annual membership levels including $25 for an individual $50 for admission of two adults and children under the age of 18 The memberships include discounts on museum store purchases subscription to the Spyglass museum magazine The Lighthouse is at 81 Lighthouse Avenue on Anastasia Island Call 829-0745 or go to www.staugustinelighthouse.org located on the island at 999 Anastasia Boulevard offers individual annual memberships at $109.95 There is even a grandparent membership for two adults and grandchildren 16 and younger for $129.95 per year The memberships include unlimited admissions year-round Go to http://www.alligatorfarm.com/zoo-membership/ or call 824-3337 Marineland: Marineland Dolphin Adventure Each annual pass includes unlimited Behind the Seas park pass admissions one free “Touch & Play” program for each member Although there’s been a slowdown in the number of new sea turtles nesting on St As of the end of last week 811 nests have been identified by volunteers with 640 nests on the north beaches 136 on Anastasia Island and 35 at Matanzas Inlet South Two hundred sixty-five of those nests have already hatched and produced 23,738 hatchlings The sea turtle nesting season runs through Oct if you’re tired of cooking or you get hungry while exploring the island It offers an annual individual membership for $15 Use the membership card year-round for 10 to 15 percent discounts at more than two dozen restaurants and for other products and services offered on the island as well as on the mainland Memberships do not require attending meetings and are not restricted to St With more than four months remaining this year the membership can pay for itself with just a few restaurant or carry-out visits View the list of restaurants and other businesses offering discounts and purchase memberships at www.sabca.org The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students You can book an overnight stay at a former monastery cell Anastasia Island (Ostrov Sveta Anastasia in Bulgarian) awaits its first visitors for the year starting this weekend Those most eager to visit the island will be able to do so on 1 May ( the Saturday before the Orthodox Easter) announced the municipality on its website this week Bookings are also accepted for personal or corporate events - weddings The access from the dock to the buildings has been improved and in the renovated restaurant you will be able to try delicious fish specialities according to island recipes The "Anastasia" ship departing from the port of Burgas will perform three courses a day - 10:00 the stay on board the ship "Anastasia" and on the island will be carried out in compliance with all anti-epidemic measures Anastasia must make a reservation in advance Reservations are accepted every day at +358882004124 or by e-mail reservations@gotoburgas.com It is highly recommended to call before arrival to make sure that the weather conditions allow for the ship to disembark The trip must be booked no later than 17:00 hours the day before Tickets can be purchased at the counter from the Tourist Information Centre The price (until 31 May) for adults is 12 BGN (6 euros) while children up to 3 years of age and persons with disabilities are exempt from payment Saint Anastasia is located in Burgas Bay in the Black Sea It is the only accessible and inhabited island in Bulgaria as the tourist portal Go to Burgas informs  The island also hosts a church – “Ascension” which is part of the monastery that once existed there Said monastery was turned into a prison in 1923 cells of the medieval monastery can be rent for an overnight stay Visit the website of the destination for more information or check out the video gallery to get a glimpse of this magical piece of land guarded by the warm waters of Burgas The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital Anastasia Catholic Church plans Christmas program Anastasia Catholic Church will host a Christmas Concert and Messiah Singalong at 7 p.m Sacred music of the Christmas holiday season will include favorites like the "Christmas Canon" and "O Holy Night," choruses from "The Messiah," contemporary anthems and Gospel arrangements A string quartet led by Helen Morin will perform two of the concertos from Vivaldi's "L'estro armonico." The holiday program will feature the parish chorale children choristers and the Sunday Morning 8 a.m Ensemble under the direction of Peter Morin Curtis Powell will accompany on the piano and harpsichord and Michael Thomas will add rhythmic splash on the drums Audience carol singalongs will be included throughout the concert as well as four "Messiah" choruses but a free-will offering will be taken to assist with expenses will follow in the parish Celebration Hall memorial luminaries will be lit on the church grounds following the 4 p.m the church will hold Masses with special music programs Masses for the Feast of the Solemnity of Mary gathered a group of men - all of the Catholic faith - in the basement of his church The members took as their patron Christopher Columbus and thus was the beginning of the Knights of Columbus The following February officers of the Knights of Columbus were elected and the New Haven Morning Journal and Courier mentioned the first meeting of the group the K of C has grown from those few men to well over a million members a statue of Father McGivney was blessed at St Anastasia Catholic Church by Pastor Timothy Lindenfelser recently purchased by Knights of Columbus Council 7121 and encourages men of the parish to "strongly consider joining the Knights of Columbus What a majestic sight it was as six horses made their way along the south beaches recently Riders maneuvered the horses near the surf in double formation with the horses lifting their heads as the waves splashed their legs Some beachgoers questioned the legality of the horses on the beaches but only under strict regulations as spelled out in St or who is responsible for any hoofed animal shall permit such animal to be on any portion of the beach between the southern boundary of the Surfside Beach Access Ramp extending south to the southern boundary of St 31 of each year and during county recognized spring break periods as predetermined from time to time by the Supervisor of Beach Management and the Sheriff.” Horse trailer parking is at Butler Park East and overflow parking is available at 5780 Gloria Avenue Riders can enter the beach by way of the Mary Street Ramp Boundaries for riding are from Surf Drive in St Augustine Beach south to the northern side of the Fort Matanzas Ramp Here’s the catch — In order to legally ride a horse on any of the approximately driveable 30 miles of the 41 miles stretch of St An educational program is available and passing a related quiz is required email joneill@sjcfl.us or call 904-209-0619 Augustine Beach Police Department has announced that although A Street will be closed to traffic for the New Year’s Eve fireworks event the Ocean Trace Road beach gate will be open with the normal traffic pattern (southbound only) The annual New Year’s Eve event at Pier Park begins at 5 p.m and a Kids’ Zone with fireworks over the Atlantic scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m Parking in and near the park will be limited however free parking with free shuttles will be available from a number of island locations The Sea Turtle Hospital at UF Whitney Laboratory in the City of Marineland reminds us that there’s still time for a 2019 deduction by donating to its fund to assist sea turtles under its care Needs include nutritious food for ill sea turtles examinations and surgery performed by their veterinarian antibiotics and pain medication and day to day treatment by their animal care team instruments and fluids per surgery (each sea turtle with FP may require 4 to 5 surgeries); $85 for a month of food for sea turtle patients in the hospital and $200 for full examinations and diagnostics Donations in any amount should be made payable to Sea Turtle Hospital at Whitney Lab University of Florida and mailed to 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd. Johns County will host its annual Christmas “Treecycling” program between 9 a.m contact Nathan Otter at notter@sjcfl.us or 904-209-0323 Augustine Beach will launch a “Go Green SAB” campaign starting Jan Augustine Beach are invited to voluntarily eliminate the use of single-use plastics which have long lifespans that impact local habitats and natural areas and are not easily recyclable Owners of businesses that are interested in participating are asked to visit the City Manager’s Office located in City Hall the City is relying on the word of business owners and managers and will not be conducting inspections or penalizing organizations that do not wish to participate go to www.staugbch.com.The City of St Augustine Beach Facebook and Instagram page Sign up for the monthly e-newsletter by texting CITYOFSAB to 22828 Augustine Beach will have a new mayor in 2020 The commissioners selected Margaret England to serve as Mayor and Maggie Kostka to serve as Vice Mayor in 2020 Johns County Pier Park including those who fish from the pier should be aware that the rebuild of the pier is expected to start Jan Work on the pier will include removal and replacement of the deck boards precast support beams (under the pier) and the replacement with glulam beams The approach boardwalk work will include removal and replacement of the walk-boards and replacement of any piles that are found to be depleted once they are exposed There will be intermittent beach closures around the Pier during the project and the north beach access directly adjacent to the Pier will be closed The south beach access will remain open during the project and other park facilities will remain open and accessible to the public This is a good time of the year to go through your medicines including prescriptions assists in disposing of unneeded or out of date medications with no questions asked A Med Return Drug Collection Unit is mounted inside the office of the Police Department Drugs will be disposed of in accordance with Florida State Statutes The unit is accessible to the public for drop off from from 8 a.m the first right whale calf of the season was spotted off Sapelo Island Season 20 of the Marineland Right Whale Project begins Jan team with scientists in conservation efforts and stewardship for the endangered whales Volunteers are trained to help sight the right and humpback whales that may venture into near shore waters from St volunteers will be given whale watching site and time assignments go to https://marinelandrightwhale.blogspot.com Tickets are available for the dinner concert featuring the Outta Sight music group from the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind The group will once again perform at the Sons of Italy annual January dinner concert starting at 6 p.m Enda of Aran Formation Center on the campus of St Members of Outta Sight are totally or legally blind - and naturally talented Tickets are $18 per person and include an entrée Soft drinks at $2 and beer and wine at $3 per serving will be available for purchase Proceeds of the event will be used by the Sons of Italy for its continued donations to worthy St Johns County charities and to support its scholarship fund Here’s wishing readers a sea of good health and an island of happiness in 2020 If you have news to share about people and events on Anastasia Island or nearby areas, please send your information to staugbeachwatch@aol.com or call 904-471-4851 Christian Coury has been selected for membership in the National Society of High School Scholars The organization recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership visual arts and theater teacher for the school’s Literary and Fine Arts Academy will be participating with her students in the “Keys to the Cities” project sponsored by the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation turning them into original works of art and displaying them around Palm Beach County next month Hess and her students were the only artists selected from a school Fifth-grader Alexander Brawley was chosen as the Rotary Student of the Month The award was recently presented at a luncheon sponsored by the Rotary Club of the North Palm Beaches Doughnuts will be provided after the service An open house for new students planning to enroll for the 2014-15 school year will take place at 6 p.m Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society The Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches is sponsoring a fundraiser for the school’s band program mention the school and 10 percent of your bill will be donated to the program hours and directions at www.tabicagrill.net or call 561-747-0108 Mary Anne Richey has been nominated for the 2013 National Association of School Psychologist of the Year award by the Florida Association of School Psychologists serving Allamanda Elementary and Independence Middle The national winner will be announced in February and receives a trip to the national convention in Washington The sixth annual Engineering Family Fun Day takes place 10 a.m The event focuses on educating the community on the opportunities available in engineering and seeks to inspire an interest in the areas of math and science in students from fourth to 12th grade The Society of Women Engineers Southeast Florida Section and the Palm Beach Alumni Extension of the National Society of Black Engineers are co-hosts Eight booths will present hands-on engineering-related activities The event combines the school’s Cow Chip Bingo with the church’s Friends & Family Fellowship Ministry’s annual Trunk or Treat Tickets for the bingo are $25 and must be purchased by Wednesday Ticket holders do not need to be present to win pie auction and a horse riding demonstration visit www.saintanastasiaschool.org or call 772-461-2232 Prospective students in grades six through 11 and their families are invited to attend JCHS students will give tours of the campus and introduce guests to faculty and staff there will be a free tailgate party adjacent to the football field Guests can then enjoy complimentary admission to the football game At halftime the school will give away free tuition to an eighth-grader who completed the tour offers scholarships to residents of Martin and St Lucie counties who are pursuing health-care-related degrees The scholarships are open to high school students who will graduate in 2014 as well as to residents who are considering going back to school and need tuition assistance Applications are available online at martinhealth.org/scholarships or email christina.romanovsky@martinhealth.org Michael Keane to lead the church for the next six years HARRIMAN — A priest with roots in nearby Rockland County has now taken over the stewardship at St Anastasia’s long-time pastor who retired to an Archdiocesan residence in Riverdale in Westchester County who likes to be known at “Father Mike,” was most recently affiliated with Holy Name of Mary Parish in Croton-on-Harmon where he served as an administrator and then pastor since 2002 Keane now has a six-year appointment at St who graduated from the North Rockland School District taught at Our Lady of Lourdes High School in Poughkeepsie and St Joseph By-The-Sea High school in Staten Island He is also experienced as a guidance counselor and as a chaplain/campus minister “The community has been extremely welcoming and it’s a wonderful diverse community too,” said Keane “It’s been great.” Keane said it’s a bit quiet at St but he knows the parish will become busier when school resumes “I’m looking forward to September,” he said “The problem with a summer transfer is that a lot of people are away I’m looking forward to meeting the younger families when religious instruction resumes I’ll be reaching out to them and seeing how I can help.” About 1,300 families are St Anastasia parishioners and Keane said about 900 of them attend weekend masses during the summer months “This has been a great opportunity to meet and greet people,” Keane said of the weekend masses “That’s when you see all these connections I’ve met a lot of people here who grew up in Rockland County like me and are now living here I’ve never seen that with any of my other assignments It’s been so pleasant.” Keane also looks forward to being an active member of the Monroe Clergy Association which is on its summer hiatus and meeting with officials from the Monroe-Woodbury School District to see how he may be of service Among Keane’s initial plans are to query parishioners about their long-term vision for St Anastasia for at least the next five to 10 years He’s also planning to revitalize the parish’s bereavement ministry He’s also looking to get a bus donated to assist Hispanic parishioners who have no transportation so they can attend Mass Keane’s Spanish is somewhat limited and while he studies the language with his Rosetta Stone DVDs who offers Mass in Spanish there and at St is the introduction of the new translation of the Roman Missal --- the ritual text containing prayers and instructions for the celebration of the Mass --- effective this November “This is 'The Year of the Mass,’” said Keane “I want to reconnect people with the liturgy and to learn the new language of prayer and to pray together There are new words that people use in prayer The people’s part has definitely changed.” In the meantime Keane continues to get settled into his new role and looks forward to making a positive impact within the greater community “I hope to bring a very welcoming spirit and to invite people to get to know the liturgy,” said Keane “This is going to be a great experience.” - Nancy Kriz Linette Trabulsy /SUBMITTED TO YOURNEWS St Anastasia Catholic School congratulates the Class of 2016 Anastasia Catholic School wishes to congratulate the Class of 2016 A special congratulations are in order for the top 10 eighth graders These students had the top grade point averages over the last two years The school's valedictorian was Devan Fischbeck with a 99.9795 GPA and the salutatorian was Kate Capezza with a 99.8775 GPA The rest of the top 10 (in order) include: Julia DeMott The graduating eighth graders excelled at every aspect of student life this year by achieving high-reaching goals in their spiritual This class worked very hard on their school work They excelled in band and choir as they performed in competitions earning several members statewide recognition and local accolades They were strong leaders in student government as well as devoted 'Guardian Angels' to their first-grade 'angels.' They were active in their respective churches where several students served as altar servers and in other ministries many volunteered for local non-profits in our community such as the Treasure Coast Food Bank Our graduates all fit the profile of a graduate for St Participate in the church and its sacramental life; Understand our catechism and the teachings of the Catholic Church Analyze information and seek the objective truth found in the Gospel; Use technology tools purposefully and proficiently to serve God; read and write effectively and creatively; Work independently and cooperatively in problem solving Develop individual goals and strategies for success; Synthesize and evaluate complex information and problems; Apply their acquired knowledge through the filter of Christian virtues The faculty and staff wishes to congratulate the Class of 2016 for their hard work dedication and service to Christ and our community The final concert in this season's series will take place at 7 p.m The concert will feature organist and pianist Shannon McKay and violinist Helen Beke-Morin performing works for piano and violin by Brahms and Beethoven McKay is principal organist at the Cathedral-Basilica of St She began her studies as a piano student in the preparatory school of Peabody Conservatory She completed several years of college-level study at Stephens College she studied organ with the late William Dixon earned a master of music in violin performance with Lucia Lin at Boston University and holds a bachelor of music in violin from Trinity College of Music she performed in Europe with the Britten Peers Orchestra and as concertmaster of the Trinity Sinfonia Morin has been a guest artist at the Dartington International Music Festival and toured Europe with the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra The concert is open to the public and plenty of free parking is available