Archbishop Thomas Wenski presides at a Eucharist and thanks 63 years of service in South Florida.
On the same day that, 100 years earlier, Pope Pius XI approved the Teresian Association in perpetuity, members, collaborators and friends of the association in south of Florida gathered at the Corpus Christi parish and listened to the Archbishop's invitation to celebrate “a history of fidelity and fruitfulness, remembering with gratitude so many members of the Teresian family who throughout these hundred years, have known how to be salt of the earth and light of the world.”
During the homily, the archbishop thanked the Association for its work in the archdiocese for 63 years, since it was in 1961 when the first members arrived, at the request of the then bishop of the newly created diocese.
Bishop Coleman F. Carroll had been assigned to this diocese, in territory taken from the Diocese of San Agustín, which until then covered all of Florida.
The arrival of thousands of Cubans fleeing the political changes in Cuba required the presence of bilingual personnel to serve the school population and university students.
Bishop Carroll asked the Association to take charge of the girls' section at Mons. Pace High School, which was just beginning, and of the university chaplaincies in Miami and West Palm Beach, since the diocese covered the 13 southernmost counties of Florida.
Since then, members of the TA have held positions of Principal at two secondary schools and four primary schools, they have directed the departments of Campus Ministry, Migrant Ministry and the Catholic newspaper; they have collaborated in the Regional Seminary and the Department of Religious Education, and have held positions at the national level in Hispanic Ministry.
Bishop Wenski highlighted that the “canonical approval of the TA represented at the time a significant recognition of the apostolic work of the laity in the midst of society, a role and mission that, over time, would be definitively ratified and promoted by the Second Vatican Council.”
The Eucharist
The Eucharist was with the texts of the Mass of San Pedro Poveda. Mons. Wenski commented on the gospel and said that “the call to be salt of the earth and light of the world is a mandate that resonates deeply in the Teresian charism.”
The Teresian Association “like salt brings the flavor of the Gospel in education, culture and professional life. As light, it bears witness to truth, justice and respect for human dignity, illuminating the challenges of our time. Bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the places where the future is built: classrooms, institutions, and all possible spaces within society.”
Several TA members proclaimed the readings and approached during the offertory with the bread and wine and the emblem of the Teresian Association, which was proyected on a large screen, while from the podium the elements that make it up were explained: the an open book for study, the star for Mary, the cross for Christ and the motto in Latin: God is the lord of knowledge.
Before the final blessing, the Cuban parish priest Fr. José Luis Menéndez spoke of Saint Pedro Poveda as an example to follow: “He was a secular priest, a man who believed in the laity and who served the poor. These three points are enough for any secular clergy to remember this man."
He thanked “the extraordinary work of TA members in many areas of our diocese,” highlighting the current support in the parish project that, together with the Legal Services of the Archdiocese, helps resolve requests for refuge and asylum for immigrants residing in the area.
He recognized someone who “believed in me, when I was a young priest who had just arrived from Spain and was in charge of the Youth Ministry.” Rosemarie Kamke, TA member, was director of La Salle High School and allowed the use of some abandoned school land, to be converted into a Youth Center that still exists. “Mentioning her I want to congratulate all of you.”
Gratitude
There was no lack of words of gratitude for the Archdiocese, for the archbishop in his support of the TA all these years and for the priests present, the choir, the parish staff and those who collaborate in the mission of the TA.
With the projection of the centenary video and words from Poveda, in song, commenting on the call to be salt of the earth and light of the world, the celebration ended, and was followed with refreshments and many hugs in the parish hall.
Catholic media have echoed the Centennial with writings online and in the paper edition, both in English and Spanish. On YouTube you can see a reduced version of the Eucharist
Translated by Araceli Cantero, Miami.
Published in News