Jerry & Debbie Karleskint

Hello to one and all! We are Jerry and Debbie Karleskint. I was part of the 2003-2004 team that put together the Fathers' Seminar and Debbie, besides being Chairperson of the Liturgy Commission, Eucharistic Minister, and a member of Mothers Group and Council of Catholic Women, helps put together the Family Mass and cantors at it.

I was born in Kirkwood, Missouri and moved to Orlando when I was about 3 years old. My family moved to Longwood and we began coming to St. Mary Magdalen Parish in 1972. I graduated from Bishop Moore High School and then UCF in 1985. Debbie and I met at her cousin's wedding (she's a cousin of my best friend) and we were married in 1988 in Long Island where Debbie was born and raised. After living for a short time in New York and North Carolina, we moved back to Florida and SMM (no where else but the parish I grew up in) in 1992.

We now have 4 children-three boys and one girl from 14 to 6 years old. About 8 years ago, I got involved in The Children's Liturgy of the Word, and I'm also currently on the Liturgy Commission. To stay close to our boys, to understand them, and to allow them to know me, I have also been very active with them over the years in Scouts in various Scouter positions. I am currently a Pack Trainer in the Cub Scouts and Asst. Scoutmaster in a Boy Scout troop in Winter Springs. In the process, my wife tells me that I have turned out to be a great outdoors cook. When I was asked to be part of the 2003-2004 Fatherhood Seminar Team, I could not say no! Fatherhood is so important to me! I saw this day as an opportunity to help dads look at the different roles we play and to share with other dads and granddads our ideas about the impact (or lack of) we can have on the lives of our children.

The 2004 Seminar on March 6th was a great success . The talks were dynamic and very meaningful. The team of speakers got a standing ovation at the end of the day. With over 80 fathers and grandfathers attending, the fellowship was terrific too. Many of us who attended got to meet some new and wonderful people in our parish. I look forward to more such events as this in the future.