Saint Anastasia Catholic Church
1st Annual Legacy Weekend
March 15, 2015
Our Parish Pastors
(Priests pictured in clockwise order)
Fr. Gabriel Ruppert (1910-1929)
Msgr. Michael Beerhalter (1929-1972)
Fr. Patrick Quinn (1972 - 1974)
Fr. William Keene (1974 - 1975)
Fr. Edward Condren (1975 -1981)
Fr. Mark Christopher (1981 - 1998)
Fr. Michael Woodcock (1998-2000)
Fr. Timothy O’Toole (2000 - 2004)
Fr. Richard George (2005 - Present)
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1st Annual Legacy Weekend
March 15, 2015
Did You Know???...
...that we have a rich old history,
as a parish community?
Pictured here is the original
St.. Anastasia Church on Orange
Ave. It was only opened from
1916-1925. It had to be demolished
because of termites!-TWICE!
...that where we Worship…
Is the land that was once a swamp and grazing ground for the George Guettler family’s free roaming
dairy cows, and that in 1949, George Guettler sold this land to the diocese and then
he donated the money back to our Church.
... that “Lunch on the Lawn” goes
WAAAY Back?
Yes! Pictured right, is actually the first Parish
Picnic... T-bone steaks were served hot off the
grill, and for entertainment, the High School
band played. Over 1,100 people attended
to celebrate breaking ground!
...about this old bell?
The bell that is in the left hand corner of this picture
with Monsignor Beerhalter, is the same bell that our
8th grade students ring today to commemorate
graduation at our very own St. Anastasia School.
Blessed Martin Catholic School
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1st Annual Legacy Weekend
March 15, 2015
Did you know???...
...that St. Anastasia ‘s first benefactor was Senator James P. McNichol (1864-1917). He spent $80,000 in
erecting our church, rectory, and some school buildings in Fort Pierce? And furthermore, did you know that
St. Anastasia is named after his wife ~ Anastasia.
1977
2015
2015
A long long time ago...
...that we are on Holy Ground…
.. our Media Center sits on the site where a
The Convent
1963
convent used to be? That’s right ~ In 1963,
the 25 room convent housed 16 nuns!
2015
….a curtain was pulled?
While the new St. Anastasia Church was
being built here, Mass was held in the cafeteria.
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1st Annual Legacy Weekend
March 15, 2015
We’ve come a long way. How Our Parish Has Changed Over the Years!
That Was Then...
...And This Is Now:
The 24 hour Perpetual Adoration Chapel was a gift from
St. Anastasia Parishioners to the church for the 100 year celebration.
The Welcome Sign
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1st Annual Legacy Weekend
March 15, 2015
Saint Anastasia Church Ministries and Events
The Altar Server Ministry
Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration
Christ The King Celebration
and Procession, together with
San Juan Diego and Notre Dame
CCW & S.A.A.M.
Respect Life Ministry
Angel Tree
Bereavement Ministry
All Souls Remembrance Mass
Friends and Family Ministry
Lunch on the Lawn
Easter Egg Hunt
Passion Play
Theatre Ministry & Youth Theater
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1st Annual Legacy Weekend
March 15, 2015
St. Anastasia Church Ministries and Events
PALM
SUNDAY
Sunrise Service on North Beach
EASTER SUNDAY MORNING MASS
“For where two or three have gathered together in my
name, there am I in their midst” ~Mathew 18:20
“I Baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one that is more powerful than I, whose
sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”. ~ Mathew 3:11
Father George Baptizes
Nick Francis
Confirmation 2015
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1st Annual Legacy Weekend
March 15, 2015
St. Anastasia Church Ministries and Events
The Lighting Of Our Advent Wreath
100th Year Anniversary Mass with Bishop Barbarito
The Children’s Christmas Pageant
Pregnancy Care Center Mass
2015 Marriage Retreat
S.A.A.M. Ministry
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1st Annual Legacy Weekend
March 15, 2015
A BIG THANK YOU goes out to those who responded to the
Strategic Planning ~ Communication Task Force “Legacy Weekend Survey”!
When asked what your “Precious Moments” are as Parishioners
of St. Anastasia, this is what YOU shared…
“First Communion and then Graduation (1948)
St. Anastasia High School” ~Bill
“Attending Sunrise Mass on Easter Morning” ~ Robert
“The Funeral Mass of our
good friend” ~Andrew
“Coming to Mass, and feeding the Ducks” ~Judith
“The sound of joy when Father calls the little
“Attending Midnight Mass,
ones to come forward at Mass for their Bible
and Holy Saturday services”
study” ~Margaret
~Richard
“Catholic Education” ~Billy
“The wedding of Susan & Dr. Mike O’Connor” ~Mary
“Attending St. Anastasia
Watching Louis Ciacci at 9:30 Mass ushering, the
Church on Orange Avenue”
Easter Vigil, when I became Catholic” ~William
~Judith
to church and wanted to bring a friend” ~ Kelly
“Father Woodcock’s Homilies and Baptisms” ~Katie
“Friday night Stations” ~ Roy
“The First Communion of my son, and
friendship of St. Anastasia Community” ~Ernst
“I think of being a part of CRHP, and sitting with a group of
women who would become my sisters friends in faith, and a
lifelong source of support and laughter” ~Allison
vows after 50 years of marriage” ~ Robert
“Christ the King Mass”~ Gregory
“Always… Midnight Mass at Christmas, with family” ~ Regina
“The first time our kids were actually excited to go
“My mother and father renewing their marriage
“After my husband’s passing last year and the way
St. A’s school and Church joined together to support
me and my family” ~Susanne
“My precious moment was the first time I served as EME and how nervous I felt. I found comfort when I looked up at the cross” Joya
“It’s the feeling I get inside, when I’m at Mass” ~ Linda
“Feeling like St. Anastasia is our 2nd Home” ~ Michael
“Receiving the Prayer Chalice as a family of 6” ~ Jennifer
“Helping to establish the St. Anastasia Knights of Columbus
Council 15429” ~Stephen
“Feeling the Holy Spirit at my CRHP retreat” ~ Cathy
“Father George came to minister to a couple of parishioners. Father got lost and called me. I picked him up in my two-seater golf cart,
so he had to stand on the back. He was waving to people as we went along. Now, I call my cart the Papal-mobile” ~ Patricia
“So many beautiful memories” ~ Regina
“Beautiful songs and singing from our choir!” ~ Robert
“My son as Altar boy, and my daughter as Lector” ~ Ruth
“Benediction every day before Mass. Uplifting Homilies and adoration.
“Bilingual Stations of the Cross and Viva Christo Rey” ~ Rose
Friendliness and acceptance of Northerners” ~ Don & Theresa
“My mother, Lillie Cueto, when Father George baptized her Catholic, and she
received Holy Communion on Christmas Day 2012.” ~Toni
“The Baptisms & Confirmations of my children and grandchildren, the graduation of my children
from St. Anastasia, watching my son and grandson serve as Altar Servers, and me being
a part of CRHP I” ~ Delores
“When our son Gregory Fesler began Altar
serving, he could not reach the candle on the
Altar to light it, so he decided to jump up
and down to try to light it. The Priest came
to his rescue!” ~Terry
“Since we are new to the parish, I think the Christ the King ceremony was great. Also, being
“Spending anytime in prayer in our Adoration
discerned as the Lay Director for CRHP XII, was an eye opener! The closeness that I feel with
Chapel, and Confession with our awesome
the other parishioners at St. A’s is really great!” ~Jennifer
Priests” ~ Gina
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1st Annual Legacy Weekend
March 15, 2015
Vocations from St. Anastasia Parish:
Fr. Anthony Borrow
Fr, Robert Hoeffner
Fr. John Molnar
Fr. John Glory
Sr. Rose Bernadette (Mary Elizabeth Hoeffner)
Sr. Gladys Mulhern
Sr. Rose Elena (Rose Ann Schlitt)
Sr. Marian Vincent (Dorothy Guettler)
Sr. Paul Emelia (Margie Brown)
Sr. Rose Germaine (Germaine Guettler)
Making Memories in CRHP
CCW’s Annual Cookie Walk
Oremus Prayer Study
That Man Is You Men’s Program
Marian Consecration
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1st Annual Legacy Weekend
March 15, 2015
A Few Facts About Our Parish
Perpetual Adoration Chapel
Adoration Chapel – We have been a Perpetual
Adoration Chapel for over 3 years, well over 30,000
hours of praying logged in by adorers, nearly
300 adorers visit weekly, and in addition to our
parishioners, we have many adorers from Juan Diego,
Notre Dame, St. Mark’s & St. Helen’s
who visit our chapel.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus statue that sits in
niche between the church and Adoration Chapel was
brought to us by a sanitation worker who found it at the
dump and brought it here. Several parishioners have
repaired the statue including John Noelke who most
recently rebuilt the face and hands and painted it.
The Bereavement Ministry has assisted with over
The First 1st Holy Communion class recorded on
May 16, 1915 had a total of 9 Communicants.
Sacramental Outreach
Our ministry made 2,547 visits to the homebound and
nursing home residents in 2014, and close to 2600 in the
year prior, bringing the Eucharist and the word of
God to those unable to come to church on their own.
We have seen people return to the church after years
150 families since August 2013. It has been a
source of comfort, support, and love, during the
grieving process for our St. Anastasia families.
The stained glass window in the church are from the
original church on Orange Ave.
The Altar in the Adoration Chapel was the
St. Joseph Side Altar in the original
away, and we've seen people at peace at the end of their
church on Orange Ave.
present many times. We have logged thousands of miles
The first recorded Confirmation Class was
lives as well. The Holy Spirit has indeed been
to do this 52 weeks in the year.
January 23, 1916 with 12 Candidates.
Almighty Father, maker of heaven and earth, our greatest legacy is being called your sons and daughters.
As your adopted children, we invite the Holy Trinity and The Blessed Virgin Mary to aid and assist us in
celebrating our 105 year legacy as a parish family at St. Anastasia.
Heavenly Father, our family legacy is made up of: deep faith (that needs your constant encouragement), hard working
families (who need your grace), excellent education (which will never fail to integrate your teachings), unbroken church
and family tradition (to remain faithful to your teachings and commands) and an ongoing trust in your providence.
It is with wonder and awe that we beg you, receive our spirit of gratitude and joy, this day, as we celebrate the past
faith of our families, their failings and their many victories, which make up the fabric of our 105 year old,
on-going legacy at St. Anastasia.
Heavenly Father, aid us in the shaping of your Mystical Body (in the town of Ft. Pierce and beyond), not in our
own image and likeness which is flawed and sinful, but rather in your image and likeness, which is beauty and truth itself.
We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Anastasia.
Amen