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Mission Statement
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St. George Church is a Catholic Community of God's People located in Lauderhill, Florida and founded in 1964. We are a people of diverse ethnic origins, united in faith, formed by the Gospels, strenghened by the Holy Sacraments, and following the teachings of the Catholic Church. We seek to deepen our personal union with our Savior Jesus Christ. We seek to enrich our heritage of care and concern for all by sharing God's love, proclaiming Good News, living in Peace, and healing with the world around us. We strive to carry on the message of freedom and social justice to those in need. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we pledge ourselves to pursue this mission by participating in the liturgical, educational, and social ministries of our Church. We recognize the need and accept the responsibility to share our spiritual, physical and financial resources.
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Parishioner's Purpose Statement:
As a parish member my purpose is to use my holiness of life and understanding of God's presence to give witness to and strengthen my and other people's communion of faith and hope of salvation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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Parishioner's Key Responsibility Areas:
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Time
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Talent
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Treasure
| | I will fully commit myself to the good Stewardship of my Time, Talent and Treasure in service to my parish under the leadership of our pastor. | I will pray and celebrate the Lord's presence in personal prayer and with the community alone and at Mass or other public communal prayers in order to build communion in faith and to strengthen all in hope of salvation.
I will keep good Stewardship of my body, mind and soul by living a good moral Christian life.
I will keep good Stewardship of my family, living in love and responsibility with each of its members.
I will answer the call to witness to my faith in every aspect of my life: work, home and leisure.
I will extend my love and respect to my fellow parishioners and aid them in their pains and needs seeking to serve them as I wish them to do for me, according to my Time, Talent and Treasure.
I will share with the members of the parish and others the joys we experience in knowing the Triune Lord in our lives.
I will show respect to the Lord and others by being prompt for all Liturgies celebrated in the parish.
I will evangelize when ever possible people who have not yet heard the Good News by reaching out to those of faith or no faith and personally contacting, inviting and leading them so that they may join in faith and have hope in salvation.
I will support and make viable the church by my tithes and fund raising so that it may remain here as my testimony to Christ's presence. | |
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The Last Day at St. George
A Testimonial |
September 27, 2009
Story by Teresa Martinez
It had humble beginnings and remained a humble parish until the end.
St. George in Lauderhill had neither an excess of valuable items nor a parish school. What drove people to it, and kept the community alive for 45 years, was the parishioners’ energy, music and devotion to their faith.
The parish began in the early 1960s with a small group of people led by Father (now Msgr.) Laurence Conway. They would come together to celebrate Mass at Parkway Junior High School and teach religious education in the cafetorium.
“I remember getting a letter from Bishop (Coleman) Carroll naming me the administrator for the newly established St. George, and that I would be building the church from the ground up. After I read the letter, I shook it around and then thought to myself, ‘Where’s the check?’” said Msgr. Conway, who is now retired but returned to St. George to concelebrate the final Mass.
“Over the years the parish grew. It was plain, but it was everything you needed,” he said.
For the last 12 years, Father Robert Tywoniak has been St. George’s pastor, the congregation’s friend and family member.
“I give you permission to cry,” said Father Tywoniak as he preached for the last time in front of his beloved parishioners. He held aloft a handkerchief as he began his homily.
He spoke about a prayer request he received several years ago: a note left for him that simply said “Pray for me” and was signed “Eddie.” Not knowing who Eddie was, Father Tywoniak said he took it as a test and Eddie went on the prayer list immediately. Every Sunday since then, Eddie has been prayed for during the prayer of the faithful.
“Promises have been kept and nothing has been left,” said Father Tywoniak.
“We are sad, disappointed and maybe even angry, but don’t let those emotions be an excuse for abandoning your faith or the Church,” he added, his voice rising with emotion. “Don’t disappoint. We’ve worked too hard and there’s more work that needs to be done.”
Throughout the decades, St. George’s multicultural community has fulfilled its faith commitment to social justice by volunteering time and efforts with local community groups and standing up for wronged workers at Nova Southeastern University.
“We have given support to many people in need of help who made their ways to our doors,” said Father Tywoniak. “What we must learn in the Church is that ministry is deeper and broader than numbers and money. It touches great numbers of people in so many ways. People feeling our impact take it with them to make a better world.”
Throughout the celebration of the final Mass, the choir sang and people danced, clapped and sang along in praise to the Lord. Brushing away tears as they sat in the pews for the last time, St. George parishioners seemed to have accepted the inevitable fact that their church would close but they would go on.
“It was the liveliness of the people, the music and its pastor that drew me here. It was everything I needed and they made me feel like family,” said Glenda Thomas. “I understand why the archdiocese made this decision. I’m sad but I plan on going to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and just hope that we can re-create this same vibe and energy there.”
“I grew up in this church with lots of family and friends around me, but it wasn’t until I helped start the Praise Team that I felt as if I had a purpose,” said 18-year-old Alexa Brierre. “It made me want to grow in my faith and opened my eyes to the Church. It makes me sad that we are closing, but I hope that we can continue the Praise Team at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs.”
Miami Auxiliary Bishop John Noonan stood beside Father Tywoniak, his classmate and roommate at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, and offered words of support and friendship to the congregation.
“It is very sad, hard and difficult and I know you have fears and anxiety, but do not let anything separate you from God,” said Bishop Noonan. “Jesus loves you unconditionally and he invites you to come to him every day.”
“Although I’m heartbroken, I’m going to let my light shine wherever I go and I’m going to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs,” said parish matriarch Dorothy Paul, adding that she hoped others would follow her to their new parish.
Father Michael “Happy” Hoyer, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, also was on hand to welcome his new parishioners to their new church, four miles away.
“The way we feel now isn’t the best, but we will be a stronger community. Your personalities and faith will move from St. George to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and we will become one. We will become a family,” Father Hoyer said. “We are not closing out God. We are not closing out our faith. We are just expanding and coming together as one in the Lord.”
“Get ready people at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, because the people of St. George are going to infect you with the love and power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ,” said Father Tywoniak, who has been appointed pastor at Blessed Sacrament in Fort Lauderdale.
Story by James D. Davis and Mike Clary (Sun-Sentinel)
FORT LAUDERDALE — Never more true was this neighborhood sign spotted Sunday: "ST. GEORGE - A COMMUNITY ON THE MOVE."
That morning, members attended their last Mass at the Catholic church that gave the area its name. St. George parish, founded in 1964, is to merge this week with nearby Our Lady Queen of Martyrs.
St. George is among 14 parishes, missions and ethnic outreaches slated for mergers, in a massive restructuring for the Archdiocese of Miami.
Archbishop John Favalora ordered the moves Aug. 16, citing financial and demographic reasons.
While parishioners seemed resigned to the move by Sunday, they still mourned what some called their second homes.
"I'm going to miss it so much; I live only a block-and-a-half away, and I came to Mass every day," said Dorothy Paul, 76, the last charter member at St. George.
Paul said she doesn't drive anymore, and she hopes to get a lift to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs. "But even if I have to catch a cab, I'm going there."
The Rev. Bob Tywoniak, her pastor, made the last Mass as jubilant as possible for the 220 worshipers, more than twice the usual crowd.
A 14-member gospel choir led the worshipers in bouncy two-steps such as This Little Light of Mine. Also there were a half-dozen girls of the St. George Inayah Praise Team, their flowing white gowns swirling in liturgical dances.
But even Auxiliary Bishop John Noonan, who attended St. George Sunday, noted the pall cast over the day.
"It's like going to a funeral," said the bishop, a classmate of Tywoniak's back in their seminary days. "And not the death of one person, but of many, of a community. It involves so many emotional and spiritual and family ties."
Paul acknowledged the emotion infusing the last service.
"The fact that we're closing breaks our hearts," she said, adding, "God is calling us to something new."
At St. George, Tywoniak displayed church memorabilia: a 3-foot-tall wooden crucifix, draped with kinte cloth strips; a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe; and a street sign, reading "NW 36th Terrace," that Tywoniak found on church grounds after Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
He used the items to show the church's long ministry, such as helping to create a park next door.
"Promises have been kept, and nothing has been lost," the priest said. "St. George built this neighborhood."
He reminded his listeners the word "parish" is drawn from a word for sojourning. "A parish is not a permanent place. We're merely passing through here, on our way to salvation."
The Rev. Michael Hoyer of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs welcomed his new parishioners. "The people are excited about you coming. We'll gain new happiness, a new burst of energy."
Jim Hill, a member at St. George since 1968, expressed optimism about the move.
"If this were my home, I'd feel really bad," Hill said while frying fish for a picnic after the final Mass. "But we have a chance to go there and do the same things we've done here, because we all are like a one big family." |
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