A SAD THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY
Today marks the 30th anniversary of the phosphate ship slamming into the old Skyway Bridge resulting in the loss of both lives and the bridge. I remember that I was in my first year as Rector/President of St. John Vianney College Seminary and we had a number of students from the old St. Petersburg diocese which stretched at that time from Citrus Springs and Crystal River in the North to Ft. Myers Beach in the South. My first prayer was that none of our seminarians’ families were killed in the tragedy. Slowly but surely the seminarians from this diocese contacted their families and were assured of their safety and well-being. Then we prayed, corporately, collectively, and privately for those who died. May they continue to rest in peace.
+RNL