Chapel of St. Raphael, SJVCS

Last evening, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, the Very Rev. Roberto Garza (Rector/President), faculty and staff, fellow seminarians, and guests celebrated the graduation of 22 men from SJVCS in Miami. The graduation ceremonies represent the culmination of the initial step on the journey to the priesthood for these young…well, mostly young men. Depending on their educational achievements prior to entering seminary, these men have spent anywhere between two and four years attempting to comprehend the vast and exciting world of philosophy. (If you couldn’t tell, I’m being sarcastic.) The reception of their degrees last night, however, signifies that they are now ready to move on to the study of theology.

As most of you know, I studied philosophy at St. John Vianney College Seminary for two years. Though I decided to leave at the end of the last academic year, these graduates–my former classmates–have remained in my prayers as they have continued their journey towards the priesthood. Each of them have their own unique personalities and bring many gifts to the Church. I am looking forward to the day when they are, God willing, ordained priests. They are an excellent group of guys who have a deep desire to serve the Church and our Lord.

To the graduates: I am very thankful for the opportunity to have walked with you on this journey. No matter what the Lord calls us to in life, we will always be connected by a common bond: we once shared in a unique journey of faith that led us to develop a deep and personal relationship with God.

Congrats, fellas! Please know that you all continue to be in my prayers and I ask that you please keep me in yours. We continue to be brothers in Christ.

Side note: If you’re interested in finding out more on the Chapel of St. Raphael on the property of the seminary, here is an old newspaper article from Miami: http://library.stu.edu/ulma/va/3005/1966/01-21-1966.pdf [This is a PDF!] . It’s pretty interesting, you should check it out.

I congratulate Bishop Estevez on his appointment as the new Bishop of St. Augustine. He brings many gifts to Northeast Florida – as a priest, he has served as a pastor, spiritual director, seminary rector, and as a very effective preacher of retreats and missions in three languages: English, Spanish and French; as an auxiliary bishop, he has ably assisted my predecessor and now me in the governance of the See of Miami, especially providing wisdom and direction in the coordination of the rich expression of ecclesial groups and apostolic movements active in the Archdiocese.

St. Augustine, the city where the Servant of God, Padre Felix Varela, died in exile from his native Cuba, is not unknown to Bishop Estevez – he has had occasion to visit there many times; and not a few of the clergy of St. Augustine also know Bishop Estevez as a former rector and spiritual director of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary.

While the People of God here in South Florida rejoice over Northeast Florida’s good fortune in having Bishop Estevez as their new shepherd, we will certainly miss him. Bishop Estevez has not only been a brother priest and bishop to me, he has, for more than 35 years, been and still is my good friend. I look forward to continue working with him as one of the six suffragan bishops of the Ecclesiastic Province of Miami.

Source: Archdiocese of Miami

Bishop John Noonan in front of St. James Cathedral | Credit: Ann Rodriguez-Soto/The Florida Catholic

It’s been a little less than a month since Bishop John Noonan officially became the bishop of the Diocese of Orlando. Over the last few weeks, Bishop Noonan has been getting acquainted with his new diocese and is beginning to make the changes he believes are necessary for the local church. In the last couple of weeks, Noonan has appointed new heads of deaneries and appointed some familiar faces to positions that have opened up since Archbishop Thomas Wenski was appointed as shepherd of his native Miami.

On Friday, January 7, 2011, Bishop Noonan made the following Deanery appointments:

• Dean of the Northern Deanery: Very Rev. John Giel — Marion, Lake and Sumter Counties
• Dean of the Central Deanery North: Very Rev. Stephen Parkes — Seminole and Orange Counties
• Dean of the Western Deanery: Very Rev. Peter Puntal — Polk County
• Dean of the Central Deanery South: Very Rev. Esaú Garcia — Orange and Osceola Counties
• Dean of the Eastern Deanery: Very Rev. Esaú Garcia — Volusia County
• Dean of the Southern Deanery: Very Rev. Sean Heslin — Brevard County

On Friday, January 14, 2011, Bishop Noonan made the following appointments to the Diocesan Administration:

• Mrs. Carol Brinati, former Secretary of Evangelization and Director of Communications, as Chancellor of Administration — The position of Chancellor of Administration was vacated by Sr. Elizabeth Worley in July 2010. As you may recall, Sr. Elizabeth followed Archbishop Wenski to Miami and has been named the Chancellor of Administration of the archdiocese.
• Mr. Dan Hardester as Secretary of Evangelization — According to the diocesan E-Scroll, Mr. Hardester has served the Diocese of Orlando in multiple offices and ministries. Most recently, the incoming Secretary of Evangelization served as Diocesan Media Center Director, a position he will continue to carry out. Before then, Mr. Hardester served as Director of Faith Formation for a few local parishes. He has also been instrumental in the development and implementation of Why Catholic?
• Mrs. Teresa Lantigua Peterson as Director of Communications — Mrs. Peterson has served the Diocese of Orlando as a freelance reporter/photographer for The Florida Catholic. She has also been instrumental in the creation of the Light of Faith Awards and E-Faith.

While more changes are likely to take place within the diocese as Bishop Noonan becomes more acquainted with his new see, the changes are not expected to be drastic. So, my fellow Catholics in Orlando, don’t worry about any further changes to the diocesan administration or to your local parish. No major changes are on the horizon, at least according to several sources.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski processes into St. James Cathedral

Good Saturday evening to one and all! Earlier this morning, Archbishop Thomas Wenski presided over the re-dedication Mass of Saint James Cathedral in Downtown Orlando. It was quite the experience!

Before the Mass began, a special Cathedral Choir made up of Spanish, English, and Haitain-Creole speaking singers offered songs of praise and thanksgiving. After the prelude music came to an end, the procession into the Cathedral began, led by a processional cross donated to the Diocese of Orlando by the Archdiocese of Chicago. The crucifix was first used during the installation of Bishop Thomas Grady in St. Charles Cathedral–Orlando’s first Cathedral–which was devastated by a fire on October 1, 1976. St. James was dedicated as the second Cathedral of the Diocese of Orlando on November 20, 1977.

Towards the front of the procession was Bishop Louis Campese, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Eastern United States. As you may recall, Bishop Campese and the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Orlando welcomed the Apostolic Constitution, Anglicanorum Coetibus, of Pope Benedict XVI in September. [On a side note, the Cathedral of the Incarnation is located in the College Park area of Orlando. It is about two miles away from St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church--my parish. Another Catholic Church is also in the neighborhood, St. Phillip Phan Van Minh, the Diocese of Orlando's only Vietnamese parish. Once the parish of the Cathedral of the Incarnation becomes Catholic, College Park  will be home to three Catholic churches. Just a thought.]

Present at the ceremony were Bishops Felipe Estevez (Auxiliary Bishop of Miami), Bernard Harrington (Emeritus Bishop of Winona and winter resident of Orlando), Robert Lynch (Bishop of St. Petersburg), and John Noonan (Bishop-designate of Orlando). As previously noted, Archbishop Thomas Wenski (Archbishop of Miami and fourth Bishop of Orlando) presided over the ceremony.

As the Mass began, Bishop John Noonan offered brief words of welcome. In his remarks, Noonan thanked all those who made the renovations possible, including the architects, engineers, builders, construction workers, parishioners of St. James and the people of the Diocese.

Archbishop Wenski in stained glass featuring Crucifixion

During the homily, Archbishop Wenski exclaimed that the renovation was needed for the people of St. James and for the diocese. The number one reason: seating. Pre-renovation, St. James had very little seating and many of our major events were moved to the Basilica Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. With the addition of the new east wing, however,  the diocese’s major events can now take place at the cathedral once again.

Following the Litany of the Saints, the relics of Saint Catherine Laboure, Blessed Giacomo Alberione and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta were sealed in the aperture on the backside of the altar. When the aperture was sealed, a Prayer of Dedication was offered. According to Very Rev. Robert Webster, the dedication prayer is “intended to transform the community, not only regarding the building in which we gather, but also about what it means to be ‘church’.”

Upon the completion of the prayer, Archbishop Wenski put on a “liturgical apron” for the anointing of the altar. During the anointing, the Sacred Chrism was poured in five places, representing the five wounds of Christ.  While  the oil was rubbed on the altar, Bishop John Noonan and Father Richard Walsh, Administrator of the Diocese of Orlando, anointed the walls of the cathedral directly underneath the twelve dedication candles.

Directly after the anointing, burning charcoals were placed upon the altar–one on each corner and one in the center. Wenski then added incense to the burning coals, “recalling the offering of sacrifice in the old covenant.” [Very Rev. Bob Webster] The new covenant was represented when the altar was incensed with a thurible. While the incense continued burning, the people present and the walls were incensed by the deacons.

Shortly after the coals were removed, members of St. James parish vested the altar and decorated the sanctuary with flowers. While the flowers were being arranged, a lit Easter candle was processed in, followed by members of the parish with unlit candles. The smaller candles were lit from the fire of the Easter candle and taken to their locations within the cathedral.

When the lights went up throughout the cathedral, the colors of the murals behind the altar exploded with vibrancy and everyone present–at least those who did not see the Cathedral during Vespers last evening–were in awe! In fact, as I looked around at the reactions of the congregation, I witnessed men, women and children crying at the beautiful sight in front of us. It even seemed as though Archbishop Wenski was shedding tears at the beauty present. It truly was a remarkable experience for all.

From that point on, Mass was “usual,” for lack of a better term. After communion, the remaining Eucharist was processed throughout the church to the tabernacle. After a short period of benediction, the tabernacle was closed and the clergy and altar servers returned to their seats for the concluding rites.

Tabernacle of St. James Cathedral

Archbishop Wenski took some time to thank all those who made the celebration possible. Bishop Noonan asked for the “last word” and said more words of thanksgiving. As you may recall, Bishop Noonan is set to inherit the newly renovated St. James Cathedral next month during a December 16th Mass of Installation, where he will formally take the reigns of the Diocese of Orlando.  According to a friend at the diocese, the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, will be attending that celebration.

Before I let you go, I thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to share this experience with you. Believe it or not, I have never witnessed the dedication of a church before. And, as I stated above, this was quite the experience. I am most thankful to an awesome priest from the diocese who was unable to go to the ceremony and offered me his ticket. I will be forever grateful to him for allowing me the chance to be a part of this celebration. I hope, for those who have never witnessed one of these ceremonies, that this has been as much of a learning experience for you as it has been for me.

The dedication Mass will be aired on EWTN on November 27, 2010 at 2 p.m.

That’s it for now. May the Lord bless you all with peace and happiness. More later.

]]> http://www.thomaspringle.com/2010/11/renovation-was-needed/feed/ 0 http://www.thomaspringle.com/2010/11/st-james-dedication-in-the-a-m/ http://www.thomaspringle.com/2010/11/st-james-dedication-in-the-a-m/#comments Sat, 20 Nov 2010 03:02:18 +0000 Tom Pringle http://www.thomaspringle.com/?p=2236 Earlier this evening priests, deacons, seminarians, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Orlando gathered at St. James Cathedral for Vespers.Tonight’s evening prayer was presided by Bishop-designate John Noonan; Archbishop Thomas Wenski (Miami) was in choir.

Personally, walking up to the Cathedral was a very powerful experience. Before we could process into the church, there was a short ceremony outside, which included a special knock at the front doors with what I have dubbed a “liturgical hammer.”  As the crowd entered St. James a sense of awe came over us. Bishop Noonan’s first words were an invitation to take in the beauty of this amazing place. Well, now it’s your turn.

New Tabernacle

Sanctuary

Cathedral Plaque

Altar

Tomorrow, the Cathedral will be dedicated by Archbishop Wenski during a 10 a.m. ceremony that is expected to pack the newly renovated Cathedral. The Diocese of Orlando will be streaming the ceremony live. With that said, more tomorrow.

Well, you decide. Is this too much?

Credit: Jeff Kunerth, Orlando Sentinel

Sr. Elizabeth Worley, SSJ | Source: Diocese of Orlando

Archbishop Thomas Wenski announced the appointment of Sr. Elizabeth Worley, SSJ as chancellor and chief operating officer for the Archdiocese of Miami. She has served as chancellor of administration and chief operating officer for the Diocese of Orlando since February 15, 2007. Very Reverend Richard Walsh, Diocese of Orlando Administrator, accepted Sr. Elizabeth Worley’s resignation, effective September 30.

In her position with the Diocese of Orlando, Sister Elizabeth served as the bishop’s chief administrative and business officer, assisting him on strategic business development and key planning issues, as well as offering recommendations on major business decisions.

“I am grateful to Sr. Elizabeth Worley for her service to our Diocese and its people during these last three and one-half years. Many have benefitted from her guidance and steadfast efforts,” said Father Richard Walsh. “I also appreciate her continued leadership role with the Sisters of St. Joseph.”

Sister Elizabeth Worley, S.S.J. holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Miami and a Master of Arts in Chemistry from Villanova University. She has a Bachelor of Science with a specialty in Chemistry from Barry University. She was awarded the Papal Cross by Pope John Paul II in recognition of a lifetime of faithful service to the Catholic Church. Sister Elizabeth Worley is a Sister of St. Joseph.

The Archdiocese of Miami is home to over 1 million Catholics in Miami- Dade, Broward and Monroe Counties. Mass is celebrated in 17 languages, and the Archdiocese of Miami has 105 churches and missions and 57 schools. The Archdiocese is led by Archbishop Thomas Wenski. He is assisted by two Auxiliary Bishops Felipe de Jesus Estevéz and John Noonan.

While with the Diocese of Orlando, Sr. Worley served as Chancellor for Administration. However, the diocese also had a Channcellor for Canonical Affairs. I expect that a Chancellor for Canonical Affairs will be named for the Archdiocese of Miami sometime in the near future.

Another significant appointment within the Archdiocese of Miami has been a new rector/president for St. John Vianney College Seminary. Effective August 1, 2010, Rev. Roberto Garza has taken over responsibilities as the new Rector/President of the seminary. Fr. Garza had been serving as Vocations Director for the Archdiocese until this appointment.

The outgoing rector, Monsignor Michael Carruthers, who served the seminary faithfully for 5+ years, has been appointed pastor of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Coral Gables and director of the Catholic Student Center for the University of Miami. The appointment of Fr. Michael to the Catholic Student Center shows that Archbishop Wenski wants to increase the Catholic presence on the UM campus. I couldn’t think of anyone better for the position!

More changes are likely to come. Stay tuned!!

Sources: Diocese of Orlando, Archdiocese of Miami

To the glory of Almighty God and the praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the apostles Peter and Paul, and of the Holy Roman Church, for the honor of the Churches, which have been placed in your care, and as a symbol of your authority as metropolitan archbishop: We confer on you the pallium taken from the tomb of Peter to wear within the limits of your ecclesiastical provinces.

May this pallium be a symbol of unity
and a sign of your communion with the Apostolic See,
a bond of love, and an incentive to courage.
On the day of the coming and manifestation
of our great God and chief shepherd, Jesus Christ,
may you and the flock entrusted to you
be clothed with immortality and glory.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski:

Archbishop Thomas Wenski receives the Pallium | Reuters

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr:

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr receives the Pallium | Reuters

Archbishop Jerome Listecki:

Archbishop Jerome Listecki receives the Pallium | Reuters

Video Source: CatholicTV

Basilica of St. Peter, Vatican | Source: Wikipedia

It has been quite a couple of months, some of the busiest the blog has ever seen. In all, we have seen ten holy men appointed Archbishops or Bishops to various dioceses throughout the United States since April. Three liturgies of either welcome or installation have already been celebrated; these include, the welcome ceremony for Coadjutor Archbishop Jose Gomez in Los Angeles, the installation of Archbishop Thomas Wenski in Miami, and the installation of Bishop Thomas Paprocki in Springfield, IL. In the upcoming months, we will see the remaining seven ordained and/or installed in various celebrations:

• Bishop-elect Timothy Doherty will be ordained to the episcopacy and installed as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana on July 15, 2010.
• Bishop-elect David O’Connell will be ordained to episcopacy and welcomed as the Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Trenton on July 30, 2010 in the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption.
• Bishop-elect John J. McIntyre will be ordained to the episcopacy and take over the office of Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on August 6, 2010 at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.
• Bishop-elect Michael Fitzgerald will be ordained to the episcopacy and take over the office of Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on August 6, 2010 at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.
• Bishop-designate William Patrick Callahan will be installed as the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Lacrosse on August 11, 2010.
• Bishop-designate Joseph McFadden will be installed as the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg on August 18, 2010.
• Bishop-elect F. Richard Spencer will be ordained to the episcopacy and take over the office of Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services during a 2:00 p.m. celebration at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC on September 8, 2010.

Also on the list of upcoming events is the Pallium Mass in Rome where newly installed Archbishops will receive the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI. The Mass will take place on June 29, 2010. Included in the list of Archbishops receiving the pallium from the Holy Father are: Archbishop Jerome Listecki (Milwaukee), Archbishop Dennis Schnurr (Cincinnati), and Archbishop Thomas Wenski (Miami).

On a side note, the delegation for Archbishop Wenski was reportedly so large that tickets from other delegations had to be used.  Included in the delegation are priest, religious, and lay faithful from the Archdiocese of Miami and the Diocese of Orlando, numbering over 200. The delegations for Listecki and Schnurr number around 100 each.

The Pallium Mass will be aired live on EWTN and the Archdiocese of Miami website on June 29th at 3:30 a.m. EST. For those who will not be awake at that time, CatholicTV will air the ceremony at noon Eastern. If you miss those, encores will be available on EWTN and CatholicTV later on in the evening. Stay tuned!

Additional pictures can be found on Janet’s blog.

Video Source: Janet Walsh

Supporters of SB1070 attend a rally at the Arizona Capitol | Source: AP

Over the last several weeks, the new Arizona immigration law has been making news across the country. There are those that completely agree with the new law and those that completely disagree with the new law. Immigration reform is such an important issue to the people of the United States and an important concern for the Catholic Church. It seems there hasn’t been too much said about this latest controversy by many mainstream Catholic bloggers. That needs to change; so, let’s take a look at the facts and the stance of the Church on this important concern of ours, shall we.

Before we get started, let’s examine what the Center for Immigration Studies says about immigration in Arizona. The center released the following information on the current situation in Arizona:

• The federal government estimated that Arizona had one of the fastest growing illegal immigrant populations in the country, increasing from 330,000 in 2000 to 560,000 by 2008.
• The federal government estimated that Arizona had one of the fastest growing illegal immigrant populations in the country, increasing from 330,000 in 2000 to 560,000 by 2008.
• Arizona has adopted other laws to deter the settlement of illegal immigrants in the state in recent years. The federal government estimates that the illegal immigrant population dropped by 18 percent in the state from 2008 to 2009, compared to a 7 percent drop for the nation as a whole. This may be evidence that the state enforcement efforts are having an impact.
• The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has found that 22 percent of felonies in the county are committed by illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants are estimated to be 10 percent of the county’s adult population.
• Analysis of data from State Criminal Alien Assistance Program showed that illegal immigrants were 11 percent of the state’s prison population. Illegal immigrants were estimated to be 8 percent of state’s adult population at the time of the analysis.
• Approximately 17 percent of those arrested by the Border Patrol in its Tucson Sector have criminal records in the United States.
• The issue of illegal immigration and crime is very difficult to measure, and while in Arizona there is evidence that illegal immigrants are committing a disproportionate share of crime, it is not clear this is the case nationally.
• In 2007, the Center for Immigration Studies estimated that 12 percent of workers in Arizona are illegal immigrants.
• In 2007, the Center estimated that illegal immigrants and their U.S.-born children (under 18) comprise one-fifth of those in the state living in poverty, one-third of those without health insurance, and one out of six students in the state’s schools.
• In 2007, the Center estimated that one-third of households headed by illegal immigrants in Arizona used at least one major welfare program, primarily food-assistance programs or Medicaid. Benefits were typically received on behalf of U.S.-born children.
• The new law (SB 1070) is extremely popular among Arizona voters. A Rasmussen poll found that 70 percent of voters approve of the new bill, and just 23 percent oppose it.

The center also released the following information on the actual bill:

• The new Arizona law mirrors federal law, which already requires aliens (non-citizens) to register and carry their documents with them (8 USC 1304(e) and 8 USC 1306(a)). The new Arizona law simply states that violating federal immigration law is now a state crime as well. Because illegal immigrants are by definition in violation of federal immigration laws, they can now be arrested by local law enforcement in Arizona.
• The law is designed to avoid the legal pitfall of “pre-emption,” which means a state can’t adopt laws that conflict with federal laws. By making what is a federal violation also a state violation, the Arizona law avoids this problem.
• The law only allows police to ask about immigration status in the normal course of “lawful contact” with a person, such as a traffic stop or if they have committed a crime.
• Estimates from the federal government indicate that more than 80 percent of illegal immigrants come from Latin America. Thus, there is concern that police may target only Hispanics for enforcement.
• Before asking a person about immigration status, law enforcement officials are required by the law to have “reasonable suspicion” that a person is an illegal immigrant. The concept of “reasonable suspicion” is well established by court rulings. Since Arizona does not issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, having a valid license creates a presumption of legal status. Examples of reasonable suspicion include:
  • A driver stopped for a traffic violation has no license, or record of a driver’s license or other form of federal or state identification.
  • A police officer observes someone buying fraudulent identity documents or crossing the border illegally.
  • A police officer recognizes a gang member back on the street who he knows has been previously deported by the federal government.
• The law specifically states that police, “may not solely consider race, color or national origin” when implementing SB 1070.
• When Arizona’s governor signed the new law, she also issued an executive order requiring the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board to provide local police with additional training on what does and what does not constitute “reasonable suspicion.”

As we can see here, and according to the text of the bill, the intent of SB1070 is to “discourage and deter the unlawful entry and presence of aliens and economic activity by persons unlawfully present in the United States.” The only intent of the bill is to enforce federal law in the state of Arizona. Why, then, are members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and others within the U.S. objecting to the Arizona law? Let’s examine the Catholic side of the immigration debate.

In a recent article published in the Miami Herald, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, archbishop of Miami, wrote:

Our immigration laws need to be changed: They are antiquated and inadequate for the promotion and regulation of social and economic relations of 21st-century America. On this point everyone seemingly agrees. However, the solutions proposed should not make the situation worse. Outdated laws, ill adapted to the increasing interdependence of our world and the globalization of labor, are bad laws. Proposed changes, however, must take into account both human dignity and the national interest.

Source: Justice for Immigrants

The newly installed Archbishop of Miami continued his explanation of the Catholic viewpoint by detailing how the Catholic bishops have called for comprehensive immigration reform for the past several years. Through the U.S. bench’s Justice for Immigrants, the bishops have consistently called for immigration “reform that, while addressing future needs for labor by providing for a legal guest-worker program, also offers an ‘earned’ path to legalization for those 10 million or so workers already in the country as well as fixing the unacceptable backlogs for family reunification visas that keep families separated for intolerable lengths of time.”

Archbishop Wenski wrote:

Illegal immigration should not be tolerated. It leads to abuse and exploitation of the migrants themselves; and, ultimately, businesses that rely on their labor — and, in doing so, help fuel the growth of the American economy — would prefer and benefit from a reliable, legal work force.

But, fixing illegal immigration does not require the “demonization’” if so-called “illegals.” America has always been a land of promise and opportunity for those willing to work hard. We can provide for our national security and secure borders without making America, a nation of immigrants, less a land of promise or opportunity for immigrants.

In the article, Wenski went on to say that the migrant of today is simply looking for “the opportunity to redeem themselves through honest work. Today, many take umbrage at the Catholic bishops’ advocacy on behalf of these “illegals” — but, in doing so, we stand in a proud moral tradition.”

As a result, the Catholic bishops in the U.S. are calling on Congress to “seize the opportunity for a comprehensive fix to our broken immigration system. To date, its failure to act has contributed to neo-nativist anti-immigrant sentiment and to ill-advised initiatives…that usurps what is the purview of the federal government.” He concluded by saying: “As Jesus reminded the embittered zealots of his day, laws are designed for the benefit — not the harm — of humankind.”

It is not my duty to tell you all what to think — I think you all are plenty capable of doing that yourselves. However, it is important for all of us, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, to examine both sides of the issue. When we examine bills up for consideration or laws that have been passed, we must also remember to be charitable. As Christians it is our responsibility to show compassion and mercy to all of our brothers and sisters. When it comes to this issue, I am instantly reminded of a very popular Catholic hymn:

One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless. And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.

Gentil or Jew, servant or free, woman or man, no more.

In other words folks, we are all in this together. We all travel down the same journey of life. It doesn’t matter if we are legal or illegal; it doesn’t matter if we are White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, etc. We are all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, our Lord and we must live the way Jesus taught us to live.

Statistics Source: Center for Immigration Studies

Arbshp. Wenski Article Source: Miami Herald

One Bread, One Body Source: OCP

If you would prefer the video from the Archdiocese of Miami, please follow the following link: http://www.miamiarch.org/ip.asp?op=Article_10531171852608.

And, if anyone was interested, here is what the liturgical hammer looked like. Special thanks to Michael Garcia, seminarian for the Archdiocese of Miami, who snapped this photo.

VIDEO SOURCE: CatholicTV

PHOTO SOURCE: Michael Garcia

Archbishop Wenski in the Cathedral of St. Mary, Miami

Thank you for that enthusiastic welcome you gave me at the beginning of Mass. Gracias, Mesi anpil. Also, I am grateful for the support of those who traveled great distances to be here today – his Eminence, Cardinal O’Mally, my brother bishops, my relatives, and, of course, the priests who came down from Orlando to make sure that I was well received.. Your presence means so much not only to me but also to all the faithful of the Archdiocese – for this is a significant event not only in my own life but in the life of this local Church. Your Excellency, Archbishop Sambi, as Papal Nuncio in the United States, I ask you to convey to the Holy Father my gratitude for the confidence he has place in me in entrusting to me the care of this Archdiocese – in spite of my own limitations and shortcomings. . Of course, if you forget to, perhaps Archbishop Barney Auza, Papal Nuncio to Haiti, who is also present here today, could carry that same message for me.

Sometimes I tell people – only half in jest – the best thing about Miami and South Florida is that it is so close to the United States. Miami is certainly part of the United States, this great land of opportunity and freedom. And Miami can rightfully claim to be our nation’s new Ellis Island – for it has become a port of entry for refugees and immigrants from around the world, but especially from the Caribbean, Central and South America. Of course, there was no Statue of Liberty here to welcome the newcomers – and sometimes those newcomers were not very welcomed anyway; but for the past 52 years under the leadership of my predecessors, Archbishops Coleman Carroll, Edward McCarthy and John C. Favalora, the Church of Miami was here to extend her maternal embrace to all. For the Church is the Father’s House – and all God’s children should feel at home in their Father’s House, and here in the Archdiocese of Miami – in our parishes, schools and charitable institutions – we have welcomed newcomers – from the first refugees fleeing the Cuban Revolution to this year’s victims of Haiti’s January earthquake. And we’ve learned that the best way to make someone feel at home in their “Father’s House” is to speak their Mother’s tongue.

And while Miami (and South Florida) is part of these United States, it also has become a vital part of the various nations from which our people have come: Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Colombia and the rest of the Caribbean, South and Central America. South Florida is truly a transnational community – and that, more than the sun and the beautiful beaches, explains why those who live here find it such a dynamic and exciting place to live. Sometimes, Miami boasts that it is the capital of the hemisphere. The presence here today of Bishops from Cuba, Haiti and Puerto Rico, I think, shows that this is no idle boast.

Here in the Archdiocese of Miami, we have our problems, our challenges to face – the economic crisis and the closing of schools and more than a dozen parishes, have frustrated everyone and angered many. But let’s not feel sorry for ourselves. Our brothers and sisters in Haiti, Cuba and elsewhere have challenges much more daunting than our own – with far less resources than we have. We can be tempted, like Martha in the gospel, to be worried about many things – but let us not forget the one thing necessary: our relationship with Jesus Christ.

With the light of the Risen Christ and with the power of the Holy Spirit we must continue to announce the good news of Jesus Christ and invite all to an encounter with him in the Church so that they might have life in him. We have no other treasure but that: the gift of encounter with Jesus Christ. As the bishops of Latin America said at the Fifth Conference of CELAM in 2008: “We have no other happiness, no other priority but being instruments of the Spirit of God, in the Church, so that Jesus Christ may be known, followed, loved, adored, and communicated to all, despite difficulties and resistances.”

Some of those difficulties and resistances are found within us – sometimes faith is found weakened, hope uncertain and charity grown cold. Pope Benedict remarked last month commenting on the scandal of clerical sex abuse of children and young people: “The greatest persecution of the Church does not come from the enemies outside, but is born from inside the Church.”

This “suffering of the Church inside the Church that comes from the sins that exist from inside the Church” will not be solved by better computer programs, more efficient business practices, or even by better preaching –what is required rather is conversion, a recommitment on the part of all to live the faith coherently.

But there are other difficulties and resistances found outside as well as inside the Church. The increasing sway within our culture of what Pope Benedict has called the “dictatorship of relativism” is a growing challenge to the Church’s mission to bring the gospel to all. This radically secular world view wishes to reduce faith to the realm of the “private” and the “subjective” and thus tries to limit our freedom to serve, whether in health care, education or social services. It tries to exclude our voice, the voice of the Church, in the public square. To a world tempted to live as if God doesn’t matter and therefore a world that teeters on the brink of despair, we need to witness to hope by showing– by what we say and do (and by what we won’t do) – how beautiful, how joyful life is when one lives convinced that God does indeed matter. And, because God matters, we are also called to model a life in which man matters as well.

For this reason, Catholics should involve themselves in the public square – and do so coherently and unapologetically. This is not to “impose our views” but to “make our proposal” about what is necessary for human flourishing in society. Thus, we bring to public policy debates on issues of human life dignity, justice and peace, immigration reform, and marriage and the family an understanding of the human person that, while founded on the Christian Scriptures, is also accessible to human reason.

While this understanding expressed in the Church’s social teachings can seem to be quite complex, I believe it can be summarized in one simple phrase: no man is a problem. This why as Archbishop of Miami I will continue to proclaim a positive and consistent ethic of life: no human being – no matter how poor or how weak – can be reduced to just a problem. When we allow ourselves to think of a human being as a mere problem, we offend his or her dignity. And, when we see another human being as a problem, we often give ourselves permission to look for expedient but not just solutions. The tragic history of the 20th Century shows that thinking like this even leads to “final solutions”.

For us, Catholics, therefore, there can be no such thing as a “problem pregnancy” – only a child who is to be welcome in life and protected by law. The refugee, the migrant –even one without “papers” – is not a problem. He may perhaps be a stranger but a stranger to be embraced as a brother. Even criminals – for all the horror of their crimes – do not lose their God-given dignity as human beings. They too must be treated with respect, even in their punishment. This is why Catholic social teaching condemns torture and advocates for the abolition of the death penalty.

As I begin my service to this local Church as its fourth Archbishop, I ask for your support, your cooperation – and, most of all, I ask for your prayers. We begin a new chapter in this history of this local Church – and so, this is the time for us all – priests, deacons, religious and members of Christ’s faithful – to assess our fervor and to find fresh enthusiasm for the spiritual and pastoral responsibilities that lie ahead of us. We must look ahead and, like Peter, trusting in Christ’s words, “put out into the deep”. Duc in altum. The Lord has already assured us: “I am with you always.”

So let’s us begin. Let us start afresh from Christ.

SOURCE: Archdiocese of Miami

PHOTO SOURCE: Archdiocese of Miami