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Spanish Mission Found On Amelia Island
BY SISTER CAROL STOVALL
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (NC) — What began as a routine
transplanting of a palm tree on an Amelia Island Plantation
home site ended with discovery of a 17th century Spanish
mission when workers unearthed human bones.
The mission was identified as Santa Maria, one of many
established in the 16th and 17th centuries to convert local
Indians to Christianity, to produce food for export and to
protect Spanish holdings from other colonial powers.
Kenneth Hardin of Piper Archaeological Research, Inc.,
said that the earliest documentation of Santa Maria was a
1675 mission census report. The mission was destroyed in
the early 18th century when the British governor of the
Carolinas attacked St. Augustine.
The Amelia Island site is owned by George and Dottie
Dorion of Jacksonville. They postponed construction of
their home and contacted Piper Research of St. Petersburg
to have the area researched.
Hardin reviewed the site and said the way in which the
well-preserved Indian remains were buried confirmed the
location.
The archaeological excavations were conducted last
summer and concentrated in the area of the church floor
which was also used as a cemetery. The archaeologists also
systematically dug small test units everywhere on the
Dorion property, locating among other things, the probable
site of a missionary priest’s home.
Eight human burials, identified by dental features as
those of Indians, probably of the Guale-Yamassee tribe,
were excavated. While no artifacts of great monetary value
were found, Hardin said “the information we have is
priceless.”
The Christianized Indians were buried with their hands
crossed over their chest and were in closely spaced, narrow
burial pits without coffins, under the church floor.
The. finding of tin-glazed Spanish Majolica and olive jar
fragments, as well as pieces of daub from the waddle-and-
daub construction of the mission buildings, also confirmed
the findings.
The Dorions plan to donate the Indian, Spanish and other
European artifacts, along with technical reports,
photographs and maps to the State of Florida for use in
museums and local exhibits.
After they have been analyzed, the human remains will
be reburied in a Catholic cemetery.
Archbishop Lefebvre
(Continued from Page 1)
He described the synod as “the second stage of the resolu
tion begun by the council, which is leading to self-
destruction.”
Pope John Paul II called the extraordinary synod to
evaluate the results of the council. Some critics have sug
gested that the pope wants to modify some of the council’s
reforms.
Archbishop Lefebvre, former head of the Archdiocese of
Tulle, France, has consistently rejected the teachings of
Vatican II, which brought him into conflict with the
Vatican.
In 1976 Pope Paul VI suspended him from his priestly
functions after the archbishop defied papal orders and or
dained priests at a traditionalist seminary he has establish
ed in Econe, Switzerland.
Archbishop Lefebvre said his continued meetings with
Vatican officials over his rejection of the council’s
teachings have been “courteous, but without progress.”
He said he told Cardinal Ratzinger during a January
meeting: “Your description of the crisis in the church is
more terrifying than mine. I cannot understand why, when
you see the destruction, you do not seek the true causes and
have the courage to return to tradition.”
In a book published in English this year under the title,
“The Ratzinger Report,” the cardinal said the church had
passed from “self-criticism to self-destruction” in the
years since the council. He said the church faced “a pro
gressive process of decadence” that had developed “under
the sign of a summons to a presumed ‘spirit of the coun
cil.’” He said that “presumed” spirit was really an
"anti-spirit” which discredited the council.
Archbishop Lefebvre said he had recently written Car
dinal Ratzinger asking for the annulment of the council’s
Shrine Of Saint Jude
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“Decree on Religious Liberty.” He said the 1965 document,
which outlined principles of freedom valid for all Religious,
opposed Catholic doctrine.
The archbishop said relations between the group he
founded, the Fraternity of St. Pius X, and the Vatican are
“stagnant.”
“They want me to sign a paper in which I accept the coun
cil according to tradition. But there are conciliar texts that
contradict (tradition), and this is unacceptable. For me the
faith does not change,” he said.
The archbishop said he thought Pope John Paul had “put
aside the saving of souls” in order to find a way of living
with the world.
Announcement Of Position
The Archdiocese of Atlanta Office of Catholic
Schools is currently seeking applications from
qualified priests, religious and lay persons for the
position of principal at the new Regional Catholic
Elementary School in Lilburn, Georgia.
QUALIFICATIONS — Principals in the Arch
diocesan School System should be knowledgeable and
practicing Catholics with a thorough understanding
of and commitment to the Catholic philosophy of
education. Principals are expected to meet all cer
tification requirements and standards of the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Prin
cipals should have teaching and administrative ex
perience in Catholic schools. Principals should also
possess skills in the following areas: (1) Maintaining
Catholic Community; (2) Curriculum design and
development; (3) Communication and public rela
tions; (4) Development; (5) Sound fiscal and
management abilities; and (6) Recruitment and
selection of personnel.
DUTIES — To provide overall leadership in this
new regional school; to facilitate the development of
the total school community toward the goal of pro
viding students with the highest quality Catholic
educational experience.
AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY — Spiritual Leader
ship, Curriculum and Design and Development,
Financial Management, Personnel Recruitment and
Management, Student/Teacher Program Evalua
tions, Pupil Relations, Planning and Day-To-Day
Operation, Liaison to the Regional Board of Educa
tion.
APPLICATION DEADLINE — November 30, 1985
— Interviews will take place in December. The suc
cessful applicant is expected to assume the position
on January 6, 1986. Applicants should express their
interest in writing and provide the following
documents:
(1) Current Resume; (2) Transcripts; (3) Three
letters of recommendations (2 professional and 1 per
sonal) (4) Administrative Certificate or proof of
eligibility of certification; (5) A brief description of
how one would build and maintain a faith-centered
community.
Information is to be sent: OFFICE OF CATHOLIC
SCHOOLS SEARCH COMMITTEE, c/o Dr. R.M.
Johnson, 680 West Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta,
Georgia 30308.
PAGE 13 — The Georgia Bulletin, November 7,1985
MISSION FOUND — Father Philip Gagan,
archivist for the Diocese of St. Augustine, Fla.,
stands beside the excavation of the Santa Maria
Mission on Amelia Island north of Jacksonville.
Indian bones (below) were unearthed beneath
what was the floor of the 17th-century Spanish
church. The bones were discovered when ex
cavation was begun for a new home. (NC
photos)
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