By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Cardinal Paul Cordes with archdiocesan seminarian Ivan Rodriguez blesses the congregation with Holy Water during the Mass he celebrated at Good Shepherd Church.
MIAMI � While visiting South Florida, a Vatican cardinal shared a meal with seminarians, gave a talk on the New Evangelization and celebrated Mass with members of the Neocatechumenal Communities of the Archdiocese of Miami.
Cardinal Paul Cordes, who until 2010 headed the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, visited Miami April 26-28 as part of a longer tour of U.S. dioceses.
The German-born cardinal is a member of numerous congregations in the Roman Curia, including the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Congregation for the Clergy, the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. From 1980 to 1995 he served as vice-president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, and in 1984, he was appointed by Blessed Pope John Paul II as his personal liaison with the Neocatechumenal Way.
On April 27, he spoke to a large crowd at St. John Vianney College Seminary regarding the New Evangelization, and answered questions afterward.
�He addressed questions from the people about how to implement the New Evangelization at the parish level. Some people presented some practical scenarios as to how to engage people in the New Evangelization. He was very good, very open to questions,� said Father Roberto Garza, rector of the seminary.
But the best part, for seminarians, at least, came before the talk, when the cardinal sat down to dinner with them.
�At his table, he sat with the student body government of the seminary, which was six men,� Father Garza said. �He engaged in conversation with them. He was very, very down to earth. They asked questions about his ministry in the Holy See, how long he had been a priest � just his experience.�
They also learned from him something Father Garza already knew: Cardinal Cordes was instrumental in starting World Youth Day.
�The seminarians were really awe-struck by that, and also the fact that he was a good friend of John Paul II,� Father Garza said. �So they asked questions about his relation with John Paul II, what kind of friendship they had. The cardinal talked about that. He often met with him, had meals with him. So it was very good to hear him, for them as well as for me. But for them, they don�t have that opportunity always.�
A day later, on April 28, Cardinal Cordes celebrated Mass at Good Shepherd Parish with more than 1,000 members of the Neocatechumenal Way, along with local pastors and priests and many parishioners from South Florida churches.
In his homily, he discussed the importance of a community to help individuals grow in faith, something he said he realized many years ago, when he served on the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
The cardinal praised three aspects of the Neocatechumenal Way that he said are essential in the experience of its members: the scrutatio of the Word of God, the scrutinies, and silent prayer.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way receive formation on how to scrutinize the word of God in the Bible (a form of Lectio Divina). Cardinal Cordes commended this element, because he said it allows the Scripture to become something personal.
�You begin to read the Scripture as a word for you and your personal life,� he said. It is a way for persons to be touched by the word of God, as a word that the Lord speaks to them personally.
During the scrutinies, �you discover that the events of your life have something to do with your faith,� Cardinal Cordes said. The brothers and sisters of the community also help members see the events of life not merely as something accidental, but as the word of God for them. The events of your life �have something to say to you and for your journey with the Shepherd to the father.�
During their itinerary of faith growth, the Neocatechumenal Way also helps its members find the face of Jesus through silent prayer and personal meditation, Cardinal Cordes said. �At the beginning you will find yourself nervous and you could think that you don�t have time for it. But you will start praying in the community and this factor will help discipline and teach you, because of the others. Eventually, through silent prayer, you will learn and discover you are not alone, that you have the Lord with you very intimately.�
Cardinal Cordes concluded the homily by exhorting everyone present to be grateful for the constant support from the pope and the local bishop.
�For this we have to be grateful to the Lord for giving us such a great pope, for giving us the Church, and giving us the Neocatechumenal Way as a means to help our faith. This gift is not only to satisfy ourselves, but it gives us the taste of faith, encouraging us to be apostles to the others,� Cardinal Cordes said.
Father Jesus Arias, pastor of Good Shepherd, thanked the cardinal at the end of the Mass: �Your eminence, your presence here in our parish, with all the Neocatechumenal Communities of the archdiocese, is a great encouragement, since in you we see the Good Shepherd.�
Cardinal Cordes departed for Washington D.C. the next day.
Katrina Otero contributed to this report.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO
Cardinal Paul Cordes speaks on the New Evangelization April 27 to a large group of people gathered at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami.
