'Committed to keeping the archdiocese alive'

By Rocio Granados - La Voz Catolica

MIAMI | Almost 15 years ago, Carlos Castañeda and his family at St.Edward Parish in Pembroke Pines started a Colombian tradition that did not exist in the Archdiocese of Miami: praying the Rosary of the Dawn.

The tradition, which includes a procession with an image of the Virgin Mary around the parish, takes place at 6:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month.

“It's a tradition that comes from my grandparents,” said Castañeda, who continued the tradition when he married his wife, Clara, now deceased, and then with his children and grandchildren.

For the first Rosary of the Dawn at St. Edward's, Castañeda recalled that he prepared the carriage with a small image of Our Lady of Fatima, that they had brought from Spain, "and six or seven of us men began the procession around the church, praying the Rosary." They used photocopies to pray the mysteries and invited more people the following month.

Over time, the number of participants from other parishes grew, leading to the expansion of the devotion, first to the nearby parishes of St. John XXIII, in Miramar; St. Mark, in Southwest Ranches; St. Katharine Drexel, in Weston; St. Bonaventure, in Davie; and even to parishes in North Carolina and Connecticut.

Today, the devotion has spread to more than 30 parishes in the Archdiocese of Miami.The families are the ones who make the devotion "something so beautiful. It's a rosary that captivates you. And about the sacrifice of getting up early, it is the Blessed Virgin who wakes them up," said Juan Carlos Castañeda, son of Carlos Castañeda.

“The Blessed Virgin moves and unites us all,” Castañeda said after receiving the 2024 One in Faith award from the Archdiocese of Miami.

“I feel very happy, thank God, because it is an honor or an undeserved gift,” said Castañeda, who received the award accompanied by his children Monica and Juan Carlos, and his grandchildren.

The One in Faith award recognizes those who work in parishes to evangelize and bring people together to spread the Good News.

“What they do is such a beautiful way of sharing a devotion to Mary, something all parishes can do,” said Stephen Colella, cabinet secretary of Parish Life and Evangelization for the Archdiocese, who nominated the Castañeda family for the award.

The Castañedas were one of three families honored this year at the annual Thanks-for-Giving Mass organized by the archdiocesan Development Office. The Mass was presided by Archbishop Thomas Wenski at St. Mary's Cathedral Nov. 23, 2024.

The other families honored were Aurelio and Dina Mitjans, from St. Louis Parish, in Pinecrest, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Doral, with the One in Hope award; and Luis and Mari Tere Ríos, from St. Francis de Sales Parish in Miami Beach, with the One in Charity award.

Archbishop Wenski thanked everyone "for your support to the archdiocese in so many ways in your parishes, and especially through the annual ABCD Archbishop's Charities and Development campaign."

Each year's honorees — three individuals or families — are selected for their contributions to the archdiocese that align with the ABCD slogan: One in Faith, One in Hope, and One in Charity.

“Although I am very grateful, I feel embarrassed to be recognized, because I think it is the duty of everyone who can, to give, to help the archdiocese,” said Mari Tere Ríos, who received the One in Charity award along with her husband, Luis.

Rios and her husband have been members of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Miami Beach since 2004. They began contributing to the ABCD after meeting Father Gabriel Vigués when he was appointed pastor of that parish; he is now the pastor of St. Louis. Rios admitted that they were reluctant to donate at first, but later began hosting cocktail parties at their home to raise money.

“I have a lot of love for the archdiocese,” said Ríos.

"Mari Tere and Luis have contributed to the ABCD every year since 2008 at a very high level and have been very involved with the ABCD in a variety of ways. They have been committed that the archdiocese stays alive,” said Katie Blanco Bourdeau, Cabinet Secretary for Development, Stewardship, and Communications at the Archdiocese.

The One in Hope Award was presented to Dina and Aurelio Mitjans. Sadly, Dina passed away two days before the Mass, after a long illness. Her sister Barbara accompanied Aurelio to receive the award.

The Mitjans live near St. Louis, in Pinecrest, but attended Our Lady of Guadalupe in Doral because they were friends of Msgr. Tomas Marin, the founding pastor of the church in Doral.

“We have been involved in the ABCD campaign for years,” Aurelio said after the Mass. The recognition, “It is a great honor and a great surprise. My wife, unfortunately, die two days ago,” he lamented.

“Dina was really the voice and the life of Our Lady of Guadalupe since it was built. She did so much for that parish, even until the day she died, she was trying to build and bring in donors to build a religious education building there,” said Blanco Bourdeau. She was very instrumental when they built the church. She and Barbara Romani have really done so much for Our Lady of Guadalupe.”

New members of the Archbishop Coleman Carroll Legacy Society, which includes individuals or families who have incorporated the Catholic Church into their estate and financial plans, were also recognized during the Mass. These efforts ensure the future of the archdiocese. Of the 19 people inducted this year, only one is living.