My dear friends in Christ,

One of the hallmarks of being a stewardship diocese is accountability for the resources entrusted to us. Part of my service to the people of the diocese includes the challenge to make wise and effective decisions about the use of the gifts our people have so generously given to the church in Northeast Florida.
The financial information displayed in this issue of the Saint Augustine Catholic on pages 24-25, is provided so you can see how your generous gifts are being used by the ministries and agencies funded through the Bishop’s Stewardship Appeal. You can also see that the Appeal funds are only part of the financial story. Appeal funds in some instances are more than matched by other funding sources such as grants, donations and fees. Information on the fiscal year which ended June 30, 2000 is prepared by the diocesan Fiscal Office. A copy of the auditors’ report on all funds of the Diocese of Saint Augustine is available upon request.
I am assisted in meeting the challenge of managing the finances of the diocese by the diocesan Finance Council. Information about the structure and membership of the council is included with the financial information on page 25 of this magazine. During the year 2000, the Finance Council and diocesan staff helped develop the Jubilee debt reduction plan which enabled the diocese to remove nearly a half million dollars of parish debt due the diocese. You may read more about this plan on the following page.
As I conclude my service with the diocese by serving as diocesan administrator, I reflect on my gratitude for the opportunity to have served over 21 years as bishop of the Diocese of Saint Augustine. I am especially grateful for the good will and generosity of our clergy and laity in Northeast Florida. Through the goodness and generosity of all, we have been able to meet the ongoing needs of a growing diocese.
May our God continue to bless you and your families in the future and bring you the peace and joy of Christ.
With kindest regards and every good wish, I am

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Diocesan Administrator
Former Bishop of Saint Augustine



As of Jan. 22, $18 million has been pledged as part of the Opportunity of a Lifetime capital campaign. A total of $3.4 million has actually been paid.
One project that is underway and will benefit from the campaign is St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Augustine.
Last fall, Bishop John J. Snyder broke ground at the academy for an expansion and renovation project that is expected to cost $4.1 million.
St. Joseph Academy, a college preparatory high school serving the entire southern region of the Diocese of Saint Augustine, is the oldest Catholic high school in the state of Florida.
The expansion projects in Phase I include: a new cafeteria/auditorium with an outdoor patio area; renovation of the gymnasium with a wood floor, new roof, air conditioning and locker room facilities; expansion and renovation of a media center/library; covered walkways, and new offices for Guidance and Campus Ministry. Projects in phase I of the renovation will be completed in time for opening of school this fall.
For more up-to-date figures and information on the campaign, please visit the diocesan website at www.dosaonline.com and click on the Opportunity of a Lifetime campaign logo.





In his Apostolic Letter, On the Coming of the Third Millennium, Pope John Paul II outlined his plan for the preparation and celebration of the Great Jubilee 2000. In it he reminded us of the Jubilee tradition of the Old Testament to emancipate all those in need of being free and canceling debts in accord with the established norms.
The pope restated the church’s preferential option for the poor and, as a sign of Jubilee Justice, asked wealthy nations to consider “reducing substantially, if not canceling outright, the international debt which seriously threatens” struggling nations. Additionally, he challenged the church to find ways to extend forgiveness, exercise charity, and cancel debt in order to model the action to which he called the leaders of government.
Bishop John J. Snyder was committed to this Jubilee plan of debt forgiveness and during the Jubilee Year asked the Finance Council and staff of the diocese to develop a plan for debt forgiveness. They reviewed the outstanding parish obligations to the diocese for property and liability insurance, Bishop’s Stewardship quotas and parish loans extended for purposes other than construction.
A plan was submitted by the Finance Council to Bishop Snyder for his approval. Last October, eight parishes received notice that some or all debt to the diocese would be canceled. The total amount of debt that was canceled was nearly $500,000.
These faith communities in our diocese were encouraged by this sign of care and concern for parishes, which have not been able to meet obligations in the past.

—Irene Puleo
Fiscal Officer
Diocese of Saint Augustine