Newspaper Page Text
Southern Cross, Page 16
Social media round up
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Catholic Social Services open
new thrift store in Augusta
A new Catholic Social Services
thrift store opened its doors in
Augusta, Monday, July 6. There
was a grand opening ceremony
that day. The new location is on
3229 Wrightsboro Road and will
be open Monday-Saturday, 8am-
6pm. The space is 17,000 square
feet and will provide the opportu
nity for people to buy everything
from toys to furniture to jewelry
and books.
Catholic Social Services Thrift
Stores were founded in 1990.
Father Pablo Migone and
Catholic Social Services staffers
pose moments after the ribbon
was cut during a grand opening
ceremony Monday, July 6.
St.John the Evangelist finds
intresting way to keep pews
safe for weekend Masses
Parishioners have been back for
Mass at St. John the Evangelist
Church, Valdosta for a couple
weeks now and in order to keep
the sanctuary safe for all to
worship Father Brian LaBurt and
the ushers have come up with an
interesting way to disinfect the
pews.
At a recent ushers meeting the
idea of using a fogger to disinfect
the pews came up. “I picked their
brains and we followed up with
the idea,” said LaBurt. The pews
will be fogged before weekend
Masses and with social-distanc
ing measures in place, hand san
itizer available and a recommen
dation to wear masks, safety has
become a key piece to practicing
faith safely. “I encourage people
to wear masks and we value in
dividual rights, but sometimes we
have to do things for the common
good,” said LaBurt.
An usher disinfects the pews at
St. John the Evangelist Church,
Valdosta with a fogger machine.
SVA begins
renovation of Sisters of
Four former Sisters of Mercy
donned white hardhats decorated
with St. Vincent’s Academy and
Pinyan Construction logos and
posed for a picture in what will
one day be the former convent.
They were special invited guests
for what was a brief ceremony
announcing a new renovation
project of which phase one, a
complete prep and clean up of
the convent, is currently under
way. Once their home, now it will
be an additional home for learn
ing. “I feel wonderful about it,”
said Sister Helen Marie Buttimer,
a former principal at St. Vincent’s
Academy and one of the five Sis
ters of Mercy on hand. “I think it’s
a great blessing and is in God’s
plan.
"Current St. Vincent’s Academy
Principal Dawn Odom knows the
history of the building and what
it means to the sisters, former stu
dents and parishioners to see it
continue to assist in the school’s
mission to educate. “It’s sad to
think the covenant living space is
going away, but it’s good to know
our girls will have this new space
to get together and for learning.”
St. Vincent Academy began
renovation of the Sisters of Mercy
Convent on Monday morning,
July 6. The multi-million dollar
project is scheduled to take 13
months to complete. The goal
for the project is to “improve the
school’s space capacity, allowing
for additional administrative and
academic utilization, as well as
small group conference space for
students, parents and teachers”
according to a press release.
Along with interior renovations,
the project includes plans for
technological advancements and
convent
digital improvements to better
provide a more modern aca
demic setting for the 175-year
old all-girls institution. Pinyan
Company, who has done work
for several local institutions, was
“truly honored” to be selected to
complete this project according to
the company’s President Daniel
W. Pinyan, Jr. “There’s quite the
history here and there’s always
mixed emotions when you’re
demoing something so special,”
said Pinyan.
Father J. Gerard Schreck took
a few moments to bless the site
and pray for all of those who are
working to complete the project.
Alumnus Kim Michael Polote, a
professional vocalist and public
speaker, member of St. Vincent’s
Academy Class of 1976 is excited
that there’s going to be change at
her alma mater. “I have learned
things here that I have carried
with me all over the world,” she
said upon exiting the building.
Polote, who still wears her class
ring, added, “I’m overwhelm
ingly happy. This progress also
represents progress in another
direction, especially during this
season of uncertainty. It’s almost
symbolic.”
southerncrosssav.org/share/tell-us-your-story
An Excerpt From Bishop-Elect Parkes’ First Homily in the Diocese of Savannah
In my opening comments today before Mass, I mentioned that I was just recently appointed to be
Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah. So at this point today, this is my second day of being Bishop-Elect.
I’m originally from Orlando and from New York. However, my family moved when I was in college to
Orlando (Central Florida) and I would graduate from the University of South Florida.
I could go on about who I am, but frankly you can read that on the internet on the Southern Cross
website. I look forward to seeing who you are and that’s what I feel is my role and where my excite
ment is in being here in the beautiful Diocese of Savannah... to meet you, to be able to care for you, to
lead you and to love. That’s what the Lord calls us to do. That’s what God needs us to do.