Did you know that, by virtue of your baptism, you possess rights that are officially recognized throughout the universal Church? Every baptized Catholic enjoys what canon law calls the “fundamental rights of the faithful.”
Part 1 of 2
Read the Special Digital Issue of the Florida Catholic - Palm Beach on Bishop Barbarito!
Looking back on his nearly 15 years as superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Palm Beach, Gary Gelo recalled a meeting in which he reminded school administrators that they are superheroes for the work they do.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, joined by other priests and laypeople, including students from Saint John Paul II Academy and Cardinal Newman High School, prayed the rosary Jan. 23, 2026, in solidarity with the March for Life in Washington.
A morning Mass Jan. 22, 2026, at St. Bernadette in Port St. Lucie honored the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.
Drawing on the wisdom of St. Francis de Sales, the gentle patron of love and evangelization whose patronal feast was being celebrated Jan. 24, the day of the 25th annual Men’s Rally, the event’s keynote speaker urged those in attendance to practice the virtue of humility.
In Corona, Queens, where parking spots are as scarce as miracles, Our Lady of Sorrows Church has transformed a daily challenge into a unique ministry.
With a gleaming new ceiling overhead composed of panels showing nine stars each in recollection of Christ’s “ninth hour” in the Gospel of Matthew, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito blessed the holy water Jan. 10 during St. Juliana’s 75th diamond jubilee celebration.
The faithful are invited to be prayerful witnesses at the ordination of Deacon Jedidiah Preble to the diocesan priesthood Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, 9999 N. Military Trail in Palm Beach Gardens.
St. Helen School in Vero Beach — as in all Catholic schools — strives to provide an excellent education that incorporates faith, academics, service and leadership, encouraging children to incorporate their faith into their everyday activities as a witness of Christ’s love.
Kathy and Paul Leone are set to be honored with others at the 16th annual Caritas Dei Bishop’s Gala for Catholic Charities Thursday, Jan. 29, at The Breakers in Palm Beach. They won’t have far to travel because Paul is the CEO of the beachfront resort.
The 25th annual Men’s Rally, sponsored by Catholic Men for Jesus Christ, is set for Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius. The keynote speaker will be Msgr. James Patrick Shea, president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, who may be known to some through his appearances at the National Eucharistic Congress in 2024 and last year’s National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C.
This coastal town in Indian River County once known for baseball spring training is also a retirement mecca for Catholic business leaders and working entrepreneurs eager to meet like-minded Catholics.
Just as St. Joseph, the carpenter, was quiet and humble, the goal of the new St. Joseph Mission Ministry of Holy Family Parish in Port St. Lucie is to provide relief and aid with hands-on service and unabashed humility to the parish community and beyond.
The Serra Club of South Palm Beach County hosted its annual Christmas dinner Dec. 11, 2025, honoring men studying for the priesthood.
The Ryan Center for Young Children, a ministry of Holy Family Parish in Port St. Lucie, was gifted a large crucifix by parishioner and local police officer Ben Gaspar two years ago.
The faithful of Holy Redeemer Parish in Palm City gathered Dec. 12, 2025, to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and honoring the Virgin Mary with Mass, a procession, traditional music and delicious food.
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Reverend Monsignor Peter Dai Bui, as Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix. Monsignor Bui is a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix and currently serves as the diocese’s Vicar for Clergy.
A first-class relic of St. John Paul II was installed during the Saturday vigil Mass Dec. 6, 2025, at St. Peter Parish in Jupiter after it was carried several thousand miles from Poland by the leader of an order of women religious who serve in the Diocese of Palm Beach.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito presided Dec. 5, 2025, at a Mass and luncheon with a group of Catholic Realtors at St. Jude Parish in Boca Raton.
The Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women held its annual “Take a Sister to Brunch” event Dec. 6, 2025, hosted by Mary Immaculate Parish in West Palm Beach.
Students from St. Joan of Arc School in Boca Raton visited the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Palm Beach Gardens Dec. 4, 2025.
On a cold, wintery day, with the congregation gathered around Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Auxiliary Bishops Kevin T. Kenney and Michael Izen outside the main doors of Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, the rite of reparation began Dec. 6 that restored the space for worship.
Cecilia Torrisi, Respect Life director at St. Rita Parish in Wellington, was recognized in October with the 2025 Respect Life Ministry Award for the Diocese of Palm Beach at the Florida Culture of Life Conference in Miami for her unwavering commitment, creativity and tireless leadership in promoting the dignity and sanctity of life from conception to natural death.
The future is so bright at Cardinal Newman High School that a new project aims to add a bit of shade.
In a spirit of compassion and unity, St. Lucy Parish in Highland Beach brought together members of the local community who may be alone and in need of companionship for a free Thanksgiving dinner Nov. 27, 2025.
Nearly 60 ministry leaders in faith formation and youth ministry, their catechist and core team leaders, and permanent deacons, representing 30 parishes and schools, gathered Oct. 29 in the Family Life Center of the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola for a professional development day offered by the Diocese of Palm Beach’s Office of Marriage, Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry.
Three houses of worship next door to each other in Jupiter are set to continue an annual tradition of neighborly engagement and “sweet” harmony that began in 1996 during their formative days.
Sparked by the Jubilee Year of Hope and the desire to bring young adults closer to God by receiving the jubilee pilgrim indulgence, a group journeyed by foot Nov. 15, 2025, from St. Ann in West Palm Beach to the Basilica of St. Edward on Palm Beach.
“No one comes to the world alone, but many go out alone.” With those words, Father Gabriel Ghanoum explained the need for the No One Buried Alone ministry as he gave a dignified burial Nov. 8 to 252 souls at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery in Royal Palm Beach.
Many members of Sacred Heart Parish participated in a Marian music concert Oct. 17 at the Lake Worth Beach church and performed exceptionally well, according to Salomé Mondelus, director of faith formation and youth ministry. With a profound love for Mary, she said the concert is close to her heart.
John Carroll High School marked a milestone Oct. 23, 2025, with the grand opening of its new athletic fieldhouse, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony. A highlight of the evening was the dedication of the building in honor of former coach and mentor Dave Vercillo, who attended with many family members and friends.
After more than a decade of dedicated service, Gary Gelo, superintendent of schools, will retire in February 2026. He has led Catholic education in the diocese with vision, integrity and unwavering faith.
St. Helen Parish’s Respect Life ministry sponsors a butterfly release every year in remembrance of unborn babies.
Father Frank D’Amato, parochial vicar at Holy Family Parish in Port St. Lucie, is one of the featured interviewees in the 30-minute EWTN documentary, “Crushed by the Woman.”
When Father Gabriel Ghanoum conducts a memorial service as part of the No One Buried Alone ministry, he kisses each container of cremated remains of those who died with no known family or friends, whispering “I love you” to each. It’s a moving moment in which he expresses gratitude to each person for the life they lived, the struggles they endured and hopefully the love that they spread.
The local Knights of Columbus, a 6,000-member service organization in the Diocese of Palm Beach, hosted a pilgrimage Oct. 18, 2025, to the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in celebration of the church’s 2025 Jubilee of Hope.
Amy Acierno, who has co-chaired the annual Caritas Dei Bishop’s Gala for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach in recent years, said her involvement is a way to support the local Catholic Church and the essential work that is accomplished for all who are in need.
Students at Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Palm Beach joined a worldwide drive to pray the rosary Oct. 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, and at other times during October, the month of the rosary.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito recently blessed the new athletic field at Saint John Paul II Academy, capping the first phase of capital improvements to sports facilities on the Boca Raton campus.
At their upcoming annual fall meeting, the nation's Catholic bishops have a full agenda of both temporal and spiritual matters -- including votes for key leadership roles as well as discussions on migration, health care directives, artificial intelligence, Eucharistic devotion and liturgical texts.
The Communications and Development Offices of the Diocese of Palm Beach recently received statewide recognition for excellence in public relations, marketing and communications.
It was a joyous occasion as the Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women celebrated its fourth Golden Rose Award ceremony Oct. 4, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola. Twenty-one young women in the diocese were honored for their exemplary leadership and service in their parishes.
Scenes of joy, relief and tearful welcomes flooded media across the world Oct. 13 as the remaining Israeli hostages were freed from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.
The series of 2025 Jubilee deanery pilgrimages to the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, sponsored by the Diocese of Palm Beach’s Office of Hispanic Ministry, continued Oct. 4 with about 1,100 parishioners from the Central Deanery praying the rosary and celebrating Mass in Spanish.
There were multiple reasons to celebrate Oct. 4, 2025, at St. Therese de Lisieux Parish in Wellington. As the community was marking its 25th anniversary as a parish, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito was in attendance to install Father Peter Truong as pastor, just three days after the feast of St. Therese, their patroness.
The commemoration of Jubilee 2025 by the Diocese of Palm Beach’s Office of Hispanic Ministry continued Sept. 13 with parishioners from the South Deanery making a pilgrimage to the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola.
During the annual Steps for Life Mass Sept. 27, 2025, at Emmanuel Church in Delray Beach, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito reflected on the devastating scourge of violent crime as a sign that the world is far from achieving respect for human life at all stages. At the foundation of that disrespect is the issue of abortion.
Speaking Sept. 25, 2025, at St. Bernadette Parish in Port St. Lucie, Amelia “Mia” Akins, a campus formation coordinator with Students for Life of America, detailed the scope of her national organization.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito prayed Sept. 24, 2025, at the start of the 40 Days for Life vigil outside the abortion center on Northpoint Parkway near 45th Street in West Palm Beach.
After the pro-abortion Amendment 4 failed to garner at least 60 percent of yes votes from Florida voters in November 2024, there might be a tendency for pro-lifers to sit back, congratulate themselves and become complacent. But the message from Sara Johnson, who helped lead the Vote No on 4 campaign, is “We won the war. Let’s win the peace.
The 16th Haitian Charismatic Renewal Convention for the Diocese of Palm Beach Sept. 19-21, 2025, drew an estimated 400 Creole-speaking people to the Notre Dame Mission in Fort Pierce.
Under the banner of “Live the Light of Christ,” the 2025-26 Lumen Christi Schools Appeal has begun in support of the Diocese of Palm Beach’s 18 Catholic elementary and secondary schools.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito celebrated with Holy Cross Parish Sept. 14, 2025, as it marked 65 years of putting Jesus Christ at the center of its life and mission.
As the United States marked Patriot Day, which recalls the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, the students at St. Ann School in West Palm Beach received a living history lesson from one of the people who assisted recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site in New York City.
It was historic for the Catholic faithful around the world, especially the youth, as Pope Leo XIV proclaimed Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati as canonized saints Sept. 7, 2025, at St. Peter’s Square in Rome. It was the Holy Father’s first canonization of saints.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito prayed Sept. 6, 2025, at the start of the ordination Mass for six permanent deacons for the Diocese of Palm Beach that God, who “taught the ministers of your church to seek not to be served but to serve their brothers and sisters,” would support the men, “whom you graciously choose today for the office of deacon,” so they “may be effective in action, gentle in ministry and constant in prayer.”
The White House has launched an initiative calling for prayers for the nation as part of the celebration of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
Mostly flying under the radar and with little fanfare, the St. Vincent de Paul Society helps anyone in need of life’s essentials, said Kate Devine, president of the society’s Diocese of Palm Beach district, which comprises parishes in Palm Beach County.
A presentation by Florida Voters Against Extremism on efforts to increase abortions nationwide is set for Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon in the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola’s Family Life Center, 9999 N. Military Trail in Palm Beach Gardens. The event is part of a full schedule of pro-life events planned the next month in the Diocese of Palm Beach.
Members of St. Mary Parish in Pahokee gathered Sept. 8, 2025, to honor and celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the birthday of their patroness, with joy, love and thanksgiving.
During the summer break, many Catholic families get away for a vacation of fun and relaxation. For school administrators, especially ones whose campus is undergoing significant renovations, time away can be hard to come by.
The largest turnout ever of women throughout the diocese and beyond attended this year’s 2025 Called by Name Women’s Encounter Aug. 23 at St. Lucie Parish in Port St. Lucie.
34 couples gathered Aug. 23-24, 2025, for a Marriage Tune-Up weekend at Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center in North Palm Beach.
Several Catholic schools in the Diocese of Palm Beach tackled major projects of varying degrees over the summer.
Holy Cross Catholic Preschool and Center in West Palm Beach hosted professional development training Aug. 6, 2025, for more than 40 pre-K teachers from across our diocese who use the Frog Street curriculum.
The six married men who will be ordained to the permanent diaconate Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola come to their vocation from different paths, with four of them born in other countries. But they all report a desire to serve the church and further the kingdom of God.
In union with our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, we continue to pray for the families affected by the violence in the Gaza Strip: both for the families of the hostages who have yet to be released, and for the families struggling to feed their children.
It’s fortunate for Catholics in the Diocese of Palm Beach that Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery is here to meet their ultimate needs on 53 acres along Southern Boulevard just west of State Road 7 in Royal Palm Beach.
For 30 years, community members of Notre Dame Catholic mission celebrate ‘there’s no place like home’
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Palm Beach opened for the 2025-26 term Aug. 11. At three local Catholic preschools, 14 elementaries and three high schools, more than 7,200 students are being educated in how to “Live the Light of Christ” today and for the rest of their lives.
A group of 23 teenagers and seven chaperones from Sacred Heart Parish attended a Steubenville Youth Conference in Atlanta July 11-13.
With the motto of “Serve the Lord with Love and Kindness,” the Holy Family Council of Catholic Women tackles a summer service project in Port St. Lucie, collecting back-to-school supplies such as backpacks and canned food for children in need attending community schools.
The School of Christian Formation began in the 1990s as an outreach in the Diocese of Palm Beach as a way to deepen one's faith.
It’s hard to miss the mandate from Jesus to visit the imprisoned. It’s in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 25, along with his urging to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, care for the ill and clothe the naked. Wrapped up in those clear directives from the Lord is the mission of Catholic Charities, and one of the cornerstones of that mission is prison ministry.
It was fitting to install a pastor July 27, 2025, when in the day’s Gospel reading Jesus’ disciples were asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Teaching and praying are two of the main responsibilities of a priest and pastor.
When Blessed Carlo Acutis formally becomes St. Carlo during a canonization Mass with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican Sunday, Sept. 7, a teacher and students at a local school will be closely watching.
During the pope’s general audiences on Wednesdays at the Vatican, he greets thousands of visitors, but it is rare to have a personal encounter with him. A family from Port St. Lucie, recently visiting Rome, received an extraordinary gift of a blessing from Pope Leo XIV.
Father John Mericantante, pastor emeritus of St. Mary Parish in Pahokee, marked his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination June 6, 2025, at Holy Spirit Parish in Lantana. Many friends were in attendance at a Mass and dinner in the parish hall.
The Diocese of Palm Beach’s Office of Hispanic Ministry invites local faithful to pilgrimage to the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola to celebrate Jubilee 2025.
The bishops of the United States have long been advocates of reforms to our broken immigration system. Thoughtful observers of the challenges faced by our country cannot help but recognize that serious reforms are necessary to preserve safety and the integrity of our borders, as well as to accommodate needs...
A day of inspiration, connection and worship is planned for women at the Called By Name 2025 Women’s Encounter Saturday, Aug. 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Lucie Parish, 290 N.W. Prima Vista Blvd. in Port St. Lucie.
The first pro-life memorial Mass honoring aborted babies and deceased pro-life activists took place June 28, the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at Holy Family Church in Port St. Lucie, hosted by the parish’s Respect Life ministry.
Proceeds from the fundraising campaign are allocated to support and enhance the education of the more than 7,200 students enrolled in local Catholic schools, thanks to the generosity of many benefactors.
Staff and volunteers with the Catholic Charities Disaster Recovery program are specially trained to assist people in the five-county Diocese of Palm Beach who are impacted by violent storms and their effects. The initial period of assistance, disaster relief, includes meeting immediate needs for food, water and shelter, said Carol Rodriguez, Catholic Charities’ program development and quality director.
More than 800 years ago, St. Francis of Assisi founded the Secular Franciscan Order, now officially known as the Order of Franciscan Seculars, a lay order within the Catholic Church. It was established canonically in 1221 for the purpose of bringing the Gospel to everyday life.
The Christ Child Society of Boca Raton has established its first Little Library outside Place of Hope in Boca Raton.
The new Eucharistic adoration chapel at St. Clare Parish, using space that had been a reconciliation room in the church building, was “funded on prayer,” said Father Nick Zrallack, pastor.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, together with Gary Gelo, superintendent of schools, have announced the appointment of Laurie Suarez Wilt as the next principal of Sacred Heart School in Lake Worth Beach, which became effective April 28.
Saint John Paul II Academy announced May 22 that Edward Bernot, current school principal, would assume the role of president, effective immediately.
The diocesan School of Christian Formation celebrated the end of another year of classes June 5, 2025, with a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola and dinner of appreciation for its teachers.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Montessori-based religious formation program for children starting at age 3 that is offered at five parishes in the Diocese of Palm Beach.
The Diocese of Palm Beach honors its Catholic high school graduates, particularly the valedictorians and salutatorians, with senior spotlights. In the last of three articles shining a light on excellence in Catholic education, the Florida Catholic spoke with the top seniors at Saint John Paul II Academy.
Due to inclement weather, this year’s May crowning at Lourdes Noreen McKeen Residences was moved indoors May 12 to the Skaff Family Chapel. While it rained outside, the chapel was filled with light...
William Cone, reporter and photographer for the Diocese of Palm Beach and the Florida Catholic, was interviewed recently by radio host Carolyn Dean on WDMC, Divine Mercy Radio, 920 AM, on her “Living Catholic” talk show.
Seasons change, but the wisdom of the church never does: “Keep God at the center of your marriage.” That was the message given to engaged couples by Deacon Louis Romero, diocesan marriage ministry coordinator during a May 10 marriage preparation program
Looking back, Will Ochoa and Capri Crespo, the two top graduates at John Carroll High School, say they found a successful balance while maintaining high standards in their schoolwork. Both were pleased to be named “summa cum laude” graduates and co-valedictorians by their Fort Pierce school.
More than 850 participants, representing numerous parishes in the diocese with Hispanic communities, gathered May 25 at Cardinal Newman High School for the 37th diocesan Encuentro, a day of formation, communion and mission.
The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women gathered to celebrate 40 years of faithful service within their parishes and diocese at their 39th annual convention May 23-24 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Palm Beach Gardens.
At his inaugural Mass in 1978, Pope John Paul II laid out what would become the central message of his long and fruitful pontificate: “Be not afraid.” For Ashlie O’Brien, who has adopted St. John Paul II as her most powerful intercessor, his words are a driving force as she prepares for a major change in her life.
Dominican Sister Elizabeth Dunn, director at Hope Rural School in Indiantown, was recognized by the Diocese of Palm Beach’s Office of Catholic Schools at an administrators meeting.
On May 14, Father Duván Bermúdez, director of the School of Christian Formation, reminded the 85 graduates of the program that the celebration was not the culmination of their mission but the beginning.
The Knights of Columbus sponsored an April 23, 2025, gathering, “Refreshments, Socializing & Truth: A Catholic Perspective on Infertility,” to discuss in vitro fertilization and faith-aligned fertility solutions in the Mercy Center at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton.
Sixteen educators in Catholic schools gathered in April for two days of training in how to establish and sustain learning environments that embrace STREAM education, which stands for science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and math.
During a special Mass April 30 at Saint John Paul II Academy, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito welcomed 25 students and one teacher into full communion with the Catholic Church.
The conclave to elect a new pope, scheduled to begin May 7, is governed by two texts: a rule book and a prayer book.
Ahead of the May 7 start of the papal conclave, the Pontifical Missions Societies USA is inviting faithful to pray -- not only for the assembly as a whole, but for a specific cardinal elector who will help to choose the next successor of St. Peter.
The conclave that begins May 7 is expected to be the largest in history, with a wide geographical mix of cardinal-electors.
Thousands gathered for a massive Mass outside the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires to remember the life and legacy of Pope Francis, whose ministry as archbishop in the Argentine capital of taking the church to the peripheries and prioritizing the poor became a template for his pontificate.
At the Easter Vigil April 19, 2025, after completing a period of formation in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, 25 catechumens and candidates (nine unbaptized, 16 baptized) entered into full communion with the Catholic Church at Holy Family parish.
At the annual chrism Mass April 15 at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito prepared and blessed the holy oils that will be used for sacramental purposes for the next 12 months throughout the five-county diocese.
When most people learn that Deacon Jude Okeke has been studying for the priesthood for 20 years they think he’s kidding. But it’s no joke. In native Nigeria, it’s normal for boys to enter the seminary early and prepare for about 18 years.
A Mass marking the Catholic Church’s worldwide Jubilee of People with Disabilities is planned for 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 27, at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola. All are invited to make a pilgrimage to the cathedral for this important celebration.
The 19th annual Bernard and Betty Egan Memorial Golf Classic to benefit the Samaritan Center shelter for homeless families is set for Friday, May 30, at the Indian River Club, 800 Carolina Circle S.W. in Vero Beach. Check-in will begin at 11:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.
The 30 high school students who gathered April 4, 2025, at the Duncan Conference Center in Delray Beach were part of a new retreat experience by the diocesan Office of Vocations and Seminarians.
The Catholic bishops of Florida honored four people at the annual Catholic Days at the Capitol breakfast March 19, 2025, in Tallahassee.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach is having a baby shower, and you’re invited to give gifts to help expectant mothers and families in need. Items are being collected during April throughout the diocese as part of the agency’s Walking with Moms in Need campaign.
The Southern Deanery of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women held its spring general meeting and installation of officers March 22, 2025, at St. Lucy Parish in Highland Beach.
The No One Buried Alone ministry honored the lives of 101 souls March 29 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery in Royal Palm Beach, providing a dignified burial to those who would otherwise be forgotten.
The Way of the Cross is one of the most personal, meditative and graphic of any Catholic devotion.
Presiding at the ordination of 14 transitional deacons March 29, 2025, Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami said it was “a blessed day for the church here in Florida.”
The first Spanish-language Marriage Tune-Up by the Diocese of Palm Beach’s Marriage Ministry was presented March 22-23 at Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center in North Palm Beach. The program covers the foundational issues that ensure a happy marriage, such as making sure God and prayer are at the center and that both spouses are effectively communicating.
Since becoming president of the National Catholic Educational Association in August 2024, Steven Cheeseman has made it his mission to familiarize himself with dioceses and schools throughout the nation. As part of that effort, he visited schools in the Diocese of Palm Beach March 13.
For the 19th time, members of St. Anastasia Parish and San Juan Diego Hispanic Pastoral Center are preparing to stage their popular Passion play that has grown to embody a ministry with more than 100 in the cast and crew.
In his homily at a March 15, 2025, healing Mass at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Delray Beach, where he is the pastor, Father Gonzales urged those in attendance, many of whom are Catholic health care professionals, to adhere to the teachings of Jesus from the day’s Gospel reading: “be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Women from across the Diocese of Palm Beach participated in the 14th annual Catholic Women of Faith, Women of Action conference March 15, 2025, at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Church in Royal Palm Beach.
All are invited to the 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29, diaconate ordination Mass for Diocese of Palm Beach seminarian Jedidiah Preble at St. Joan of Arc Church, 370 S.W. Third St. in Boca Raton.
Like his favorite pizza toppings (pepperoni, sausage, onions and bacon), Tom Monaghan served up nuggets of wisdom for students in fourth through eighth grade at Rosarian Academy.
On first Saturdays at St. John the Evangelist in Boca Raton, there is a Women of Grace spiritual study program for women, Morning of Grace. The two-hour mini-retreat promotes life-changing spiritual growth with an increasing desire to strive to always live a virtuous life.
CRS, the official international relief and development agency of the U.S. Catholic community, is marking the 50th anniversary of its Rice Bowl program, which has raised more than $350 million to support domestic and overseas poverty relief efforts.
The Vatican elevates St. Edward Church as a minor basilica
The Guild of Catholic Lawyers of the Diocese of Palm Beach hosted a continuing-education session in Palm Beach Gardens Feb. 27, 2025, around the theme of “In the Church and in the Court.”
Thirteen students from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary participated Feb. 22, 2025, in a day of spiritual renewal for adults with physical disabilities sponsored by AIM, an outreach ministry of St. Joan of Arc Parish in Boca Raton.
Workshops on setting and maintaining healthy boundaries, discussing current issues and encouraging discussion were recently held for priests in the Diocese of Palm Beach. The Office of Safe Environments arranged the meetings from Feb. 3-6, 2025, at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens, St. Bernadette in Port St. Lucie and St. Jude in Boca Raton.
The Trump administration "immediately terminated" its contract with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for refugee resettlement, effective Feb. 27, according to letters issued by the U.S. State Department a day earlier.
At the start of the 35th annual Black Cultural Awareness Mass Feb. 22, 2025, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito expressed gratitude for Black History Month and St. Francis of Assisi Parish’s celebration. “We give thanks to God, and we ask God to continue to pour out his blessings upon us, we who are one family. No matter what our background is, no matter where we come from, no matter what we do, no matter what our age is, we are one family made in the image and likeness of God,” he said.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito reflected on lasting love at the second of two diocesan wedding anniversary celebrations Feb. 15, 2025, at St. Jude Church in Boca Raton.
The Knights and Dames of the Southeast Florida area of the Order of Malta sponsored its annual Mass of anointing Feb. 11, 2025, the World Day of the Sick and feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Starting in 2006, Students for Life of America has become a formidable force in the pro-life movement, with 1,506 groups on college, high school and graduate campuses nationwide and more than 213,000 advocates trained to counter pro-abortion arguments.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito spent part of Feb. 2, 2025, the World Day for Consecrated Life, with many of the women and men who live that life of prayerful service to God’s people in the Diocese of Palm Beach.
Love was in the air at St. Lucie Church for the 2025 diocesan wedding anniversary Mass Feb. 8, 2025. There were many smiling faces as the anniversary couples married 25 to 70-plus years were eager to renew their commitment and dedication to each other.
Since 1974, Catholic Schools Week has been an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Catholic schools have an irreplaceable role in the church’s evangelizing mission.
Despite the rain at St. Bernadette Parish in Port St. Lucie Jan. 22, 2025, the 52nd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade ruling, the pro-life commitment to honor the sanctity of all human life was not dampened.
An array of pro-life speakers appeared Feb. 1, 2025, for the Treasure Coast’s 15th annual March for Life rally at the Birthline/Lifeline pregnancy care center in Fort Pierce, with the theme of “Working Together for Life.”
At St. Anastasia Parish Jan. 16, 2024, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito congratulated parishioners and remarked on the beautiful works of art “which depict our faith and the deepness that we have in our faith” during a celebration to consecrate its renovated church in Fort Pierce.
The warm temperatures Jan. 18, 2025, fit the “It’s a Sailabration” theme perfectly at the Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s 30th annual Inspirations fashion show and luncheon fundraiser at The Club at Admirals Cove near the Intracoastal Waterway.
It is customary at this time of year to share with you the results of the Administrative Offices of our Diocese of Palm Beach for the fiscal year ended June 30. It is also a perfect time to give thanks to God and to reflect upon the many blessings He has bestowed upon us, and in particular, we are especially thankful having recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of our Diocese.
Parishioners are urged to sign up now for Catholic Days at the Capitol, which is an opportunity to travel to Tallahassee, view the legislative process in action, advocate for policies that promote human life and dignity, and pray for and with Florida’s bishops and elected leaders.
The men who attended the annual rally presented by Catholic Men for Jesus Christ didn’t have to look far to find many golden nuggets of knowledge and inspiration.
It was smooth sailing as more than 1,350 Catholic men packed the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola on Jan. 11 to hear popular Catholic speaker Father Mike Schmitz at the 24th annual Men’s Rally in the Diocese of Palm Beach.
As Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito pointed out in his Dec. 20 “Living the Truth in Love” column in the Florida Catholic, Charlie Brown had a difficult time learning the true meaning of Christmas. For youngsters in Catholic schools of the Diocese of Palm Beach, that meaning is crystal clear...
No One Buried Alone program honored the lives of 150 souls on Dec. 21 at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery in Royal Palm Beach.
The 2025 Diocesan Services Appeal kicks off this month to support the numerous essential programs and ministries in the Diocese of Palm Beach. Many parishes will host presentations at Masses on the importance of funding the DSA in the coming weeks.
Natalia is a sixth-grader at St. Martha Catholic School in Sarasota and was one of two grand prize winners amongst 17 finalists, chosen from thousands of entries from elementary school age children across the country.
In the quiet of Christmas Eve, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, launching what he called a "Jubilee of Hope."
The annual Thanksgiving turkey distribution, held Nov. 25 by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach, provided 300 local families with holiday meals just in time for the season of gratitude.
When the Caritas Dei Bishop’s Gala for Catholic Charities occurs in Palm Beach Thursday, Jan. 30, it will be thanks to a dedicated group of local women that the event goes off without a hitch.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito presided over the blessing of the Rendina Family Chapel inside Cardinal Newman High School’s newly completed Rocco A. Marcello Family Academic Building Nov. 7. The chapel was named in honor of the Rendina family’s generous contribution to the Shaping the Future campaign.
Cardinal Newman High School hosted a ribbon-cutting reception Nov. 7, 2024, for its new Rocco A. Marcello Family academic building.
A student choir from St. Luke School in Palm Springs spread Christmas cheer at the Diocese of Palm Beach’s Pastoral Center in Palm Beach Gardens Dec. 5, 2024.
The purpose of the Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s annual “Take a Sister to Brunch” event is for the members to show their appreciation, recognition and gratitude to the consecrated women for their selfless service.
At its Nov. 19, 2024, dinner meeting, the Jupiter-Palm Beach chapter of Legatus featured Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, speaking on “Explicitly Pro-Life: Apologetics in a Post-Roe America.”
The Vatican launched a "dashboard" for the College of Cardinals Dec. 5, allowing users of the web page to see a comprehensive list of the church's cardinals and sort them by age, rank, country of origin, electoral status and religious order.
While numerous events are planned in Rome and at the Vatican to mark the Jubilee 2025, this Holy Year is for the whole church. Here are some ways to celebrate without traveling farther than your local cathedral.
It was with some excitement that organizers of the 24th Men’s Rally in the Diocese of Palm Beach recently announced that Father Schmitz would be the main presenter at the next event Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025.
St. Joseph School in Stuart recently announced the opening of the Bongino Family Innovation Lab, made possible by a donation from the Bongino family and the support of many other families.
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is moved to Monday December 9, 2024.
During a recent Sunday Mass at Holy Family Parish in Port St. Lucie, 20 people were publicly introduced to the parish community, asking the faithful to pray for them on their spiritual journey of discernment toward the Catholic Church.
Time is running out for parishioners to contribute to the 2024 Diocesan Services Appeal, which funds local ministries that protect the most vulnerable in our communities. Dec. 31, 2024, will be the final day to make a difference this year in your parish and Diocese of Palm Beach.
The final fall 40 Days for Life event Nov. 2 featured a Mass at Miracle House with Father Daniel Donohue of St. Juliana Parish
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito presided and prayed for the faithful departed on All Souls’ Day, Nov. 2, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery in Royal Palm Beach.
In the spirit of the Gospel reading — in which Jesus says the second most important commandment is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” — Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito visited a beloved neighbor Nov. 3, 2024, to bless a new Marian icon at St. Nicholas Melkite Catholic Church in Delray Beach.
The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women honored 31 young women Oct. 26 at a Golden Rose Mass presided by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito and followed by a luncheon at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Catholics in Indian River County rejoiced Oct. 23, 2024, along with clients and supporters of A Caring Center for Women in Vero Beach as the pregnancy resource center officially embarked on its latest initiative, offering free medical services to women, most of whom are uninsured.
Susan Baldwin of St. Helen Parish in Vero Beach received the 2024 Pro-life Person of the Year Award from the Diocese of Palm Beach during the 37th annual Florida Culture of Life Conference Oct. 18-19 in Orlando.
Faithful of all ages participated in the seventh annual Butterfly Release event Oct. 27, 2024, at St. Helen Parish in Vero Beach, sponsored by the Respect Life ministry.
The hurricane was minor on Florida’s east coast in comparison to the destruction and deaths caused by the more than 45 tornadoes that struck the state in the afternoon and early evening. Many residents of the counties that comprise the Diocese of Palm Beach (Palm Beach, Martin, Okeechobee, St. Lucie and Indian River) are working to get their lives back to normal.
The solemnity of All Saints, Friday, Nov. 1, when Catholics celebrate and honor the heroes of the faith, is a holy day of obligation, meaning the faithful are required to attend Mass.
The 2024-25 Lumen Christi Schools Appeal, which strives to meet the needs of the three Catholic preschools, 12 elementary schools and three high schools in the Diocese of Palm Beach, has begun under the banner of “Live the Light of Christ.”
Pope Francis' new encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus is being hailed as "a simple and powerful cure" for a fractured world, said the president of the U.S. Catholic bishops' conference -- and that sentiment was echoed by other experts on devotion to the Sacred Heart.
An annual Life March from St. Joan of Arc Parish’s Mercy Center to Sanborn Square Park in Boca Raton and back drew 100 people from surrounding communities.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito has produced a video to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Diocese of Palm Beach in which he emphasizes the diverse expressions of faith, hope and love that have flourished since Oct. 24, 1984, when the first diocesan bishop was installed. In his 21 years as chief shepherd of the diocese, Bishop Barbarito says he has witnessed the vitality of the church, which exists for the celebration of the Eucharist. He prays for the protection of our patroness, Mary, Queen of the Apostles and asks God’s continued blessings on our diocese.
Former abortionist Dr. Haywood Robinson, who has been part of 40 Days for Life since its 2007 beginning in Texas, gave an inspiring talk Oct. 18 in the Family Life Center at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Members of the Council of Catholic Women lit up the hall at St. Helen Parish on Oct. 19 with their spirituality, friendship and joy. The occasion was the first Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Northern Deanery meeting for 2024-25, with the theme of “Be the Light.”
Members of the Junior Legion of Mary, Our Lady of Grace praesidia, honored Mary with a “living rosary of splendor” Oct. 12, 2024, at St. Rita in Wellington. Children with their families formed a human rosary in the church, with each participant leading prayer representing one bead of the rosary.
The Diocese of Palm Beach’s Office of Catholic Schools began a professional development program for new teachers Oct. 3 in the Family Life Center of the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Teams from Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach continue to be in the communities they serve. On Oct. 14, staff assisted victims of Hurricane Milton in Martin County, then staff and volunteers, including board members and volunteers from St. Anastasia Parish, partnered with Mustard Seed Ministries to get needed relief to residents in the Fort Pierce area.
At the annual Steps for Life Mass and rosary walk Oct. 5 at Emmanuel Parish in Delray Beach, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito asked God to continue to bless the efforts of Catholic Charities and its Birthline/Lifeline pregnancy care centers to reach and support women and families in distressing circumstances.
At the three weekend Masses in which he presided Oct. 5-6 — Steps for Life, then the Red Mass and Respect Life Mass at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola — Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito made parishioners aware of the importance of their vote against Amendment 4
The Theology on Tap in Palm Beach County learned about Amendment 4 and the pro-life work of Catholic Charities from Deanna Herbst-Hoosac, Respect Life ministry director, Sept. 18 in Lake Worth Beach.
At least 300 volunteers, mostly from the parishes of St. Clare and the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola, put their energy and enthusiasm into packing 60,000 meals for those in need Sept. 28 at St. Clare’s Parish Center in North Palm Beach.
For months, pro-life speakers have been sounding the alarm about the proposal to expand abortion access in Florida through a constitutional amendment.
The faithful came from far and wide Sept. 16 to venerate the relics of St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) and ask for his intercession at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens.
As the 15th Haitian Charismatic Renewal Convention for the Diocese of Palm Beach was getting started Sept. 20, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito came to help lead the rosary and ask the Virgin Mary to bless and protect the more than 1,000 Spirit-filled Catholics expected for the weekend event.
The annual Blue Mass for people working in public safety is planned for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2. The liturgy marks the feast of the Guardian Angels, Michael, Raphael and Gabriel, who are known as God’s protector, healer and messenger, respectively. Archangels are the patron saints of police officers and military personnel.
At Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, a Grandparents’ Ministry seeks to encourage grandparents to pass their Catholic faith on to their grandchildren with love and example, especially in an age of texting, social media and isolation.
“This is the 40th anniversary for two realities. It’s the diocese and the cathedral. The cathedral is the mother church of the diocese. So, all the churches are connected to the cathedral,” he said. “In addition, the diocese is made up of a lot of parishes. We want people to come and celebrate with us because it’s not just the cathedral celebration. It’s the entire diocese celebrating.”
The 2022 canonization of St. Titus Brandsma has left an indelible mark on people in the Diocese of Palm Beach. From the terminal cancer diagnosis for a beloved priest serving in the diocese, to the countless intercessory prayers prayed to then-Blessed Titus for the priest, to his healing and the diocesan investigation that supported the miraculous nature of the healing, it’s safe to say that St. Titus and the diocese are permanently linked.
Dion DiMucci, a pop music legend from the 1950s and 1960s, lifted spirits at an annual weekend retreat for adults with physical disabilities Aug. 2-4 at the Duncan Center in Delray Beach. He moved participants with songs and stories that described his life, his path to Christ and his Catholic faith.
John Carroll High School broke ground Aug. 16, 2024, for its new athletic field house that will be a hub for athletic excellence, providing students with a premier space for sports, events and activities.
“This is a little piece of heaven.” That is how one pilgrim in a group from St. Paul of the Cross Parish in North Palm Beach described the scene as clergy and laypeople filed in with the Real Presence of Jesus during the National Eucharistic Congress from July 17-21, 2024, in Indianapolis. Their journey to Indiana with more than 60,000 other Catholics was full of blessed moments like that.
Summer break is over, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Palm Beach are open for business and classrooms are bustling with activity. On some campuses, newly appointed administrators have taken their positions and are getting comfortable with their faculty, staff, students and families.
Members of the Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Lourdes Council 11241 donated a check for $3,400 to Birthline/Lifeline Pregnancy Care Centers July 27. The money came mostly from the sale of religious items at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Boca Raton.
The Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women officially began its 2024-25 year Aug. 3, with the Council Enrichment Institute day of appreciation in the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola’s Family Life Center. It was an opportunity to recognize and thank the council women for their steadfast service.
In a continuing effort to educate local Catholics on Amendment 4, which will be on Florida’s Nov. 5 General Election ballot, and equip them to spread the word on the extreme and deceptive abortion proposal, the Diocese of Palm Beach and its parishes are hosting informational meetings. The latest events were in Delray Beach Aug. 14 and in Vero Beach Aug. 15.
On Aug. 7, shortly before the start of the School of Christian Formation’s 2024-25 year, the program’s instructors were invited to Mass and dinner in appreciation of their work.
St. Clare Parish marked multiple milestones during a liturgy with Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito on Aug. 11. The North Palm Beach faith community celebrated the installation of Father Nick Zrallack as pastor at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on the feast of the parish’s patron, St. Clare of Assisi, which is also Father Zrallack’s birthday.
Growing up in communist Cuba, isolated from different cultures and discouraged from religious practice, learning and living the Catholic faith wasn’t easy, said Armando Garcia, coordinator of Hispanic ministry for the Diocese of Palm Beach. He shared the lessons he has learned while speaking at a Theology on Tap gathering July 24 in West Palm Beach.
On Aug. 22, 1994, the life that then-Father Gerald M. Barbarito knew in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, changed forever. On that day 30 years ago, he was ordained a bishop.
St. Lucie Parish in Port St. Lucie preempted its regular Respect Life monthly meeting July 16 to host a public forum on Amendment 4. The gathering drew attendees from 11 area Catholic parishes and three Protestant churches.
Twenty-five men in formation to become permanent deacons attended their annual formation retreat with their wives July 19-21, 2024, at Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center in North Palm Beach.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito marked the third installation of a pastor in the Diocese of Palm Beach for 2024 on July 28, handing the reins to Father Leonard Dim at St. Matthew Parish in Lake Worth Beach, following the November 2023 death of the founding pastor, Father Clem Hammerschmitt, who served there since 1992.
A retired FBI agent will head up the U.S. bishops' consultative safe environment body, while a clergy abuse survivor, a nursing professor and two clinical social workers are also among the board's Aug. 1 appointments.
Father Hilaire, who had served Sacred Heart for a year as parochial administrator, was appointed pastor, effective July 1. He was joined at the celebration by many fellow priests, along with a large number of parishioners, family members and friends.
June 24-28 was youth mission week for St. Lucie Parish in Port St. Lucie. It was for encouraging parish youth to perform corporal works of mercy by walking in the footsteps of Jesus and by living the Gospels by helping the less fortunate.
The Romeros have been ministering to married couples for 15 years, teaching the techniques that renew relationships and keep them strong. The retreatants have ranged from couples with just a few months of marriage under their belt to as many as 45 years.
With tears in his eyes at the end of the 11 a.m. Mass, he told parishioners, “This week, I began to think of my life and wish that my great-aunt and my mom would have been here today. But I know they’re here, not physically but in my heart."
Asked to speak in the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary on “The Meaning of ‘Communion’ with the Heart of Jesus,” he related how the word “heart” is used in the Bible more than 1,000 times in a variety of contexts. People in biblical times had an understanding of the physical organ, Father Campbell said.
While pilgrims from throughout the United States walk four routes with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, destined for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, July 17-21, groups and individuals in the Diocese of Palm Beach are getting ready to join in the celebration.
During a service June 22, 2024, for the committal of 100 souls, Father Gabriel Ghanoum, director of the No One Buried Alone ministry, presented a challenge to those in attendance: be nonjudgmental, especially toward the individuals whose ashes were being interred at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery.
To assist all Catholic Charities staff to recognize human trafficking, a presentation was held June 11 in the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola’s Family Life Center. The main speaker was PBSO Sgt. Carlos Lisboa, who works with the Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force and Catholic Charities to stop this modern-day scourge.
The Diocese of Rome on Friday officially closed the diocesan phase of the investigation into the life and virtues of Chiara Corbella Petrillo, a joyful 28-year-old wife and mother who died from cancer in 2012 in Rome.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach has joined a national branding campaign to promote the life-giving and inspiring work being done to aid vulnerable populations in the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast.
To help local Catholics understand Amendment 4 on Florida’s November election ballot, which would legalize full-term abortion and remove all protections for preborn children, a presentation was held on a rainy June 12 at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in partnership with the Diocese of Palm Beach and Catholic Charities.
"We must remain relentless in our pursuit of both equality and equity," said Bishop Joseph N. Perry, retired auxiliary bishop of Chicago and chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Ad Hoc Committee on Racism and the USCCB Subcommittee on African American Affairs.
After the first minute of “Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist,” viewers witness a stark background with the words of the Gospel of John 6:51: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” This documentary is in theaters two more days: June 18-26, 2024.
Speaking with the Florida Catholic before his May 4 priestly ordination, Father Martin, who was born in Ecuador and moved to the United States at 3 years old, recalled growing up in his Catholic family in Stuart and Palm City, preferring to be with his friends, playing basketball. Anything but going to Mass.
St. Vincent Ferrer in Delray Beach and Holy Family in Port St. Lucie honored the solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 7, 2024, by making an effort to rekindle devotion to the Sacred Heart and making reparation for a world that has become lukewarm or indifferent to God’s abundant love and mercy.
Guest commentary from Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami. When the U.S. bishops convene in Louisville June 12-14 for their annual spring meeting, they will be reflecting on positioning the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) for the future.
Each year the Florida Catholic honors the graduates of Catholic high schools with a listing of graduates and the valedictorian and salutatorian of the school. Our 18-page special section offers a comprehensive look of those graduates from the 12 schools of the Dioceses of Palm Beach, Orlando and Venice.
Shortly before their May 4 priestly ordination, the Florida Catholic spoke with both men about their lives, hopes and dreams for furthering the faith and serving the church. (This week is Father Dubé’s journey to the priesthood. Next week, we’ll spotlight Father Martin.)
End-of-life care is too important an issue to delay making decisions about it, said Father Dennis Gonzales at a recent Luncheon 4 Life at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Delray Beach.
The final Eucharistic holy hour in a quarterly series that began in June 2023 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola with Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito. In addition, parishes in the Diocese of Palm Beach were encouraged to conduct their own holy hour at the same time the bishop is leading worshipers at the cathedral as a sign of unity. Check with your parish to see if a special holy hour is set then or at another time.
About 500 Hispanics and Latinos from throughout the Diocese of Palm Beach gathered as a Eucharistic family May 26, 2024, for the 36th Diocesan Encuentro at All Saints School in Jupiter. With a special emphasis on social justice, the event marked the 40th anniversary of the diocese and the National Eucharistic Revival occurring in the United States.
Speaking May 21 to the Jupiter-Palm Beach chapter of Legatus, Franciscan Sister Clare Hunter reflected on the value of manual labor and its relation to creation.
"Access to safe drinkable water," Pope Francis said in his milestone 2015 ecological encyclical "Laudato Si'," "is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights."
Bishop John Noonan will ordain two transitional deacons to the Order of Priest, Saturday, May 25, 10 a.m.-noon, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, 8300 Vineland Ave., Orlando. All are welcome either in person or via livestream on the Diocese of Orlando Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Cardinal Newman High School has announced that its newly renovated academic building will be named the Rocco A. Marcello Family Academic Building. The renovation, scheduled to be completed at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic year, signifies a transformative chapter in the school’s 63-year history.
Voting is an act of conscience and should be discerned as such, panelists said at a May 14 webinar organized by the U.S. bishops' conference and other Catholic groups. Although neither the church nor its officials endorse particular candidates for public office, the bishops' teaching document "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" is meant to advise Catholic voters on how to apply church teaching to the decisions they make in the ballot box.
After achieving a 25-year strategic goal in 2023 by acquiring all properties between Seventh and Eighth streets east of Olive Avenue, Rosarian Academy kicked off the public phase of its Centennial Capital Campaign May 1, with a May crowning, ribbon-cutting and blessing of the new Stockard Learning Center.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito recognized the dedicated service of five women and one man celebrating anniversaries of 25, 50, 60 and 70 years in consecrated life during a Mass May 11 at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola.
In his homily at the May 4 priestly ordination Mass, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito recalled the message of Pope Francis to Rome’s deacons becoming priests this year: “Pastoral life is not a manual, but rather a daily offering; it is not a desk job, but rather a ‘Eucharistic adventure.’”
The valedictorian and salutatorian at St. John Paul II Academy are alike in many ways. They’re both outgoing, funny, athletic, hardworking and planning to attend the University of Florida. They were also surprised to learn that they were at the top of their graduating class.
Sometimes, change doesn’t come easy. It has taken four years for St. Luke Parish and School to begin demolition on the parish center building and start construction on a school expansion.
The church stands tall in the city of Sebastian, located on U.S. Highway 1. It is surrounded by natural beauty, the Intracoastal Waterway, barrier islands, a state park and wildlife refuge. St. Sebastian also has a sister mission parish on the west side of Interstate 95, Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Diocese of Palm Beach honors its Catholic high school graduates, particularly the valedictorians and salutatorians, with senior spotlights. In the second of three articles shining a light on excellence in Catholic education, the Florida Catholic spoke with the top seniors at John Carroll High School.
The annual School of Christian Formation retreat for graduating students was April 27 in the Family Life Center of the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola.
"I think my faith has gotten a lot stronger since starting this profession -- just given that it's dangerous and even more so than that, it's very emotionally taxing," he told Arkansas Catholic, Little Rock’s diocesan newspaper. "You can take it so personal, the outcome of a race, even when there's so many uncontrollable variables."
The pope's early morning touchdown by helicopter from Rome April 28 brought him first to a women's prison, then by wooden motorboat to the Basilica of St. Mary of Health, a 17th-century church built to honor Mary, invoking her protection and intercession to end a devastating plague that killed nearly one-third of the population in the 1630s.
A Philadelphia priest working in Haiti has followed through on his plans to return immediately to his longtime ministry in that nation's besieged capital after a brief visit to the U.S. for medical treatment.
More than 460 sixth-graders and chaperones from 10 local Catholic schools visited St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary April 19 for a day of retreat. Besides enjoying the physical and spiritual riches that comprise the Boynton Beach seminary campus, it was an opportunity to take stock and reflect upon God’s plan for their lives.
The Diocese of Palm Beach honors its Catholic high school graduates, particularly the valedictorians and salutatorians, with senior spotlights. In the first of three articles shining a light on excellence in Catholic education, the Florida Catholic spoke with the top seniors at Cardinal Newman High School.
U.S. archbishop has denounced the Biden administration's decision to resume deportations of Haitian migrants, given the rampant violence and instability in Haiti.
In the spirit of Easter, a local organization of Catholic health-care workers is looking to experience a resurrection of its own. The Palm Beach Physicians Guild of the Catholic Medical Association was formed in 2016 on the feast of its patroness, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as a forum for fellowship and guidance on complex biomedical and workplace issues.
The diocesan Office of Marriage, Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry sponsored its Spring Professional Development Day April 10 for directors of faith formation, youth ministers, and Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults leaders and team members at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens.
Jude Okeke, who was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Palm Beach during the Mass at St. Joan of Arc Church in Boca Raton, said earlier that it was a special blessing to have his chief shepherd, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, be the ordaining prelate.
As the White House responds to Iran's attack against Israel, Catholic experts said U.S. officials should seek to prevent further escalation in the region.
"I make a heartfelt appeal for a halt to any action that might fuel a spiral of violence with the risk of dragging the Middle East into an even greater conflict," the pope said.
An annual baby shower drive by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach is being held in April to provide new and gently used items to expectant mothers and families in need. Items are being collected at sites throughout the diocese.
At least three Easter sunrise Masses were held on south Florida beaches in the Diocese of Palm Beach March 31, 2024
Every Friday morning at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, there is a children’s Mass, but April 5 was a special occasion. It was the feast day of the parish’s patron saint and a day of student recognition, with opportunities for veneration and outdoor refreshments.
Bishop Burbidge said the task now is to communicate "Dignitas Infinita" at the pastoral level, with love and compassion as the guiding principles, during a "privileged moment" for direct preaching on difficult topics.
The parish priest is the church's "point of contact and if we lose contact with our people through their priests, it disables the mission of the church," he told Catholic News Service April 10 at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, where he was to receive the annual Rector's Award April 11.
“The purpose of the preschool is to build a good faith foundation for young children as they grow up,” said Father Tri Pham, Holy Family’s pastor. “Our children need a good foundation in their faith and, as Jesus said to Peter, ‘On this rock, I build my church.’ The children are the ‘rock,’ the future of the church.”
At Easter Vigil Masses in parishes across the Diocese of Palm Beach on March 30, hundreds of people were formally accepted as members of the church.
In a message sent to the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference of Taiwan, April 4, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the pope "was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake in Taiwan."
"What I find particularly spiritual in an eclipse is that we can predict precisely when it will happen -- and plan accordingly -- but we cannot predict just what it will look like or how we will react," said Brother Guy. "In that way, it reminds me how God is forever reliable but still always able to surprise us."
Catholic evangelists are handing out rosaries, asking fans if they need prayers, and inviting them to tour Detroit's historic churches as hundreds of thousands of people congregate in downtown Detroit for the 2024 NFL draft, which began April 25 in Cadillac Square.
For the Whitten family of St. Bernadette Parish in Port St. Lucie, the current deanery-level series of Eucharistic holy hours has been a unifying spiritual journey. The six family members have made it a priority to attend all five of the holy hours beginning last August with their home parish.
All are invited to the 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13, diaconate ordination Mass for Diocese of Palm Beach seminarian Jude Okeke at St. Joan of Arc Church, 370 S.W. Third St. in Boca Raton.
The parish's current youth minister is a year older than Josh, and the first year he played Jesus, in 2007, she played Veronica, who wipes the face of Jesus in the Sixth Station. She remembered the "sincerity" and "humility" he brought to the role. "This performance is so much more than a performance. It's really a prayer," she said.
As we prepare to enter into the most sacred days of the liturgical year, we have a prime opportunity to make up for any shortcomings that may have been part of our Lent this year. Blessedly, Holy Week offers us the chance to refocus, reflect and renew as we wind down our Lenten journeys and look ahead to the promise of Easter.
Women from the Diocese of Palm Beach and beyond attended the 13th annual Catholic Women of Faith, Women of Action conference March 16, 2024, at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Parish in Royal Palm Beach.
The workshop will explore what it means to be a disciple of the Eucharistic Lord and learn how to do so in a way that “breathes with both lungs” — that is, through the traditions of both the Christian East and West.
On March 6, 2024, the first Cenacles of Love: Jesus and Mary prayer conference at Emmanuel Parish in Delray Beach featured parishioner and group founder Patti Schwartz, former national Hispanic director of the Flame of Love nationwide prayer group, who is presently a Catholic radio host evangelizing through media.
A musical progression is defined as “a passage or movement from one note or chord to another.” In many ways, the music program at St. Ann School is a progression, starting with students in pre-K 3 and 4 learning song structure (verses, refrains) and later grades experiencing choral singing and instrument use, all the way up the scale to middle school and beyond.
On March 18, the Roman Catholic Church honors St. Cyril of Jerusalem, a fourth-century bishop and Doctor of the Church whose writings are still regarded as masterful expressions of Christian faith.
The arrival of St. Patrick's Day always spotlights Irish culture, music, dance and language. Catholics, too, are involved in Irish cultural efforts on both sides of the Atlantic, and some say Irish culture continues to be a foundation for Catholic evangelization amid the trappings of secular celebration.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is offering a March 10-18 novena to the foster father of Jesus, ahead of the saint's March 19 feast day.
In dioceses throughout the United States, many Knights of Columbus councils host fish dinners at parishes during Lent. At Holy Family in Port St. Lucie, members of Knights of Columbus Father Omer H. Brauner Council 12159 kicked off their Lenten fish fry on Feb. 16, with the conclusion set for Friday, March 22.
Even with children younger than a year old, there is no time like the present to begin teaching them the Catholic faith. A program to catechize young children has been adopted at four parishes in the Diocese of Palm Beach.
In different times and places and "each in her own distinct way," the 10 women "gave proof through initiatives of charity, education and prayer, of how the 'feminine genius' can uniquely reflect God's holiness in the midst of our world," the pope's text said. And "because the Church is herself a woman -- a daughter, a bride and a mother," he wrote, "who better than women can reveal her face?"
Ramona Treviño knows the difference that sidewalk counselors and 40 Days for Life can make in separating women and men from organizations such as Planned Parenthood. She spoke Feb. 13, 2024, about the impact that one praying woman had on her life.
The 34th annual Black Cultural Awareness Celebration and Mass was a joyous occasion Feb. 23, 2024, at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Riviera Beach. The theme for the day was “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps 116:9).
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito celebrated Mass Feb. 16 and gave out awards to teachers in Catholic schools who have served at least 20 years in the Diocese of Palm Beach as of the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year. St. Peter Parish and All Saints School hosted the event.
Orbiting the sun nearly 1 million miles from Earth, the James Webb Space Telescope is reshaping the way scientists understand the universe and its origins, a number of astronomers said at a Vatican-sponsored meeting.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the innovative religious formation method for children as young as 3 years old, began in February at St. Clare Parish in North Palm Beach. The learning environment, called an atrium, is set up in the former choir loft inside St. Clare Church.
The 13th annual Catholic Women of Faith, Women of Action Conference, is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Parish, 100 Crestwood Blvd. S. in Royal Palm Beach.
"This is a good Lenten resolution: cultivating a welcoming outlook, becoming 'seekers of light,' seekers of the light of Jesus, both in prayer and in people," he told visitors in St. Peter's Square before praying the Angelus with them Feb. 25.
“The Passion of Christ,” to be performed at 7 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at the Sunrise Theatre, 117 S. Second St. in Fort Pierce began in 2006 in the St. Anastasia parish center. For the 18th time, members of St. Anastasia Parish and San Juan Diego Hispanic Pastoral Center are preparing to stage their popular Passion play that has grown from one performance during Lent to embody a ministry with more than 100 in the cast and crew.
The Catholic tradition of venerating relics is not worship but a way to honor and draw near to the saints and to petition for their prayers since they are with God. The arm of the apostle St. Jude Thaddeus, which is on a United States tour, is being brought to two parishes in the diocese: Saturday, Feb. 24, at St. Jude, 21689 Toledo Road in Boca Raton; and Monday, Feb. 26, at St. Peter, 1701 Indian Creek Parkway, Jupiter.
Father Mark-Mary Ames of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal had an atypical Ash Wednesday this year after celebrating an early morning Mass for actors Jonathan Roumie and Mark Wahlberg.
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna warned of schism as German bishops want to keep to their reform course despite the latest letter from Rome, which halted the vote on the statutes of a Synodal Committee.
Some 329 Catholics of all ages arrived by the busload to attend Catholic Days at the Capitol Feb. 6-7, 2024, in Tallahassee. Organized by the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, the lobbying arm of Florida’s bishops, the annual event offers participants many opportunities, including seeing the legislative process in action and putting their faith and civic responsibility into action.
World Day for Consecrated Life, which is marked Feb. 2 and tied to the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, was established by St. John Paul II in 1997. The special day of recognition will be celebrated in parishes Feb. 3-4 honoring those who have made commitments to consecrated life.
“The taking of the life of an unborn child, the disruption that that causes to families, the lack of respect for the gift of life is something that we pray for,” he said. “We’re making progress, but we haven’t made enough progress by any means in our country today, so we continue to pray and do all that we can to show our respect for the life of an unborn child.”
The Jupiter-Palm Beach Chapter of Legatus celebrated its fifth anniversary of chartering with an Advent social and 2023 award presentations Dec. 19, 2023, at the Pelican Club in Jupiter.
On January 21, 2024, in observance of the Sunday of the Word of God, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, through a grant from the American Bible Society, will offer a “Sunday Seminar Series” of four videos about Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church. These videos, available in English and Spanish, will feature some of the bishops and biblical scholars and will be accompanied by discussion/reflection questions.
“This truly is a vibrant, faith-filled community for which we give thanks,” the bishop said in his homily. “And as this morning we break ground for a new family life center, which will be used in order to continue to build up and strengthen this parish, what’s so important is our getting together, our supporting each other.”
Students preparing for the sacrament of confirmation at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Delray Beach created posters with an All Saints’ Day theme that represent the saints they have selected for their confirmation names. After all Masses Oct. 29, the students — many dressed as their saints — gathered in the parish’s Kellaghan Hall to tell others about the heroic lives led by their saints.
