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laudare, benedicere, praedicare
(to praise, to bless, to preach)
— Motto of the Order of Preachers (f. 1216)
August brings the ‘dog days of summer’ (July 3-August 11) to an end. The heat and humidity make everything slower, but energy is summoned and focused as our families and churches enter into the new school year.
Two wonderful feast days dominate the Church Calendar in August: The Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, and the Feast of St Mary the Virgin (also called the Feast of the Assumption and the Feast of the Dormition of Mary), August 15. There is a third day that is of significance and especially to the Dominican Order, also known as the Order of Preachers—the Feast of St Dominic, August 8.
St Dominic (1170-1221) was born in Spain and was religiously precocious as a child. As a priest he traveled with his bishop into southern France where he saw the spread of a heresy centered in the cathedral city of Albi. The harm wrought by the Albigensian heresy prompted Dominic’s lifelong vocation to apostolic preaching. And this call led him to found the Order of Preachers.
Our contradictory contemporary views of the body, careening between worship and degradation, have their predecessors in the history of the Church. The Albigensian heresy held that the body is not truly good, and only the spiritual part of our life matters.
I was listening to a sermon by a young Dominican in which he retold an old joke that involves this heresy and the founding of their order.
The joke is about which is the greatest of all the religious orders. A questioner asks if it is the Jesuits or the Dominicans. To this, the Dominican replies, “Well, the Dominicans were founded to counter the Albigensian heresy and the Jesuits to counter the rise of the Protestants”. Confused by this answer, the questioner asks again, ‘But, which is the greatest order? And the Dominican replies, “Well, have you ever met an Albigensian?”
I am impressed by the Dominicans and their preaching vocation. Impressive also is their founder. Dominic’s benefit to the Church in his day was unique. There were religious communities dedicated to a contemplative life of prayer cloistered from the world. There were others out in the world binding wounds, healing the sick and feeding the poor. Dominic combined the two. And to that he added another combination—binding his friars to both the classroom and the open road as itinerant preachers.
The effectiveness of St Dominic’s combination of things to further the mission of the Church in his day may encourage us to think more deeply about what is required of us. I hope you enjoy in this newsletter the interviews with Susanna Barton and Annette Sines and the book review by Owene Courtney as each is mindful of our needs, corporeal and spiritual. I believe St Dominic would open wide his arms in blessing them.
Yours sincerely,
Douglas
| | Feast of the Transfiguration | | |
COLLECT
O God, who on the holy mount didst reveal to chosen
witnesses thy well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in
raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being
delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith
behold the King in his beauty; who with thee, O Father, and
thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world
without end. Amen.
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An Interview with
the Rev. Deacon Annette Sines
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The Rev. Deacon Annette Sines has been a deacon at St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Fernandina Beach for the last two and a half years. Recently she has been appointed deacon for St George’s Episcopal Church, Fort George. She is a postulant for the priesthood and a seminarian at the General Theological Seminary, New York City.
Annette, please tell us a little about yourself, i.e. your background, education, family and when you were ordained and how long you have served at St Peter's, Fernandina.
I was born and raised in the mountains of West Virginia. My husband Jeread and I, along with our college age son Cooper, have lived all over the US while Jeread served as a Naval Submarine Officer. I have an M.S. in Organizational Leadership and a B.S. in Business Administration. I had a secular career in banking and finance for many years before discerning my call to the diaconate. I’ve been at St. Peter’s for nearly 14 years, 2.5 years as their deacon.
What has been the focus of your ministry at St Peter's? Has it shifted or evolved over time? What aspects of ministry have you found most rewarding?
Initially my diaconal ministry was focused on mission work to Our Little Roses in Honduras. When the Covid-19 pandemic occurred, I decided to complete a 6- months extended unit of CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education). My CPE experience transformed me and my ministry, and my focus shifted to pastoral care. The most rewarding aspect of pastoral care is walking with our parishioners as they cope with difficulties and rejoicing with them when healing comes.
I recollect that you were quite thankful for the CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) course prior to ordination and the expansion of opportunities in pastoral care and ministry CPE provides. Tell us a bit more about your chaplaincy work.
Yes, completing 6 months of CPE during the pandemic was both incredibly difficult and affirming at the same time. Upon the completion of my internship I was invited to work on an as needed basis for Baptist. I work over night on call shifts as well as some clinical rounds. Chaplaincy has taught me valuable lessons on the ministry of presence; of being with people fully, humbly, and compassionately.
I understand you feel a call to the priesthood. This may be difficult to explain or talk about, but how does a call from one order of ministry to another develop or how has this call become clear to you?
I believe my story is like many who are called to Holy Orders. Others see it in you before you see it in yourself. As I was discerning, my mentors thought I had a call to the priesthood; But I needed to sit with that for a period. Over time, a nagging feeling I was being called to the Lord’s table and to the sacramental work of a priest was persistent and I knew I had to take the next step in my formation.
To continue reading, please click here.
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For that one moment, 'in and out of time',
On that one mountain where all moments meet,
The daily veil that covers the sublime
In darkling glass fell dazzled at his feet.
There were no angels full of eyes and wings
Just living glory full of truth and grace.
The Love that dances at the heart of things
Shone out upon us from a human face
And to that light the light in us leaped up,
We felt it quicken somewhere deep within,
A sudden blaze of long-extinguished hope
Trembled and tingled through the tender skin.
Nor can this blackened sky, this darkened scar
Eclipse that glimpse of how things really are.
— Malcolm Guite, priest and poet
| | A Book Review by Owene Courtney | | |
Sara Maitland. A Book of Silence Paperback – August 3, 2009.
The Book of Silence: The Words of the Prophets are whispered in the Sound of Silence, and other conclusions from Sara Maitland’s stunning book.
From the title of the first chapter of The Book of Silence, I knew Sara Maitland spoke a language I understood. “Growing up in a Noisy World” she called it and early in the chapter she says, “I need a moor of my own” and “I have lived a very noisy life.” Though she grew up with a cast of brothers and sisters, as I did, her family of origin was not the only cause of the noisiness; the real source of the noisiness, I suspect, was her longing for silence which came from brushes with audible silence at various times in her life. Nighttime feedings with a newborn, words of the psalmists “I have set my soul in silence and in peace, As the weaned child on its mother’s breast so even is my soul,” and precious moments in a silent garden where she noticed/heard the busyness of the plants…among many, many other experiences!
Maitland’s book fuses poetry, philosophy, theology, memoir and nature writing into a patchwork analyzing the anatomy of silence. Published in 2008, it chronicles her journey deeper and deeper into the realm of silence in a variety of places first on the Isle of Skye and ultimately landing in a tiny house with no modern conveniences in Southwest Scotland. The book grew out of her various experiences of living alone in these remote places, and it has earned Maitland a place at the heart of a new British movement in nature writing.
When asked what need silence met for her, her response was that need was not the right word. Instead, she suggested one might ask what does silence gift her. The Book of Silence beautifully categorizes all those gifts silence has given her and continues to give her. In her late 40’s when she fell in love with silence, she simultaneously was beginning that inevitable journey of menopause through which all women go. Animating that difficult journey, Maitland credits it in many ways for her yearning for silence.
To continue reading, please click here.
| | Rector's August Book List | | |
Tim Alberta. The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism Paperback – December 10, 2024.
Tim Alberta, himself a Christian of Evangelical background, chronicles damages done and challenges ahead for Evangelical churches in America. The focus is on one Christian movement but a message to all of us whatever our denominational allegiances when we confuse God’s kingdom with our earthly ones.
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Catherine Conybeare. Augustine the African Hardcover – August 12, 2025.
There have been some remarkable modern biographies of Augustine of Hippo, the foremost Latin theologian of the Western world. And yet, there is always something new to be said about this colossus of the Christian faith. Catherine Conybeare has a lot of fresh material here as she responds to our contemporary interest in ethnicity and culture--- hence, the title ‘Augustine the African’. Martin Luther was a member of the Augustinian order as is Pope Leo XIV.
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Fergus Butler-Gallie. Twelve Churches: An Unlikely History of the Buildings That Made Christianity Hardcover – August 26, 2025.
The fascinating churches Butler-Gallie presents are chosen from across the world and their individual histories give us a foundation for reflecting on the future. These churches include a cave like church on the Japanese coast where Christian martyrs were tied to crosses at low tide and a church in Nigeria the size of an airplane hanger where almost every one of its 50,000 seats is filled every single Sunday.
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Cosima Clara Gillhammer. Light on Darkness: The Untold Story of the Liturgy Hardcover – June 20, 2025.
This is a beautiful book that takes you on a journey through history to the present day to appreciate afresh the deep imprint the liturgy of the Church makes on each of us and its legacy and impact on the wider world.
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Greg Grandin. America, América: A New History of the New World Hardcover – April 22, 2025.
If I could travel back in time to relive my school years, I would want to read American history again and a lot more of it and learn something of what Grandin’s book is about: the inter-connection of North and South America and how each developed its own identity and contributed to the identity of the other. I didn’t get any of that in school.
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Bear Grylls. The Greatest Story Ever Told: An Eyewitness Account Hardcover – July 22, 2025.
I am always amazed at how straightforwardly uplifting are the devotional books of Bear Grylls and I often give copies of them to young and old alike showing a first-time interest in Christian faith. Maybe anyone who can climb Mount Everest only 18 months after breaking his back in a freefall accident has a special insight into the Gospel message for us all.
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Frédéric Gros (author), John Howe (translator). A Philosophy of Walking Paperback – July 11, 2023.
“Poignant life-stories ... are interspersed with the author’s own meditations on walking ... In the way a landscape is gradually absorbed by the long-distance rambler they steadily build into an insistent exhortation: get up, get out and walk!” —Independent
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Max Lucado. Calm Moments for Anxious Days: A 90-Day Devotional Journey (90 Daily Devotions, with Journal Prompts, to Promote Wellness and Peace and Decrease Worry and Stress) Hardcover – May 16, 2023.
A wonderful, insightful daily devotional with encouragement to journal or to re-discover the benefits of keeping a journal.
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Sara Maitland. A Book of Silence Paperback – August 3, 2009.
Reviewed by Owene Courtney in this issue of the newsletter.
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Jen Stout. Night Train to Odesa: Covering the Human Cost of Russia’s War Paperback – April 6, 2025.
"[The book’s] humanity is deeply affecting. Her encounters with Ukrainians are by turns inspiring, moving, sobering and amusing, but her mastery of language and tone is the thread that holds it all together."
— Amazon reviewer.
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Julie Averbach. The Art of Trader Joe's: Discovering the Hidden Art Gems of America's Favorite Grocery Store Paperback – October 25, 2024.
"Trader Joe’s is a treasure trove of art. Hidden in plain sight, artwork animates everything from the brown paper grocery bags to eye-catching product packaging, murals, and handmade signs. This book uncovers the secret and surprising stories behind Trader Joe’s art, inspiring us to appreciate the grocery store as an art gallery."
— Amazon review.
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Wayne Kalayjian. Saving Michelangelo's Dome: How Three Mathematicians and a Pope Sparked an Architectural Revolution Hardcover – March 5, 2024.
[In 1742, when fatal cracks appeared in Michaelangelo’s Dome atop St Peter’s Basilica] . . .
"Three mathematicians and one determined pope unknowingly invented the profession of engineering as we practice it today. With it, they transformed the architectural world and ushered in generations of future buildings and structures that, otherwise, would never have been built."
— from Amazon.
| | St. Mary the Virgin: August 15 | | |
Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
| | Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 | | |
As a preface to the excellent interview with Susanna Barton of the Cathedral Wellness Center that follows, I thought I might share some information about caregiving and care givers in the US.
The 2025 edition of Caregiving in the US by AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving was recently released in July 2025.
As reprinted from the AARP:
Key Findings:
Demographics: One in every four adults is a caregiver. Of these, 94% care for adults, and one in three is under age 50. Caregivers are increasingly diverse across race, income, and generation. 29% are sandwich generation caregivers, supporting both children and adults.
Intensity and Complexity: Over 40% of caregivers now provide high-intensity care. Many perform complex medical tasks like administering injections or managing equipment, yet only 22% receive training.
Health and Financial Strain: One in five caregivers report poor health; a quarter are taking on debt due to caregiving. Half report negative financial impact due to caregiving, and one in five cannot afford basic needs like food.
Workplace Impact: Seven in ten family caregivers are employed, but many face disruptions and lack access to supportive benefits, especially the 18 million hourly wage workers.
Paid Caregivers: For the first time, the report includes 11 million caregivers who receive some compensation through Medicaid, VA or other state programs. These caregivers are more likely to be younger, lower-income, and from diverse backgrounds.
Explore the full report to learn more about what is needed to recognize, support, train and compensate the nation’s 63 million family caregivers: AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving. Caregiving in the US 2025. Washington, DC: AARP. July 24, 2025.
| | An Interview with Susanna Barton | | |
Susanna Barton is part of the Center for Wellbeing at St John’s Cathedral, Jacksonville. She has been a professional writer in Jacksonville for some thirty years. Her book Grand Plans: How to Mitigate Geri-Drama in 20 Easy Steps and its accompanying workbook, the Grand Planner, are available at the Cathedral Bookstore and through the Grand Plans website.
Susanna has given us permission to reprint an interview she gave to Connie Zuckerman, the Managing Editor of agebuzz. In the interview, Susanna shares her experiences related to caregiving and issues around ageing and planning for the future.
INTERVIEW
Susanna Barton (SB) prefaces the interview with a word about herself:
I “retired” in 2022 at age 50, not long after the unexpected passing of my 80-year-old father. I write a weekly column in The Resident and First Coast Senior Living, as well as a newsletter and blog, and I’ve written a book called Grand Plans: How to Mitigate Geri-Drama in 20 Easy Steps. This past fall, I was honored to have been named to Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan’s subcommittee on eldercare, a role I cherish. I also take on weird Lenten challenges each year – like giving up worry, expectations, and honest thoughts – and I then write books about those experiences. My sixth Lenten book, launching this month, is called Rolling My I-s: A Lenten Challenge to Give Up Me, Myself & I Talk.
The interview starts with Connie Zuckerman (CZ) asking Susanna how she first got involved with issues surrounding care giving and ageing.
SB: Oh gosh. So, interestingly, it wasn’t my parents or grandparents who first introduced me to “geri-drama,”- and by “geri-drama” I mean when an older loved one’s wheels have completely fallen off the bus due to lack of planning, and there are crises and explosions and fires to address literally everywhere, every day with every little thing. I coined the phrase five years ago after managing care for a deceased childhood friend’s parents in South Florida. Their housekeeper found my phone number and started calling me daily with alarming reports of unpaid bills, Parkinson’s disease, accidents, dementia, hospital visits, alcoholism, fraud, and much, much worse.
After further investigation and contact with their attorney, I learned this couple had named me – a one-time Kindergarten friend of their deceased daughter – as their Power of Attorney and successor trustee charged with managing their affairs should they not be capable.
What stressed me the most was how complicated and pervasive it all was. There was never a perfect answer to any problem, which always seemed to come out of nowhere with the speed and intensity of an automatic weapon. My husband called it a “Gordian Knot,” which sums it up.
Also stressful and surprising was my utter lack of experience in problem-solving such major life issues – how someone was going to pay the power bill, afford 24-7 in-home care, take care of the big, unwieldy dog and worst for me, clean out and liquidate two secondary homes to free up cash for the expense of it all. I’m not sure if it was my age at the time (approaching 50) or if people I knew weren’t ready to talk about it yet or chose to keep it private, but all these challenges came as a total surprise to me. You read “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” when you’re going to have a baby, but there’s no book on the shelves called “How to Successfully Navigate the Senior Experience without Total Panic.”
To continue reading, please click here.
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A Quarterly Seminar Series with The Bishop’s Institute and the Center for Wellbeing
Seminar 1: "Home: Where, How and With What We Dwell in Life’s Second Half."
This seminar will focus on where, how and with what we age. The day begins with a conversation on the importance of mindful aging strategies between presenter Susanna Barton and Dean Kate Moorehead Carroll, who also will lead a short morning session on the theology of home. A late morning talk explores the sheltering grace of housing options during life’s second half. After lunch, there will be presentations on curating essential information, documents and obituary and funeral information and on paring back with purpose -- practical tips for decluttering, downsizing and shedding the sense of self as we age.
Lunch will be provided.
Saturday, October 11, 2025 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Taliaferro Hall: 256 E Church St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
| | From St. John's Cathedral, Jacksonville | | | | |
