By Marlene Quaroni - Florida Catholic
Father Jesus "Jets' Medina, pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman in Big Pine Key, and archdiocesan director of the Ministry to Cultural Groups, talks to Haitian-Americans Veronica Jackson, 15, Victoria Harris, 9, and Aiyana Michel, 14, as they prepare to enter St. Mary Cathedral with the Haitian flag. Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual Migration Mass on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
Nigerian Apostolate members Columba Okpala and Chinasa Okpala take part in the annual Migration Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
Vietnamese Apostolate member Dieu Nguyen takes part in the annual Migration Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
Deacon Mesmin Augustin, of Notre d'Haiti Mission, proclaims the Gospel in Creole during the annual Migration Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
Taking part in the annual Migration Mass, from left: Myriam Mezadieu, co-founder and COO of Catholic Legal Services, Tracy Dominique, her niece, and Randy McGrorty, CEO and co-founder of Catholic Legal Services. Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the Mass on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
Franciscus Chun Yin Chik, a member of the Chinese Apostolate, takes part in the annual Migration Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
Members of the Indian Apostolate receive Communion from Father Christopher Marino, rector of St. Mary Cathedral, during the annual Migration Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
Hyun OK Lee, member of the Korean Apostolate, prays during the annual Migration Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
Filipino-American Father Jesus "Jets" Medina, pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman in Big Pine Key and archdiocesan director of the Ministry to Cultural Groups poses with members of the Filipino Apostolate after taking part in the annual Migration Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
Photography: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Vietnamese Apostolate member Dieu Nguyen takes part in the annual Migration Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
MIAMI | Wearing native attire, members of several non-Hispanic cultural groups in the Archdiocese of Miami attended the annual Migration Mass at St. Mary Cathedral. Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the Mass on the solemnity of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
Jemi Jane recited the first reading in Malayalam, an Indian language, and Roden Pangilinan proclaimed the second reading in Tagalog, the language of the Philippines. Deacon Mesmin Augustin, of Notre Dame d’Haiti Mission in Miami, proclaimed the Gospel in Haitian Creole.
Members of the Brazilian, Chinese, Haitian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Korean, Nigerian, Polish and Vietnamese apostolates proclaimed the Prayers of the Faithful. The Filipino, Chinese and Haitian choirs performed music for the congregation.
“The theme for this year’s Mass, ‘Towards an ever wider “we”,’ is taken from Pope Francis’ latest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, all brothers and sisters. The theme serves to connect this feast of the Baptism of Jesus with last week’s feast of the Epiphany,” said Archbishop Wenski in his homily. “Epiphany means manifestation or revelation. When Jesus was born as a man in Bethlehem he came for all people, all races, of all times and places. Diversity does not divide the body of Christ, it enriches it. Our unity is not founded on race or language or nation of origin, it is founded on Christ.”
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops established National Migration Week nearly 40 years ago as an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances affecting migrants. The week was usually celebrated the week after the Epiphany in January, to coincide with the pope’s Migration Day message in mid-January.
In 2019, Pope Francis announced that the World Day of Migrants and Refugees would be celebrated on the last Sunday of September. The Archdiocese of Miami, however, continues to celebrate its Migration Mass around the feast of the Epiphany.
Photographer: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Father Jesus "Jets' Medina, pastor of St. Peter the Fisherman in Big Pine Key, and archdiocesan director of the Ministry to Cultural Groups, talks to Haitian-Americans Veronica Jackson, 15, Victoria Harris, 9, and Aiyana Michel, 14, as they prepare to enter St. Mary Cathedral with the Haitian flag. Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual Migration Mass on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, Jan. 9, 2022.
