St. Clement Church celebrates 60th anniversary

By Jonathan Martinez - Florida Catholic

WILTON MANORS | A diverse congregation celebrated the 60th anniversary of St. Clement Church, marking it as one of the few South Florida parishes older than the Archdiocese of Miami itself.

"Sixty years of celebrating baptisms, first communions, matrimonies, and hearing penance; 60 years of advising young people, married couples and the elderly, and we have done all that by God's grace," said Father Robes Charles, pastor of the church, at the beginning of the anniversary Mass March 22.

At six decades, St. Clement is one of a few existing parishes that were founded before the Diocese of Miami was created in 1958. 

The anniversary celebration began with a procession followed by liturgical dancers and jubilant music. The dancers also served as a reflection of the parish's ethnically diverse congregation, which celebrates Mass in English, Spanish and Creole.

St. Clement grew in 2009 when Divine Mercy Haitian Mission in Fort Lauderdale merged with it that October. As a sign of the unification of both parishes, the tabernacle, Divine Mercy icon and statue of the Blessed Mother from Divine Mercy were brought to St. Clement. Soon after, Father Charles was formally installed as the new pastor there.

"It's one of the most diverse parishes in the archdiocese," Father Charles said. "When your heart can embrace the differences and can embrace people for who they are, everything is possible, because every time that you allow your heart to meet with some other people and to meet their needs, endless opportunities are created."

Attending the anniversary Mass were the original builders of the church, including the architect - who also worked on the restoration of the church - and longtime parishioners.

"I went to school here, I had all my sacraments here. This church has been a part of me throughout my entire life," said Mary O'Connell, a parishioner for the last 44 years.

The anniversary Mass was the first of a series of special events scheduled for this year. The next major event will be a parish picnic on July 4th, followed by a food festival in the fall, when parishioners will bring traditional foods from their countries of origin.

Culminating the celebrations will be a Mass on Nov. 23, the feast day of St. Clement.