By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
More than 50 archdiocesan and religious priests gathered at St. Michael Parish's outdoor grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes March 3 for an evening of prayer and camaraderie.
MIAMI � Sometimes, priests are just too busy to celebrate.
But thanks to Father Chris Marino and the staff of St. Michael Parish in Miami, more than 50 archdiocesan and religious priests were able to get together March 3 for an evening of prayer and camaraderie in honor of the Year for Priests.
�A few months ago, Mother Adela (Galindo of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary) and I were here at the parish thinking of some ways to use our newly constructed Grotto of Our Lady of Fatima as a venue for public prayer,� explained Father Marino, St. Michael�s pastor. �Almost at the same moment we thought, �Let's do something here to celebrate the Year for Priests�. Gather her sons together to celebrate and renew our priestly fraternity, so to speak.�
Aided by his parochial vicar, Father Richard Vigoa, Father Marino invited Archbishop John C. Favalora, his auxiliary bishops and all the priests of the archdiocese � via letters, e-mails and phone calls � to attend the March 3 event.
Volunteers from the parish and the Knights of Columbus, who have been honoring priests throughout the year, helped to organize the reception and dinner which followed a solemn vespers service.
Although the night was quite chilly and windy, more than 50 priests gathered at St. Michael�s grotto for the candlelight service. Father Marino preached the reflection and Archbishop Favalora delivered his own remarks before the start of dinner.
In an interview on his radio program, �Conversations with Archbishop Favalora,� the archbishop noted how difficult it is for priests to get together on a regular basis but stressed that they should make the time to do so.
Msgr. Terence Hogan, rector of St. Mary Cathedral, said the evening prayer service �served as a reminder that the priest needs to continually be inspired by prayer and contemplation as well as to inspire others through one's own prayer and reflection.�
He added that he is looking forward to the annual Chrism Mass, set for Tuesday, March 30, at the cathedral. During the Mass, �priests from around the archdiocese will join in renewing their priestly promises before God.�
�Thanks to Father Vigoa's impeccable good taste, organizational abilities and unflinching determination something beautiful and important took place here on Wednesday night,� Father Marino said. �Through this event Jesus made himself present to us through the mark of our ordination and through the faces, hands and voices of our archbishop, brother priests and all the parishioners, Knights of Columbus and benefactors of St. Michael the Archangel who gave the gift of their time, talent and treasure in thanksgiving for the gift of the priesthood.�
�The Holy Father did something very good for us by proclaiming this Year for Priests,� Father Marino added. �He gave us an opportunity to remember who we are and what are called and consecrated to do for the world and concretely for each other. This is the way that Christ has chosen for us to become saints.�
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Father Chris Marino, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Miami, delivers a reflection during the solemn vespers service that began the Year for Priests celebration.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Priests listen to Archbishop John C. Favalora during the dinner that concluded the Year for Priests celebration hosted by Father Chris Marino and the staff of St. Michael Parish in Miami, with help from the Knights of Columbus.
