Beautiful Church in St. Pete Beach, Florida
I learned of the Catholic Daughters of America while at a women’s conference in Tampa, Florida. After some research, I decided to attend a local meeting in a part of Florida I had not yet explored.
I had been several times to St. Petersburg, Florida, but never to its neighboring city of St. Pete Beach. What a beautiful drive! Our meeting began with morning Mass at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. I knew as soon as I drove into the parking lot that this beautiful building had a story to tell.
St. John Vianney Catholic parish began in 1937 to serve the beach communities on the barrier islands. The history noted on its website states that, “when the little church opened, the cost of pork chops was 23 cents a pound, fresh shrimp was 18 cents a pound, … a Kenmore washer sold for $39.95, … and a 1937 Packard sedan went for $1,025…”
WOW have things changed!
Florida is home to many “snowbird” families who choose to spend winter months in beautiful sunny Florida. In 1949, the number of Catholic families during the winter months exceeded the building capacity of the little St. John Vianney church. To accommodate the families, the pastor purchased a circus tent from Ringling Brothers which made the celebration of Christmas Midnight Mass that year very special. This tent, when not used for Mass, was the official Bingo tent. Yes, we Catholics love our Bingo!
In 1951, St. John’s school opened with 300 students. As the community grew, so did the activities at St. John’s parish. In 1956, the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) and St. Vincent de Paul Society were established at the parish along with the already existing Holy Name Society for Men and the Ladies Auxiliary.
After the building of the school and auditorium was complete, it was decided that a new and bigger church needed to be built. Fundraising for this project began in 1962. The new sanctuary was completed in November 1969.
As I admired the beauty of this church building, I am once again in awe at the way humanity chooses to show their love, appreciation, and respect to the God who is LOVE and created us for His LOVE.
After the morning Mass, the members of the Catholic Daughters of America (CDA) remained in the sanctuary to say the Rosary. We then proceeded to a side chapel where the CDA members held a beautiful ceremony honoring the deceased members of their organization.
November is the month in Catholic tradition where we honor those who have gone before us. I loved the beautiful ceremony provided by this group of women. I especially loved the display at the front of the altar provided for each of their deceased members.
The Catholic Daughters of America (CDA) is an amazing group of women. I don’t know how I missed knowing about this group.
The CDA was founded in 1903 by the Knights of Columbus in Utica, NY and is one of the largest international organizations of Catholic women in the world. They are currently in 42 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Mexico, Peru, and Kenya. In Florida, there are currently seven courts. The local chapters of the CDA are called “courts.”
The two-fold purpose of the CDA is spirituality and service. The goal is to provide an opportunity to live out the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The Spiritual Works of Mercy are to instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish the sinners, patiently bear those who wrong us, forgive offenses, comfort the afflicted, and pray for the living and the dead. The Corporal Works of Mercy are to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, harbour the harbourless, visit the sick, ransom the captive, and bury the dead.
I truly enjoyed meeting the women of the St. John Vianney Court in St. Pete Beach, Florida. This court has received amazing recognition at both the local and state level for their education outreach. They continue to focus on the goals and mission of the CDA through their many fundraising activities and contributions to a variety of non-profit organizations in the St. Pete Beach area that provide quality services and supports to its residents.
Let me know in the comments below if you are a member of the Catholic Daughters of America and what court you belong to. I’d also like to hear from those who have been to or live in or near St. Pete Beach, Florida. Let me know in the comments below if you have any have fun recommendations for the area.
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