A Beacon of Light

“Good manners are  just a way of showing  other people that we  have respect for them.”   Bill Kelly When I stopped by the Saint Augustine’s campus on Tuesday afternoon, I found myself sitting in the reception area of the main office for about fifteen minutes waiting for the last period of the day to end.…

“Live so that when your  children think of fairness,  caring, and integrity,  they think of you.”  H. Jackson Brown, Jr. There’s not a whole lot more I can say about Lou Adderley than I said in my book, A Bahamian Odyssey. On the dedication page, I wrote: “It is an honor for me to dedicate this…

“There is no better  investment a nation  can make than  education.”   Steve Nguyen Much has changed at Saint Augustine’s since 1975. Most notably, the monastery has closed. No longer do monks live in the facility or work at the school. The monastery property is now owned by the Archdiocese of Nassau. From what I’ve heard,…

“And so we are going  to establish a school for  the service of the Lord.”  Rule of St. Benedict Saint Augustine’s College was opened in 1945. In 1947, the school moved from it’s original location on West Street to the expansive campus in Fox Hill. A new Benedictine monastery and school building had been constructed…

“Life is beautiful  because of the  people we meet.”   Simon Sinek Another Sunday in Nassau. I attended the 11:00 a.m. Mass at Saint Francis Xavier Cathedral this morning. I’m glad I did. At the conclusion of the liturgy, a woman made an announcement thanking the volunteers who were outside the church to provide complimentary snacks…

“No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendships of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other’s worth.”Robert Southey Yes, it’s been 51 years since I taught at Saint Augustine’s College (grades 7 through 12) in Nassau. Despite this passage of time, I feel blessed to still be in contact with many of my former students.…

“Life is like the weather… unpredictable.”  Joe Garcia Having watched The Princess Bride with my boys, more times than I’d like to admit, when they were little kids, I’m quite familiar with the word inconceivable. Rarely, however, do I have reason to use the word in conversation. This week, it’s the first word that comes to mind…

“It’s a great place to get a taste of all the islands.” Kevin Archer Ministry of Agriculture The condominium I’m renting for these three weeks is located a short 15-minute walk from Arawak Cay, home of the Nassau Fish Fry. This unique Bahamian experience is a lively waterfront area known for its array of restaurants and food stalls. Locals…

“We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why.” Stephen King In the past ten years, the term “social media influencer” has gained popularity. The label applies to those whose engaging social media content, such as photos, videos, and updates, has a profound influence on their followers. These individuals have the potential to influence others in…

“Nassau’s bars and restaurants offer a taste of local cuisine, with a festive twist tohonor Saint Patrick’s Day.”Dante Escobar It’s been said that there’s an Irish pub in pretty much every city in the world. My sister, Cathy, and I found an Irish pub in Kyoto, Japan in July 2001. When we walked inside, it looked and felt…