‘Just call me Bill’
New priest is parish vicar at St. Anne In Ruskin
Preaching Gospel of Christ in a secular world
By STEPHEN FLANAGAN JACKSON
RUSKIN — Upon introduction to a newcomer at St. Anne Catholic Church, the response, with a smile, from the priest is, “You can call me Bill.”
This is an indication of the informality and familiarity projected by the relatively new priest at the Catholic church, which serves Ruskin and Apollo Beach. It is not that Rev. William “Bill” Santhouse takes his priestly duties lightly. Bill just wants to be on a close, first-name basis with the people he serves in the large congregation.
A mid-30s young man, Father Bill projects a youthful persona as well as an accessible image to parish members and to the general public. Ironically, according to Aleteia, a Catholic publication, the “Roman collar” is a white cloth band, which goes around the neck as an instant reminder that the wearer is a member of the clergy. Preachers or priests in denominations other than Catholic also wear the white linen collar. But it is usually associated with the Catholic priest. The collar is said to be a symbol of the visible sign of Jesus Christ, present in the midst of everyday life, just as the priest is, ready to reconcile sinners and bring souls back to God, according to Aleteia.
With, or, at times, without the collar, with or without the appellation “Father,” Bill is comfortable in his work, a vocation to him, as a priest and as a parochial vicar here in South Shore. His sermons, laced with contemporary allusions, are not exactly fire and brimstone, but they are not necessarily politically correct either. Bill does not hesitate to practice a bit of old-time preaching, in his deep, baritone voice, which projects well in the cavernous interior of St. Anne with or without a mic. He speaks of the Bible and scriptures, the dogma, the theology, and the customs of the Catholic church, including topics like the meaning of the Trinity (which is represented by the ubiquitous sign of the cross). As well, he tells parishioners that the Catholic Church does not accept or condone same-sex marriage because marriage is reserved for and meant to be between a couple of the opposite sex in a relationship which “complements” each other. And after the conclusion of Mass, he joins parishioners in a wine and cheese social hour, loosening up the Roman collar in a conversational, easy manner in the parish meeting hall.
Bill does not so much as “say” Mass, which is the basis of the Catholic liturgy; Bill “celebrates” Mass, which to Catholics is symbolic of Christ’s Last Supper and crucifixion for the forgiveness and salvation of all people for all time. To Catholics, and to Bill, Mass is officially termed the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and is considered “the source and the summit of the Christian Life.” With a little help from prompts on his cell phone, Bill, during the Sunday 12:30 p.m. Mass in Spanish, speaks a distinct, methodical Spanish instead of his native English. His Spanish is not perfect but the effort is much appreciated by the large Hispanic attendees at the Mass at that hour.
The path to a vocation as a priest was not direct for Bill. But his vocation is fulfilling to him as well as a challenge and an opportunity to serve his fellow beings. Even though he occasionally drops the “Father” when referring to himself, Bill recognizes the Biblical historic concept of “patriarch,” which has led to Catholic priests, in general, being referred to as “Father.” Bill has also taken on the purpose and function of a priest as described in Hebrews 5-1: as…“being taken from among men, and appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.”
Recounting his meandering path to the priesthood and his current labor of love as assistant vicar at St. Anne, Bill shared some of the geographic, spiritual, and emotional stages of his life — from Long Island, N.Y. to Ruskin, Fla.
Bill was born in Mineola, N.Y. His family moved to Palm Harbor, Fla. when he was only 3 years old.
“Most of my family currently resides in Tarpon Springs. I attended Palm Harbor University High School the first year it opened, actually in 1996, and was enrolled at University of South Florida for three semesters with an interest in either pharmacy or communications,” recalls Bill.
“I always enjoyed playing basketball, football, chess, going to rock and metal concerts, and hanging out with friends and dating. Besides all the above, my biggest influence was my mother. Her perseverance and faith through a chronic illness she suffered the last 15 years of her life made a tremendous impression on me,” he remembers fondly.
Speaking personally about becoming a priest, Bill recollects the full meaning of it all hitting him when he lay down on the altar the day he was ordained. “ I never really knew 100 percent initially if this was right for me because it’s very similar to marriage. There’s an element of risk and faith involved.”
Bill said his ordination and induction into the priesthood came after he experienced some “twilight zone stuff” in college that woke him up from the selfishness and pride that was driving his life up until that point. “When I was about 19 or 20 I had a strong sense God wanted me to be a priest, but it took me awhile to accept this call,” he said.
Explaining the process, education, training and discipline, Bill said it takes nine years to be a priest. “I went to seminary in Miami for four years, then left seminary to date and work for four years,” he recounts. Then I came back to seminary and finished up at our graduate seminary in Boynton Beach, St. Vincent De Paul, before being ordained a few years ago.”
Before Bill’s assignment at St. Anne in Ruskin, Bill was the assistant pastor at Christ the King in Tampa. His duties included celebrating sacraments, especially the Eucharist daily, visiting the sick in their homes and hospitals, providing pastoral counseling and spiritual direction, and assisting the pastor in promoting a Catholic environment as well as a place of refuge and sustenance, both physically and spiritually, for all of God’s children. “I’ve been here at St. Anne since June of this year as the assistant pastor aka parochial vicar, basically with the same duties and obligations, assisting the pastor Father John McEvoy.”
Bill said, “ I can’t speak Spanish fluently yet, but I can read it and celebrate the sacraments. Because of the rising Hispanic population in Florida, I was required to learn Spanish in seminary, and it has become more of a focus over time.”
St. Anne, named after the mother of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, opened in 1956 with a 32-member congregation. The new church building was dedicated in 2009. “We now have 3,200 families at this parish,” said Bill, adding, “About 40 percent of which are Hispanic/Latino.”
Listed on his job descriptions are such chores as: Assisting the pastor, visiting the sick, serving as spiritual advisor for some of the ministries, overseeing activities for adult study groups and teaching and mentoring the young acolytes.
Bill said since entering seminary and becoming a priest, “In my leisure time I enjoy playing video games. Not games where I can get beat bad by some 8-year-old like fortnight but games with a good story and world to explore. I also enjoy taking my 15-year-old sister to comic book movies and hanging out with my brother, sisters and friends.”
Sharing his observations about the South Shore and contemporary life, Bill said, “ Obviously the area is growing. And I’m not exactly sure about the percentage of Catholics, nor do I put too much emphasis on those statistics, but I think the biggest question is how will the church universally and our church here in the Apollo Beach and Ruskin area continue to preach the gospel in a climate that has become increasingly secular and more skeptical than ever of the church’s moral competency and authority?
“I’m here as a priest to help say: Truth is never determined by the majority rule or vote. The church has taught the same truth handed down by Christ himself for over 2,000 years. We have expressed it and understood it differently, but the core truth of the Gospel never changes.”