Farewell reception for Fr. Dominic: We'll miss you

Photos by Jane Winstead 

St Raphael parishioners said goodbye to Fr. Dominic Corona as he prepared to leave for his new assignment at St. Francis Xavier Cabrini parish in Spring Hill. We're thankful for the three years he spent with us and honored that St. Raphael was his first parish. Godspeed, Fr. Corona.

First candle of the Advent season

Photo by Jane Winstead

Father Dominic lights the first candle to mark the beginning of the Advent season on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Mass. It is the first of the four weeks leading up to Christmas.

Palm Sumday 04.07.11

Our seminarians were on hand to serve at the 5:30 p.m. on Palm Sunday. The celebrant of the Mass was Father Dominic.

Honoring the fathers

Photo by Jane Winstead

In recognition of Father's Day, Father Dominic asked all fathers to stand at the end of 9:30 a.m. Mass. He offered a special blessing for all fathers.

Women's CRHP retreat -- Spring 2011

Photo by Jane Winstead

Women of the parish participated in the Christ Renews His Parish spring retreat the weekend of March 19-20. Father Dominic served as spiritual adviser for the retreat. Theme of the weekend of prayer and reflection was Shine Like the Son.

Catechumens receive a blessing

Photo by Jane Winstead

Catechumens at St. Raphael Catholic Church received a blessing from Father Dominic at the 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday. The catechumens are being instructed in Catholicism in Faith Formation classes. They are preparing for being received into the Catholic Church during a ceremony officiated by Bishop Robert Lynch at the Easter Vigil at St. Raphael.

Prayers at the beginning of the day

Photo by Jane Winstead

Father Dominic at 9:30 Mass on Sunday.

God's powerful words, "I will never forget you" show us how much he loves us, Father Dominic said in his homily on Sunday. No one can serve two masters, he said, so we should seek first the kingdom of God and all things will be given. Father Dominic challenged parishioners to avail themselves of the opportunities to be with God, taking time to pray in the Tabernacle Room or attending daily Mass at least once a week.

As a resource for daily devotions, he quoted morning prayers from well known clergy. Print and save:

• Lord, one more day to love you. – Brother Charles de Foucauld

• O Jesus, watch over me always, especially today, or I shall betray you like Judas. – St Philip Neri

• My God, send me thy Holy Spirit to teach me what I am and what thou art. – St. John Vianney

• May the passion of Christ be ever in our hearts. – St. Paul of the Cross

• And to be more with Him, more with Him, not merely with oneself. – Pope John Paul II

Happily married 67 years

Photo by Jane Winstead

Father Dominic blessed married couples at the end of 5:30 p.m. Mass on Sunday. Jane and Tony Janicki were the longest married who were attending that Mass. They have been married 67 years. Father Dominic asked them if they had advice for a long marriage. They said, "Say yes."

St. Raphael parish: A place of love and kindness

By Louise Barrett

I am proud to relate this story to you. Our church is not only beautiful on the outside and physical interior, but it is beautiful because of the people that are within it – our Parish Family.

There was a young man from out of town visiting his dad in St Pete. As he was driving over the bridge, he saw our beautiful church. He was being sent to Pakistan with the military as a contractor that very day. Before heading to Tampa airport, he wanted rosaries for himself and friends. So he stopped at our church.

He met a group of parishioners talking on the walkway after daily Mass and wanted to know where the gift shop was located. Of course, he did not know it is only open after weekend Masses.

God wanted a special send off for this man. Ruth Mattick was there for Tuesday morning fun club, and she opened the shop just for our visitor. Father Dominic welcomed him and prayed a special blessing with him.

One of the Tuesday Fun Club ladies offered to pay for the rosaries for the man, and Ruth and her daughter donated 50 rosaries made by our dear rosary makers.

Was the man an angel come to test our hospitality? I don't know. He certainly looked to be a young man about to serve his country in a far away and dangerous place. I only know what I saw, and Tuesday morning I saw St. Raphael's as a place of love and kindness. Thanks to each of you who make St. Raphael's so special.

Lighting the Advent candle

Photo by Jane Winstead

Father Dominic lighted the Advent candle during the 9:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, November 28, to mark the beginning of the Advent season and the anticipation of the celebration of Christ's birth at Christmas.

The First Sunday of Advent
• Watch a slide show of the 9:30 a.m. Mass
• Watch a slide show of the 5:30 p.m. Mass

What priests and deacons wear

In the last few weeks some have asked why the deacon is dressed like the priest.

The vestments are different; the priest wears a chasuble and the deacons wear a dalmatic during the celebration of the Eucharist. Although they look similar, they are different.

This article explains it a bit more.

40 Days Mass and reception

Photos by Jane Winstead

Father Dominic celebrated Mass at Our Lady's Chapel at the Cathedral of Saint Jude the Apostle on 5th Avenue on Tuesday, October 12. The Mass was for parishioners who participated in the prayer vigil at the abortion clinic on Central Avenue on Tuesday. Catholics from all over the Diocese of St. Petersburg are participating in the 40 Days for Life campaign to end abortion.

Two Bible study series for you

Photo by Jane Winstead

Wednesday Morning Bible Study.

Click on the photo above and the one at the bottom. The people in these pictures are part of a new Bible study series being offered at St. Raphael.

In the photo above, for the Wednesday morning series, there are at least 50 people, not counting Father Tim and Father Dominic. The photo below is for the Wednesday evening series. Look closely at both pictures. You probably know most of the people in these two pictures. They are your fellow parishioners and they are attending this Bible study series.

The series is called The Great Adventure Catholic Bible Timeline. It was developed by Jeff Cavins, a former Protestant minister who returned to the Catholic Church in 1995. That's a picture of Jeff Cavins at the left above. If you click on the picture you will be taken to a video in which he discusses The Bible Timeline for a program that was presented earlier this year in New Jersey. It is the same program being presented at St. Raphael.

In another video, that you can click on above, you can hear people who have completed the series in another parish talking about their experiences.

The series is 24 weeks and it just started last Wednesday so you really haven't missed much at all. Some of the people in the video say that even if you can't go to all 24 sessions you will get a lot out of any of the ones you attend.

Cavins' plan identifies the 14 narrative books of the Bible that lead you chronologically through the story of salvation history. The series also shows where the remaining 59 books fit into the story.

The series divides salvation history into 12 identifiable periods to help participants remember the progression of the story. They include significant details from secular history to help put Bible events in time.

The series explains how God's plan unfolded through a series of covenants so you can understand not just the story but where it is headed and how you fit in the big picture.

The point of all of this is to encourage you to attend one (or both) of the Bible study series. The Wednesday morning series begins at 9:15 a.m. It covers the book of Matthew and will parallel our Sunday liturgy. You can e-mail Marybeth Finster at mbfinster@tampabay.rr.com for more information.

The Wednesday evening series begins at 7:30 p.m. It gives an overview of the Bible from the Old Testament through the New Testament. You can e-mail Denise Debord at Wdebord727@yahoo.com for more information.

Each session runs 90 minutes.

Marybeth Finster and Denise Debord say you don't need any previous Bible study, you won't have a lot of homework, you won't have to get up and talk in front of others and you don't have to make it to every class.

And they quote St. Jerome: "Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ."

Photo by Jane Winstead

Wednesday Evening Bible Study.

Father Dominic's first baptism

Photo by Jane Winstead

Father Dominic, left, officiated at the baptism of Owen Martin Kirchner on Sunday, Sept. 5. His parents are Patrick and Christine Kirchner. At right are the godparents, Adrienne Forkois (Christine's sister) and Michael Kirchner, Jr. (Patrick's brother). The Forkois family from Pensacola and the Kirchner family from Winter Park attended the baptism.

Nursing Home ministry

Photo by Jane Winstead

Louise Barrett speaks with a resident of Shore Acres Rehabilitation Center during a recent ministry visit. “As we minister to the residents, they minister to us,” she says.

By Louise Barrett

I am part of St. Raphael's Nursing Home ministry along with Greg Langston, Linda Champion, Bill and Karen Muhlstadt, Angela Soucy, Mary Baecher, Maggie Moren, Joan Priest, Chris Winstead, Rose York, and Mary Wilson.

Our ministry members visit Shore Acres Rehabilitation and Health Center each Sunday. In addition to our weekly Sunday visits, on the third Wednesday of every month, one of our priests from St. Raphael celebrates a Mass right at Shore Acres for residents who able to participate.

After Mass, our priest does individual room visits for those who are too weak to attend Mass.

Residents receive Holy Eucharist, confession, Sacrament of the Sick, prayers, and holy objects like prayer cards and rosaries when requested. We have seen many Catholics who had fallen away from the faith who return to a full sacramental life.

We have witnessed the baptisms of some residents. The residents become part of our St. Raphael family. Whenever asked, we pray with our Protestant brethren in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In a recent survey about the positive benefits of Shore Acres nursing home, one of the residents listed our Nursing Home ministry as a highlight of his experience there!

Over the years, this ministry has touched the lives of many amazing people who find themselves at Shore Acres because they need round the clock nursing care for various reasons.

Many come for a time and then return home. Some are young, needing rehab. Some are terminally ill. For some, Shore Acres will be their final home for several years until their death.

These residents are dear to us and we look forward to our visits with them.

I have been in the ministry since August 1999. I have met hundreds of residents during that time. I have held their hands and watched them get better, and I have held their hands and been at their side as they died. As we minister to the residents, they minister to us.

This is an incredibly rewarding ministry and you are welcome to join us. We train you on the job and take you through the steps needed to become a volunteer.

If you're interested: Please call Louise Barrett at (727) 821-2561.

Please view two slide shows below showing Father Dominic and Father Tim celebrating Masses at Shore Acres Rehabilitation and Health Center.

Photos by Jane Winstead

Feast of the Assumption

Photos by Jane Winstead

Sunday, August 15, was the Feast of the Assumption. Father Tim celebrated the 9:30 a.m. Mass (above) and Father Dominic celebrated the 11:30 (below).

The feast marking the Blessed Virgin Mary's assumption, body and soul, into heaven has been celebrated in the Catholic Church since Pope Pius XII declared it a major holy day in 1950.

At the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.” The Assumption of Mary is the pledge of fulfillment of Christ’s promise.

Father Dominic's family came to visit him this weekend and attended the 11:30 Mass.

Father Dominic's Father's Day Mass

Photos by Jane Winstead

Father Dominic Corona, our new parochial vicar, said his first Sunday Mass at St. Raphael on Father's Day, June 20. A welcome reception followed the 9:30 a.m. Mass.

Photos by Jane Winstead

Before Father Dominic's first Sunday Mass at St. Raphael, he celebrated Mass at 7 p.m. on June 16 in the old church.