By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic
Bas-relief to the right of the altar at St. Brendan Church conveys the same theme.
Spreading robes of this Marian image at St. Brendan Church identify her as Our Lady of Charity, the patroness of Cuba. The original image was found floating near the island, found by three sailors who believed that Mary rescued them during a storm.
Jesus is baptized by Join the Baptist at the Jordan River in this window at St. Brendan Church. A dove, representing the Holy Spirit, hovers over the scene.
The Divine Mercy image of Jesus occupies a window at St. Brendan Church. The image, drawn from a vision by a Polish nun, shows blood and water flowing from Jesus' heart.
Several Christian symbols grace the front doors at St. Brendan Church.
iClose-up of the St. Peter window shows him holding a scroll of the New Testament and the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Cross window is overlaid with an image of a pelican. In the Middle Ages, people believed that in hard times, a pelican would pluck at her own breast, allowing the drops of blood to feed her brood. The image thus became a symbol of Christ sacrificing his blood for humanity.
The Lamb of God window at St. Brendan Church shows the lamb bearing a victory banner, even as his blood pours into a Eucharistic chalice.
St. Paul holds a book of the New Testament, as well as the sword that beheaded him.
Photography: Jim Davis | FC
MIAMI | St. Brendan Church is named for one of the most adventurous saints ever. St. Brendan the Navigator is best known for making several voyages across the ocean, and for inspiring fantastic stories about them.
Born in County Kerry around the year 484 -- just a decade after the death of St. Patrick -- Brendan became known as one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, a group of sixth century churchmen including saints Finian, Kieran and Columba.
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Photographer: Jim Davis
Bas-relief to the right of the altar at St. Brendan Church conveys the same theme.
For many, though, Brendan's journeys -- in a small boat covered with oxhides -- capture the most attention. He began after an itinerant monk told him of a "promised land," known either as the Land of Delight or the Promised Land of the Saints.
Brendan and three other monks sought the land in several trips, encountering many incredible sights, according to the story. One island turned out to be an immense whale. Another was filled with birds that sang hymns and verses. In other episodes, they were attacked by a griffin and a huge beast spewing foam. They even said they'd met Judas, who was allowed out of hell on Sundays and holy days.
He never reached the Promised Land; a mysterious young man said God had prevented him from doing so in order to explore and discover many things. Some historians, however, believe Brendan may have sailed as far as North America on one of his voyages. If so, it would predate the first voyage of Columbus by nearly 1,000 years.
Whatever the truth of such stories, Brendan undeniably left a lasting mark on Celtic Christianity. He founded several churches and monastic cells and two dioceses in Ireland. He served as prior and headmaster at monastery at Clonfert, which he also founded. He even ministered in Wales and on the island of Iona. He died in 577.
He became the namesake of St. Brendan Church because in 1954, when the parish was established, Florida was still considered a mission field. The new congregation celebrated its first Mass at midnight Christmas Eve in a cow pasture. The Diocese of Miami -- formed four years later -- did its first function at St. Brendan, a confirmation ceremony.
The parish brought in Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, as well as lay teachers, to lead its parochial school. Members continue its missionary outreach with 88 ministries, including daycare for seniors. Its Divine Mercy Chapel is always open, day or night
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