We are now in the final phase of “season” here in Southwest Florida. April 30th marked what I commonly refer to as the second exodus. The final exodus will take place on May 31. Many of our seasonal residents and visitors have three month contracts on their rentals and stay only the months of January, February and March. Others extend their stay to the end of April while some stay all the way through the end of May and beyond. Last week I took an unexpected trip to Gainesville and can assure you that as a licensed Florida driver heading Northbound, I was in the minority. I-75 North was loaded with plates from every other state as well as a plethora of campers and car carriers. To those who have returned to their summer homes or who will be leaving at the end of the month, we wish you safe travels and hope to see you again in the fall.
Fr. John will celebrate a major milestone in the middle of the month. May 16 will mark the 15th anniversary of Fr. John’s ordination to the priesthood. Fr. John will celebrate a special Mass on May 16 at 10:00 a.m. to mark this occasion. Following Mass there will be refreshments offered in front of the church. If you are able, we would love to have you join us as we celebrate with Fr. John.
Speaking of anniversaries, did you know that May 12 will mark the 15th anniversary of my tenure at St. John the Evangelist? As it happens, I ended up at St. John’s completely by accident. For those who don’t know the story, here is a brief summary: I was managing a Golf Club in Tallahassee following my graduation from Florida State University. After meeting with my General Manager at the time, we decided it would be best for me to continue my career in an area more suitable for my development. He suggested that I consider Naples where he had numerous contacts in the golf business. He would set up informal interviews with several Golf Clubs (13 to be exact), and I would come down to see what Naples had to offer. One of these clubs was Quail Creek. The Quail Creek club manager at the time told my GM that he had nothing available that would fit my qualifications but that he knew of an “athletic facility” that was looking for a manager if I was willing to interview. I figured that this would be a great way to get my “foot in the door” in Naples, even if it was not initially in the golf business. I drove to Naples and interviewed at several other clubs before heading to Quail Creek. After meeting the club manager, we loaded up in his vehicle and headed down Immokalee Road. Imagine my surprise when we took a right hand turn into a church. I was confused, but after seeing the baseball field and the new building (PLC) I figured that the two must be affiliated with this athletic facility. I then sat through a two hour interview with a committee that certainly was not affiliated with an athletic facility. As it turns out, my GM misunderstood what the Quail Creek club manager was referring to and the athletic facility was actually St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. After being called back for a second interview, I gladly accepted the position. And now you know the rest of the story!
On Wednesday, I sent out an email to the entire parish directory regarding the upcoming change in Mass times. Our email list is now completely updated, therefore, if you did not receive this email then we do not have your email address or you chose not to receive email from St. John the Evangelist. If you would like to be added to our distribution list, please email me at [email protected] to be included.
Did you know that St. John the Evangelist sponsors a Boy Scout troop? I am sure that many of you have taken part in a pancake breakfast over the years but did not know that the hosting troop is our very own. Troop 168 has been the chartered troop of St. John’s since before my arrival in 1997 yet there has been very little involvement with the parish in the past 15 years. We would like for this to change. I was very involved in scouting from age eight to fourteen starting as a cub scout and graduating to a boy scout. I learned many positive lessons through my experience in scouting. There has never been a better time for each of us to be a positive influence in helping shape someone’s life. For over 150 years, the Boy Scouts of America has provided a positive learning environment for young men to grow emotionally, physically and spiritually into responsible citizens of the community. Troop 168 is seeking new recruits and is asking your assistance to identify young men who would benefit from all of the things that scouting has to offer. If you know of someone who you believe would benefit from being a boy scout, please contact Cheryl Brock at 353.1430 for more information. Troop 168 meets on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in rooms 9 and 10 in the Parish Life Center.
In His work together,
Scott Schlossberg, MBA
General Manager