Good-byes Again

Today was clean-up day and shopping day.  Port St. Lucie is a booming, busy, dynamic, 'new' town. Shopping is great everywhere.  And we gals LOVE to shop!

Here I found what I'd been looking for since we first came to Florida last week: a wooden 'sea' bird, on a stick, to join my ever-growing collection of sea birds. Beale's had a good selection. Then we looked through lots of clothes; Peggy selected a new outfit.  Two different times we went to Walmart for necessities.  Our shopping was finished after a long session at Barnes-and-Noble.  I found several books to put in my queue.

Peggy and I returned to the hotel in time to get ready for church.  Don had driven us past their church on the way back yesterday.  Conveniently, St. Bernadette's was just behind the Walmart store.

Due to one of the many Jewish influences on our Catholic religion, namely, that Sabbath went from evening one day to evening the next day, we are permitted to attend late Saturday Mass and have it 'count' for Sunday, the Lord's Day.  We want to rise and shine early tomorrow for our long trek from Port St. Lucie to Texas.

St. Bernadette's Catholic Church, Port St. Lucie, Florida

The pastor greeted everyone warmly before Mass.  The music was outstanding, the work of a fine singer/organist who included one short Gregorian chant, an extremely difficult but beautiful Medieval musical piece. The people welcomed us on every side and were very proud of their new two-year-old church building.  The pastor was an excellent homilist.  He offered a special prayer for all fathers and grandfathers, for both the 'natural' ones and the 'ones by choice,' since Father's Day is tomorrow. Don reported that the congregation is large but grows considerably during January through March when the 'snowbirds' (folks from up north who winter in Florida) fly south.

Statue honoring St. Bernadette

Grotto depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary appearing to St. Bernadette

FYI: Catholics believe in "The Communion of Saints," namely that all Christians are united, the Saints in Heaven and the Christians here on earth.  We honor many Saints.  Note: we do not worship statues nor do we worship Jesus' Mother, Mary, nor do we worship the Saints.  However, since Mary and the Saints are close to God, we may ask them, in our hearts, to help us in special endeavors.  Google 'Bernadette Soubirous', a real person, for more info.

Statues of other Saints honored at the church: From left: St. Patrick, St. Jude, St. Anthony & St. Padre Pio

The Bell Tower at St. Bernadette's Church

My dear sister-in-law, Kathleen, my dear brother, Don, Peggy and I lingered over a fun dinner at the Outback.  We always talk non-stop, even at the end of our visits.  Since I am the oldest sibling in our family, I sometimes remember some fact that Don, the 'baby', never knew.  This time I remembered that our Mother Adeline once mentioned that Don was born in the U.S. Navy Hospital on the Navy Base at Norfolk, Virginia, USA, in July of 1951.  At that time, Mom recounted, "There were so many babies that the nurses had long carts with three layers; on both sides there were cubbyholes for the babies.  The nurses went down the halls and gave the babies to their mothers at nursing time."  Kathleen told us that their oldest son, Justin, was born in the same hospital but there were no carts with cubbies!

Family: From left: Kathleen, Jan and Don

Fine Friend, Peggy

Don and Kathleen returned Peggy and I to our hotel and there were hugs all around.  I was thrilled that Don and Kathleen were in America now instead of far away in Ireland where they lived for many years!