By John Thomas Lane SSS, Provincial
Blessed Sacrament Community Canonical Visit
From Thursday, December 4, to Saturday, December 6, I had the privilege of hosting a community meeting at Saint Vincent de Paul in Holiday, Florida. Four men, two American province members, one Filipino province member, and one Vietnamese province member make up this special international community
Our local superior and provincial vicar is Father William Fickel SSS (to my left in the photo). Father Dominic Long Nguyen SSS, (far right) is the pastor, and Fathers Joselito (Lito) Hitosis SSS (far left), and my classmate Joseph Thai Minh Tran SSS (my right) are the parochial vicars assisting.
Saint Vincent de Paul Parish Enjoys Advent Retreat
On Saturday, December 6, 2025, the SSS parish invited me to give an Advent reflection with a special Advent Eucharistic Holy Hour. The theme of the Advent Season led me to share the importance of the season’s traditions, the saints who make it special, and the readings and orations of the Mass that set a special tone for God’s Eucharistic justice.
Orlando Aggregation and LITE Team Meet for Mass, Lunch & Planning
On Sunday, December 7, at the San Pedro Spiritual Development Center for the Diocese of Orlando, I joined Father George Dunne, SSS (a member of the Great Britain and Ireland Province and the one proclaiming the Gospel in the photo), to preside at the center’s regular Sunday morning Mass.
After the Mass and some social time and luncheon, Mona Grigsby-Suarez, Director of the Center for Eucharistic Evangelizing (CEE), led the LITE Team in a planning process to begin “traveling teams” again for the Province of Saint Ann.
Executive Team of the Province’s Aggregation Council Meets to Dream
On December 8, 2025, the executive team leaders of the Province Aggregation Council met for the first time. Over two years ago, the Aggregation Council was established by the former co-director of the CEE, Mary Muehle, Mona, and me. Each branch of the Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament (including the Aggregation in Waterville, Maine, with the Sister Servants of the Blessed Sacrament) has an appointed person to represent its members.
Photo L-R: Emeritus Father Fickel;, Jim Ziegler, Co-vice president (Houston); Ann Marie Nicora, Secretary (Tampa); Father John Thomas Lane, Provincial; Alex Petrilak, Co-vice president (Tampa); Greg Dufour, President of the Council (Houston); Mona, the current CEE Director
The Last 125th Celebration Caps an Outstanding Year of Remembrance and Hope for Our Future
On the 63rd anniversary of the canonization of our founder, Saint Peter Julian Eymard, December 9, the Florida Aggregation of the Blessed Sacrament (all the branches in the Dioceses of Saint Petersburg and Orlando) gathered with available members to celebrate a very special day of prayer, retreat, and celebration. Bethany Center in Lutz, Florida, held the event with its beautiful facility and chapel.
Our time began with prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament during exposition, with Father Lito presiding and Father George giving a homily as we prayed using the “four-ends” of Eymard’s method.
After a break, we continued the day with a retreat talk by yours truly, focusing on the liturgical formation of Saint Peter Julian Eymard to the Aggregation and Pope Francis’ apostolic letter on the same topic Desiderio desideravi (I have eagerly desired to celebrate with you – from Luke 22:15).
Then we celebrated the Eucharist, with Father William Fickel giving the homily, and all the SSS religious priests serving in Florida concelebrated.
During the Mass, we welcomed six new members to the Aggregation from the Saint Paul and Saint Ignatius branches in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg.
Photo – The six new Aggregates with their formators, Gloria Jung, right of the banner, and Fr. Fickel
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