This morning, I awoke to the news that the Holy Father had appointed Bishop Thomas Wenski as the Archbishop-designate for the Archdiocese of Miami, accepting the resignation of Archbishop John C. Favalora eight months early. As most of you who are readers of Catholic blogs know, news of this appointment has been expected for some time now. However, this appointment is close to home for me. As a seminarian for the Diocese of Orlando, it was Bishop Wenski who accepted me and allowed me to be given this opportunity to journey so close with the Lord. For that, I will be forever appreciative to the Archbishop-designate.

In 1976, Wenski was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Miami. He began his priestly ministry working in a Hispanic parish in Miami and was given the opportunity to help start an outreach program for Haitian immigrants to the United States. Since that time, Bishop Wenski has become close to the people of Haiti. In recent weeks, following the devastating earthquakes in that country, Bishop Wenski has grown even closer to the people of Haiti, praying for them, crying with them, mourning with them. With Wenski now at the helm of the Archdiocese, the fraternity between the people of Miami and Haiti will only continue to grow.

As was written last week and as the people of the great Diocese of Orlando can attest to, Bishop Wenski speaks a multitude of languages that make him the perfect choice as new Archbishop of Miami–the Archbishop-designate speaks Creole, Spanish, English and Polish. In fact, as Rocco Palmo wrote yesterday on Whispers in the Loggia, Bishop Wenski is said to “‘speak, think, curse and pray’ in ‘strongly Cuban-accented’ Spanish.”

Bishop Wenski going home to serve the people of Miami is a great loss for Orlando. Bishop Wenski has been a tremendous shepherd for the Diocese of Orlando. However, as I have said before, the gifts that the Lord has given the Archbishop-designate make him the only logical choice in this instance. While he will be missed dearly in the Diocese of Orlando, we know that he will continue to hold us within his heart.

As the day goes on, please continue to pray for Archbishop-designate Wenski, Archbishop Favalora, the people of the Archdiocese of Miami, the people of the Diocese of Orlando, and the soon-to-be-chosen (hopefully) fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando (no name on this one yet–there is a possibility of Orlando being a Vacant See for a few months).

PHOTO: The Florida Catholic