foods and festivities of the christian year: Founder's Day St. Augustine, Celebration of the Nativity of Mary, 2023

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Founder's Day St. Augustine, Celebration of the Nativity of Mary, 2023

Reenactors with lead priest Fr. Lopez assembling their places, 2023

Founder's Day in St. Augustine, Florida, is a very historic event, not only for the city and state of Florida but for the entire country. It is the first and oldest permanent settlement in the United States founded on September 8, 1565.

Bob and I attended the event this morning as we did last year and the year before. The reenactment of the claiming of La Florida for God and for Spain and the naming of the city for St. Augustine occurs on a weekend or holiday closest to September 8. At the end of this post, I am including an abbreviated video of this year's reenactment of Captain General Pedro Menendez as he claims La Florida.

Each year a reenactment takes place followed by Mass in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A large crowd gathers on the land called Nombre de Dios by the Spanish, the village of Seloy by the Timucuan natives, and now is the home of the oldest Marian Shrine in the United States, Our Lady of La Leche.

Today before Mass began, Dr. Mary Soha, one of the postulators for the cause of the 59 martyrs of the La Florida Missions spoke of the closing of the Diocesan Phase of the Beatification Cause and Mass of Thanksgiving to take place on October 12, 2023, in Tallahassee with Bishop William Wack. To read more about these courageous Catholic men and women in Florida's earliest days Martyrs of La Florida

It takes many people, volunteers of various groups and organizations both Church and Civic to put on this great event. Many clergy, religious sisters, and lay organizations and the staff of Our Lady of La Leche Shrine work together with Bishop Erik Pohlmeier to see that the celebration of Mass is beautifully accomplished and coordinated with civic leaders.

Following Mass a special dedication of the bridge which connects the Church of Our Lady of La Leche and the Shrine Museum/Gift Shop to the "Sacred Acre" so named by President John F. Kennedy and the site of the very early days of the life of the priests, officials, natives, soldiers, and families of 1565 took place . The bridge was dedicated to Dr. Michael Gannon, author of many books on the early history of Florida, a well-known one is The Cross in the Sand.

Neighbor to Mission Nombre de Dios and the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche is the Fountain of Youth. Part of the festivities for Founder's Day is a Thanksgiving Meal which St. Augustine prides itself on being the FIRST to have in the United States dating from September 8, 1565! The Fountain of Youth, so called because the legend has it that Ponce de Leon was searching for rejuvenating waters, is the site where the first thanksgiving meal is reenacted every year.

Here are a few pictures from this year and last year with the brief video at the end. Come and visit St. Augustine. Founder's Day and the Nativity of Mary are good times to see the city and visit the Shrine and celebrate Mary's birthday!

Our Lady of La Leche, Holy Mary, Pray for Us!