By Ana Rodriguez Soto - The Archdiocese of Miami
Father Matthew Gomez, incoming director of vocations, wears a mask whose symbols say: God is greater than your lows and highs.
Father Christopher Marino, rector of St. Mary Cathedral, wears a mask crafted from a cathedral school uniform by a member of the cathedral staff.
Masked priests chat before concelebrating the Mass where Archbishop Thomas Wenski marked the 10th anniversary of his installation as archbishop of Miami. From left: Father Kenneth Whittaker, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy in Deerfield Beach; Father Matthew Gomez, incoming vocations director; Msgr. Dariusz J. Zielonka and Msgr. Gregory Wielunski, judge and judicial vicar, respectively, at the Metropolitan Tribunal; and, partially hidden from view, Father Lazarus Govin, pastor of St. Martha.
Who are those masked men? Why archdiocesan priests, of course, in the time of coronavirus; from left: Father Patrick O'Neill, who although retired still handles ecumenical relations for the archdiocese; Msgr. Dariusz J. Zielonka, judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal; and Father Matthew Gomez, incoming director of vocations.
Who are those masked men? Why archdiocesan priests, of course, in the time of coronavirus; from left: Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor of St. Michael Church in Miami; Father Father Juan Tupiza, defender of the bond in the Tribunal; and Miami's Archbishop Emeritus John C. Favalora.
Who are those masked men? Why archdiocesan priests, of course, in the time of coronavirus; from left: Father Elvis Gonzalez, pastor of St. Michael Church in Miami, and Father Kenneth Whittaker, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy in Deerfield Beach.
Ropes mark off pews that are to remain empty at St. Martha Church in Miami Shores, in order to comply with the CDC's social distancing guidelines after Masses with the public resumed in the archdiocese May 26, 2020.
Pastoral Center staff wear masks and maintain appropriate social distancing during the Mass marking the 10th anniversary of Archbishop Thomas Wenski's installation as archbishop of Miami. He celebrated Mass with the Pastoral Center staff at St. Martha Church, June 1, 2020.
Wearing a mask, Archbishop Thomas Wenski meditates after distributing Communion during the Mass where he marked the 10th anniversary of his installation as archbishop of Miami, June 1, 2020.
Photography: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC
MIAMI | Welcome to the “new normal”: mask-wearing Mass-goers, sitting six feet apart and pumping hand sanitizer as they enter church buildings.
The description Archbishop Thomas Wenski always gives for life amid the coronavirus pandemic was evident throughout the Archdiocese of Miami this weekend, as the faithful — at least 25 to 30% of them — returned to worship in their churches for the first time in eight weeks.
Nowhere was it more striking than at St. Martha Church this Monday, as the archbishop gathered with Pastoral Center employees to celebrate a Mass marking the 10th anniversary of his installation as Miami’s chief shepherd, back on June 1, 2010.
The concelebrating priests wore masks. The archbishop put on a mask to distribute Communion — and rubbed on some hand sanitizer before doing so. The congregation was spread throughout the church, where every other pew was roped off to create the needed social distancing.
The masks made it harder to recognize people, the archbishop noted. But the variety of masks also revealed creativity and the ability to turn a necessary inconvenience into a fashion statement or spiritual message.
The pictures tell the story.
Making a statement with their masks, from left: Father Matthew Gomez, incoming vocations director; Msgr. Dariusz J. Zielonka, a judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal; and Father Christopher Marino, rector of St. Mary Cathedral.
