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Feature News | Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Galapagos visit

Archbishop Thomas Wenski consecrates church built with help of Miami parishioners

Archbishop Thomas Wenski and Bishop Manuel Valarezo anoint the altar of the Parroquia Cristo Salvador in the Galapagos.

Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO

Archbishop Thomas Wenski and Bishop Manuel Valarezo anoint the altar of the Parroquia Cristo Salvador in the Galapagos.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski and Bishop Manuel Valarezo place a relic in the altar of the Parroquia Cristo Salvador in the Galapagos.

Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO

Archbishop Thomas Wenski and Bishop Manuel Valarezo place a relic in the altar of the Parroquia Cristo Salvador in the Galapagos.

GALAPAGOS | Islands discovered long ago and home to some of nature�s most unique creatures: That is where Archbishop Thomas Wenski and a delegation from St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in South Miami visited recently.

The Galapagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador, are home to a wealth of species such as tortoises, marine iguanas, penguins, finches, etc. Aside from their famous creatures, the islands are home to many people who live in the National Park of the Galapagos, people who have a deep-rooted faith and strong family values.

In 2001, St. Thomas the Apostle adopted a parish in the island of Isabela. Father Daniel Kubala, pastor, traveled to the Galapagos with the intention of exploring the island that bore the same name as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Aerial view of Isabela Island, Galapagos.

Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO

Aerial view of Isabela Island, Galapagos.

�When I first met the pastor of this small parish, Father Angel Calderon, the pastor of La Parroquia Cristo Salvador, I knew then and there that we could help them,� said Father Kubala. �I saw the need of this faith community and jumped at the chance to help.�

Back in Miami, Father Kubala told his parish community about the needs of the faithful in Isabela, a place with unpaved roads and a church that was condemned after being destroyed by a tsunami.

The response of the faithful at St. Thomas the Apostle was an overall agreement to help their brethren in need.

�It took over three years to slowly gather materials brought in by ship from the mainland, Ecuador, as well as many man-hours donated by the faithful to build their new church,� said Father Kubala.

Father Angel Calderon, pastor of the Parroquia Cristo Salvador, anoints one of the Stations of the Cross in the newly-built church.

Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO

Father Angel Calderon, pastor of the Parroquia Cristo Salvador, anoints one of the Stations of the Cross in the newly-built church.

On July 18, 2012, the work of many both here in Miami and on that tiny island came to fruition. Archbishop Wenski accepted the invitation of Bishop Manuel Valarezo, a Franciscan and apostolic vicar of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Galapagos, to consecrate the new church and celebrate the liturgy with the faithful of Isabela.

The archbishop was joined by a delegation of representatives from St. Thomas the Apostle.  His trip marked the first visit to the Galapagos by a Miami archbishop. 

�The consecration of the church was a joyous occasion with a multitude of faithful, leaving standing room only,� said Father Kubala. �A church filled with great joy and gratitude, voices and souls united to praise God on that Sunday morning in July.�
After the Mass and consecration ceremony, the townspeople of Isabela gathered outside of the church, which was decorated with balloons and flags flying the papal colors of yellow and white, and expressed their gratitude with a series of folkloric dances and songs. Archbishop Wenski got in on the action by cutting an oversized cake and serving it to all the faithful.

Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO

After the Mass and consecration ceremony, the townspeople of Isabela gathered outside of the church, which was decorated with balloons and flags flying the papal colors of yellow and white, and expressed their gratitude with a series of folkloric dances and songs. Archbishop Wenski got in on the action by cutting an oversized cake and serving it to all the faithful.

Comments from readers

suana pena - 09/08/2012 01:47 PM
I was fascinated with this kind of loving activities. I always teach my students about The Galapagos, showed a video, etc. Father Kubala was very inspired in promoting it. The church there impressed me as very spacious the altar room, and Christ coming superb. Thank you for showing.
Nancy Moran - 09/07/2012 09:56 AM
So happy to learn that Archbishop Wenski visited my country. Even though I am an Ecuadorian native, I've never visited Galapagos. Hope to some day, and get to attend Mass in that beautiful Church.

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