At the time, George H.W. Bush was president, John Paul II was pope, and Bishop John C. Favalora was Bishop of Saint Petersburg. The Tampa Bay Lightning did not yet exist, and the Tampa Bay Rays were nothing more than a dream. Fax machines, typewriters, and carbon copy paper were commonly used. Innovations like the iPhone, Zoom and FaceTime, and AI were still years away. The internet was in its infancy, and social media consisted of calling your friends on a landline telephone.

The diocesan offices were housed in the Notre Dame Academy building, formerly an all-girls’ Catholic high school. The building would be demolished in 2001, the year after the current Bishop W. Thomas Larkin Pastoral Center was opened.

Reflecting on her 35 years of service to the Diocese, Lisa recalls, “When I was first hired by the Diocese, I began as a receptionist answering the phone located in the Notre Dame Academy. When you entered the building, there was a glass partition which I sat behind. At the time, my son Matthew was five years old and for a short while before he could begin school, I was allowed to have him with me where he’d play under the desk at my feet.”

“I had been away from the Church for some time, so when the Youth Director, Tom Miklusicak, gave me a “Daily Devotions” booklet to read, my life began to change. I had authored a poem titled “God’s Plan.” When I read the daily devotion Tom had given me the next day it was titled, “God’s Plan.” Almost word for word. I knew then I was meant to be there and that the good Lord had opened the position for me for a reason.”

“Sister Barbara Ginther was Vicar for Religious at the time. I remember her telling me how to answer the calls correctly. She was the first religious sister I’d ever met in my life, and I didn’t know they were allowed to wear street clothes. I loved her colorful vibrant wardrobe!”

In November 1991, Lisa was approached by HR Director, Charlotte (“Char”) Myers, who informed her of an opening in the Archives Office, upon the retirement of Mary Wartenbe. “Little did I know that an unexpected opportunity would soon redirect my entire career,” said Lisa. “Char told me I should apply for the position and that it was just a lot of filing. I smile now when I think knowing that wasn’t what Archives was all about.” Lisa’s new role would include serving as Secretary for the Stewardship Office and Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director of Finance, supporting the processing of estates and trusts.

“I was blessed to have met and known four of the five bishops of this Diocese. I was also gifted having worked with four chancellors who oversaw the Archives, each one uniquely qualified and supportive. Learning about our history took time to understand, especially the files with acronyms, what they stood for, and where to file documents received daily from the Bishop’s, Vicar General’s, and Chancellor’s Offices.  All sorted and separated by subject matter.”

“Technology has progressed rapidly. In 2014, an inventory of obsolete storage media was identified in the Archives. In the early 1990s, the Diocese had 7” Magnetic Tape Reels as well as 10.5” reels labeled “IBM.” There were 8” and 5.25” IBM diskettes, then came 3.5” Micro floppy disks. Today we still have VHS tapes, Cassette tapes, film reels, and CDs, all in need of migration to current formats, since technology is evolving at an unprecedented exponential rate.”

Some of Lisa’s fondest memories were from before the current Pastoral Center was built. “The entire staff could fit into the conference room in the original Chancery building. We had Christmas gatherings where we exchanged gifts, Soup and Bread days during Lent, baby showers, St. Patrick’s Day luncheons and Shrove Tuesday pancakes. We were a small group of employees then and all knew each other. It’s hard to believe now that we were once allowed to smoke in the building. I thank the Lord that I quit and that most workplaces nationwide banned indoor smoking by the late 2000s.”

Lisa plans to retire at the end of September and is looking forward to days where she does not have to set her alarm and can spend more quality time with her husband, Doug, her son, Matthew, and her grandson, Isaac, as well as making memories by traveling with her two sisters.

“Looking back over thirty-five years of service, it’s remarkable to see how both the Diocese – and I – have grown. It’s now time for me to follow the new beginning the Lord is inviting me to. My prayers go out to all those I have known and met, for those who have passed away before me, for all those who will work in this vineyard. May God bless and protect you.”

For more information about the Office of Archives and Records, click here.