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Dec. 14 - Dec. 20, 2009
FloridaCatholic
of miami
Your Faith. Your Life. Your Community.
God’s word
reminds us
of Christmas’
true meaning
My dear friends,
“’Twas the night before Christmas and
all through the house, not
a creature was stirring, not
even a mouse.”
We can all recite, at the
very least, the opening words
to this famous poem that has
FROM THE
ARCHBISHOP become a part of many famiJohn C. lies’ Christmas tradition.
Favalora
But do we know as well
the opening words of Isaiah that will be read at midnight Mass on
Christmas day? “The people who walked
Please see ARCHBISHOP, Page 2
La palabra de Dios
nos recuerda el
verdadero significado
de la Navidad
Mis queridos amigos:
“Era la víspera de la Navidad, y no se
escuchaba un ruido en toda la casa, ni siquiera un ratón.”
Esa es una traducción aproximada de las
primeras palabras de un famoso poema que
muchos podemos recitar, y que se ha convertido en parte de la tradición navideña
de muchas familias en los hogares de habla
inglesa.
Pero, ¿conocemos de igual manera las
primeras palabras de Isaías que se leerán
en la Misa de la Medianoche el día de la
Please see ARZOBISPO, Page 2
IMAGE COURTESY OF PAX CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS
This is what visitors see when they go to the virtual Blessed Sacrament chapel available
24/7 online at Pax Catholic Communication’s Web site, www.paxcc.org.
Jesus on
your laptop
Pax Catholic Communications’ virtual adoration
chapel enables people to pray before the Blessed
Sacrament by simply going online
BLANCA MORALES
Florida Catholic correspondent
MIAMI — All those who “labor and are
burdened” now have a place to pray no matter where they are, thanks to the virtual
Blessed Sacrament chapel available on the
archdiocesan radio station’s Web site 24
hours a day, seven days a week.
Jesus’ words from Matthew 11:29 greet
all who visit the online site at www.paxcc.
org/adoration/adoration01.html, which
Please see ADORATION, Page 4
FloridaCatholic
ARCHBISHOP
From Page 1
in darkness have seen a great
light; upon those who dwelt in
the land of gloom, a light has
shone.”
How about Luke’s infancy
narrative, also to be read at
midnight Mass?
“In those days a decree went
out from Caesar Augustus that
the whole world should be enrolled. … And Joseph too went
up from Galilee from the town
of Nazareth to Judea, to the city
of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the
house and family of David, to
be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”
Or how about the opening
words of the Gospel of John, to
be read at the other Masses on
Christmas day? “In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the
Word was God.”
I imagine going to Mass on
Christmas is as much a part
of your family’s traditions as
ARZOBISPO
From Page 1
Navidad? “El pueblo que caminaba en la noche divisó una luz
grande; habitaban el oscuro
país de la muerte, pero fueron
iluminados.”
¿Y la narración de Lucas sobre el nacimiento de Jesús, que
también leemos en la Misa de
la Medianoche?
“Por aquellos días salió un
decreto del emperador Augusto, por el que se debía proceder a un censo. … José también, que estaba en Galilea,
en la ciudad de Nazaret, subió
a Judea, a la ciudad de David,
l la mada Belén, porque era
descendiente de David; allí se
inscribió con María, su esposa,
que estaba embarazada”.
Page 2
‘Make room for God in
your life this Christmas.
Listen carefully to the
words of Scripture.
Make the reading of
his word a part of
your annual holiday
tradition, not just
at Mass but in your
homes as well.’
• Radio Peace relaunched as
SpiritOnline, 24-hour Internet
station.
• Bishop Fernando Isern’s
ordination, installation as bishop of
Pueblo, Colo.
• Christmas activities in parishes
and schools.
• News about the Church in the
United States and the world.
the tree, the exchange of gifts
and sitting down to Christmas dinner or a Nochebuena
feast.
But do you really hear the
readings at Mass? Or are you
so preoccupied with the material trappings of Christmas that you find it difficult
to concentrate on the word
of God? Could it be that you
have heard those readings so
often that you no longer savor
their meaning?
I hope not. I hope you realize that those readings are
messages from God. They are
meant to remind us that we
are loved and cared for, no
matter how much time has
passed or how distant we are
from one another.
They are meant to bring
us good news, the greatest
news of all: that God so loves
us that he sent his only Son
to be like us, to be born and
die and feel in his own flesh
the hope and joy, the pain
and agony of our earthly existence.
Why not use some of these
Scriptures as prayers before
ou r hol iday mea ls? Have
mother, father or children
read the Christmas narrative before opening the gifts
as a reminder that Jesus is
the real gift of Christmas. All
other gifts are supposed to
remind us of Jesus. Reading
the Scriptures beforehand
can make that message very
clear.
Let God’s own words remind us of the meaning of
this holy season.
Ma ke room for God i n
your life this Christmas. Listen carefully to the words of
Scripture. Make the reading of his word a part of your
a n nua l hol iday t rad it ion,
not just at Mass but in your
homes as well.
And may the words of the
angels to the shepherds become your Christmas blessing now and always: “Glor y
to God in the highest and on
earth peace to those on whom
his favor rests.”
Merry Christmas! n
¿Y las palabras iniciales del
Evangelio de Juan, que se leen
en las otras misas el día de Navidad? “En el principio era el
Verbo, y el Verbo estaba ante
Dios, y el Verbo era Dios”.
Me imagino que asistir a la
Misa en la Navidad es parte
de sus tradiciones familiares,
como lo son el árbol, el intercambio de regalos, y el compartir la cena navideña o el
festín de Nochebuena.
Pero, ¿prestan atención a las
lecturas en la Misa? ¿O se encuentran tan preocupados por
los atractivos materiales de la
Navidad, que se les hace difícil
concentrarse en la Palabra de
Dios? ¿Será que han escuchado
las lecturas tantas veces que ya
no aprecian su significado?
Espero que no. Espero que
se den cuenta de que dichas
lecturas son mensajes de Dios
que nos recuerdan cuán amados y cuidados somos, sin importar el tiempo que haya pasado, y cuán distante estemos
unos de otros.
Su propósito es t raernos
buenas noticias, las mejores de
todas: que Dios nos amó tanto,
que envió su único hijo para
que fuera como nosotros, que
naciera y muriera y sintiera en
su propia carne la esperanza y
la dicha, el dolor y la agonía de
nuestra existencia terrena.
¿Por qué no utilizar algunas
de las escrituras para orar antes de la cena durante las festividades? La madre, el padre
o los niños pueden leer la narración de la Navidad antes de
abrir los regalos, como recordatorio de que Jesús es el verdadero regalo de la Navidad.
Todos los demás regalos deben recordarnos a Jesús. Leer
las escrituras con anticipación
puede aclarar dicho mensaje,
pues las propias palabras de
Dios nos recuerdan el significado de esta época santa.
Hagan espacio para Dios en
sus vidas durante esta Navidad.
Escuchen cuidadosamente las
palabras de las Escrituras. Que
la lectura de la Palabra se convierta en parte de su tradición
anual en los días festivos, no
sólo al ir a Misa, sino también
en sus hogares.
Y que las palabras de los
ángeles a los pastores se conviertan, hoy y siempre, en su
bendición Navideña: “Gloria
a Dios en las alturas, y paz en
la tierra a quienes ama el Señor”.
¡Feliz Navidad! n
MORE ONLINE
Here are more news stories you
can read in the News Center
at www.miamiarch.org:
www.miamiarch.org
Page 3
CONCERTS
La Coral Cubana
Christmas concert, Sunday,
Dec. 20, 7 p.m., Blessed John
XXIII Parish, 16800 Miramar
Parkway, Miramar. Carols
in English, Spanish, Latin.
954-392-5063.
Christmas concert, Dec.
20, 2 p.m., St. Sebastian
Parish, 2000 S.E. 25 Ave., Fort
Lauderdale. 954-524-9344.
Christmas festival of
song, Sunday, Dec. 20, 3
p.m., St. Richard Parish, 7500
S.W. 152 St., Miami. Features
children’s musical, “Calling All
Angels,” seasonal carols and
Christmas choral music. Freewill offering. 305-233-8711.
Advent lessons and
carols, a service of light,
Tuesday, Dec. 22, 7 p.m.,
Church of the Little Flower,
2711 Indian Mound Trail, Coral
Gables. Performed by the
Schola Cantorum, the service
retells the story of God’s love
through Scripture and song.
305-446-9950.
Cathedral concert series,
St. Mary Cathedral, 7525
N.W. Second Ave., Miami.
Free. 305-759-4531 or
www.cathedralofstmary.
com: Thursday, Dec. 24, 11
p.m., “Prelude of Lessons
and Carols,” performed by
cathedral choir, directed by
Suzie Vidal Arsenault, with
master organist Stephen
Kolarac. Followed by
Christmas Eve midnight Mass.
RETREATS /DAYS
OF REFLECTION
MorningStar Renewal
Center, 7275 S.W. 124 St.,
Pinecrest. Registration
required for all programs.
305-238-4367, ext. 102; or visit
www.morningstarrenewal.org.
• Last session of “The Three
Comings of Jesus” Advent
series, Monday, Dec. 21,
9:30-11:30 a.m., facilitated by
Sue DeFerrari, Verline Moore
and Oblate Father Bill Mason.
$10; reservations required.
• Prayer for MorningStar,
FloridaCatholic
Your Faith. Your LiFe. Your CommunitY.
oF miami
Read it online every day at
www.miamiarch.org
Download the PDF once a week at
www.miamiarch.org
Get it free at your parish
once a month.
Monday, Dec. 21, 5:30-6 p.m.
Join in prayer for the effort to
retain MorningStar Renewal
Center.
• New Year’s Eve retreat,
Thursday, Dec. 31, 6-9:30 p.m.,
featuring dinner, presentation,
Mass. $30.
MASSES /PRAYER
SESSIONS
Advent reconciliation
service (confessions),
Monday, Dec. 21, 7:30
p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 22, 7:30
p.m., Our Lady of Lourdes,
11291 S.W. 142 Ave., Miami.
305-386-4121.
Communal penance
service in English and
Spanish, Dec. 23, Our Lady of
Mercy Parish, 5201 N. Military
Trail, Deerfield Beach. Mass
and penance service in English
only at 9 a.m.; in English and
Spanish at 7 p.m. Individual
confessions can be arranged
upon request. 954-421-3246.
Annual Migration Mass,
celebrated by Archbishop John
C. Favalora, Sunday, Jan. 3,
2010 (feast of the Epiphany),
10 a.m., St. Mary Cathedral,
7525 N.W. Second Ave.,
Miami. 305-759-4531 or www.
cathedralofstmary.com.
Songs and prayer in the
spirit of Taizé, Tuesday, Jan.
12, 2010, 7:30 p.m., Barry
University, Cor Jesu Chapel,
11300 N.E. Second Ave., Miami
Shores. Chant, Scripture, silent
reflection, intercessory prayer.
305-899-3650 or 305-458-9919.
CHRISTMAS EVE/
CHRISTMAS
MASSES
St. Mary Cathedral, 7525
N.W. Second Ave., Miami.
305-759-4531 or www.
cathedralofstmary.com.
Thursday, Dec. 24: confessions,
4:30 p.m.; vigil Mass in
English, 5:30 p.m.; Christmas
concert, 11 p.m., followed
by pontifical midnight Mass,
celebrated by Archbishop John
C. Favalora.
Friday, Dec. 25:
Latin Mass (ordinary rite), 6:30
a.m.; Kreyol Christmas Mass,
8 a.m.; English choir Mass, 10
a.m.; Spanish Christmas Mass,
noon.
St. Catherine of Siena,
9200 S.W. 107 Ave.,
Miami.
Christmas vigil Mass: Thursday,
Dec. 24, 6:30 p.m. (English);
choir performance (bilingual),
11:15 p.m., followed by
midnight Mass. Christmas
Mass: Friday, Dec. 25, 8:30
and 10:30 a.m. (English);
12:30 and 6 p.m. (Spanish).
305-274-6333.
Our Lady of Lourdes,
11291 S.W. 142 Ave., Miami.
Thursday, Dec. 24, vigil Masses
for Christmas: children’s
English Mass, 4 p.m.; Spanish
Mass, 6:30 p.m.; Christmas
choir concert, 11:30 p.m.;
bilingual Christmas Mass,
midnight. Friday, Dec. 25,
Christmas Day: 9 a.m., 11 a.m.
and 5 p.m. in English; 1 p.m.
and 6:30 p.m. in Spanish.
305-386-4121.
Korean Apostolate
Christmas Eve Mass,
Thursday, Dec. 24, 9 p.m.,
the Retreat Center, 3781
S.W. 39 St., West Hollywood.
Join the Korean Apostolate
for the Christmas evening
Mass followed by a big meal.
954-474-9091.
Vietnamese Apostolate
Christmas Day Mass and
celebration, Friday, Dec. 25,
2 p.m., St. Helen Parish, 3033
N.W. 33 Ave., Lauderdale
Lakes. Children will perform
a Christmas scene before
Mass; reception after Mass
with traditional food,
entertainment and famous
artists from Thuy Nga agency.
954-714-9860.
“Wigilia” supper and
midnight Mass, Thursday,
Dec. 24, Our Lady of
Czestochowa Polish Mission,
2400 N.E. 12 St., Pompano
Beach. Join the Polish
community in the Wigilia
supper, served at 10 p.m. on
Christmas Eve, traditionally
the most important family
celebration during the
Christmas season in Poland.
Father Klemens Dabrowski,
Society of Christ, will celebrate
the midnight Mass afterward.
954-946-6347.
NEW YEAR
MASSES
Cathedral of St. Mary,
7525 N.W. Second Ave.,
Miami. New Year’s vigil Mass,
Thursday, Dec. 31, 5:30 p.m.
(in English). Friday, Jan. 1,
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of
God, 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m. in
English; Kreyol National Mass,
10 a.m. 305-759-4531 or www.
cathedralofstmary.com.
St. Catherine of Siena,
9200 S.W. 107 Ave., Miami.
Bilingual Mass to welcome
Deadline for
Calendar listings
The Florida Catholic
welcomes calendar items
of parish/organization
events that are open to
the whole archdiocese.
There is no charge but
items must be in the Miami
office at least six weeks
before the event. To list
an event both on the Web
site and in the newspaper,
go to www.miamiarch.
org, click on the banner
“announce your event
for free” and follow the
instructions. Notices may
be sent by e-mail: arsoto@
theadom.org; fax: 305-7621132; mail: The Florida
Catholic, 9401 Biscayne
Blvd., Miami, FL 33138.
the New Year, Thursday, Dec.
31, 11:15 p.m; vigil Mass in
Spanish, 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1,
Solemnity of Mary, Mother
of God: 10:30 a.m., English;
12:30 and 6 p.m., Spanish.
305-274-6333.
FAITH
EDUCATION
“Living Pentecost:
A Process of Spiritual
Growth,” Saturday, Dec. 21,
9:30 a.m., English; 11 a.m.,
Spanish, St. Catherine of Siena,
9200 S.W. 107 Ave., Miami.
Adult formation for parish
ministers. 305-274-6353.
Natural family planning
classes, various locations,
offered by Couple to Couple
League. $75, includes course
fee, materials, subscription
to Couple-to-Couple League
follow-up publication. www.
southfloridanfp.org.
“Being Catholic” study
circle, Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Our
Lady of Mercy Parish hall,
5201 Military Trail, Deerfield
Beach. For those interested
in learning about the faith
or those who want to delve
deeper into it. 954-421-3246 or
[email protected].
VOCATIONS
Discerning a vocation to
the priesthood? Meeting
Monday, Dec. 21, in English
and Spanish, Pastoral Center,
9401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami.
305-762-1137 or vocations@
theadom.org.
FloridaCatholic
Page 4
IMAGE COURTESY OF PAX CATHOLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Shown is a close-up view of the Blessed Sacrament at Mother of Our Redeemer Parish in Miami as seen in the virtual chapel available
24/7 online at Pax Catholic Communication’s Web site, www.paxcc.org.
ADORATION
From Page 1
welcomes all to post their prayer
intentions as they pray before the
Blessed Sacrament.
The virtual adoration chapel
allows homebound individuals,
those who are sick in hospitals, or
anyone constrained by distance
or time to pray before the Blessed
the Sacrament and place their
petitions from anywhere at any
time.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and in this case it combined with divine inspiration to
give birth to the idea for this online service.
At 3 a.m. one day, struggling
with a difficult situation, Gonzalo
Penagos felt the need to visit the
Blessed Sacrament. Penagos is
director of operations for PaxNet,
a satellite programming service
that comes under the umbrella of
Pax Catholic Communications,
whose flagship station is Radio
Paz 830 AM.
Penagos remembers searching
the Web hoping to find a 24-hour
broadcast of the Blessed Sacrament.
“All I found were photos, but
nothing live,” he said.
He felt that there should be
a place on the World Wide Web
that allowed individuals in need
of prayer to speak to Jesus face to
face, if only in cyberspace.
He shared his idea with Isaúl
Gonzalez, chief operations officer for Pax Catholic Communications, and they both approached
Father Jaime Acevedo, pastor of
Mother of Our Redeemer Parish
in Miami.
Father Acevedo was more than
willing to help out by setting up a
camera and Internet connection
in Mother of Our Redeemer’s Holy
Family Chapel, where the Blessed
Sacrament is reserved.
The chapel lent itself perfectly
for the project, Penagos said. It
is visually appealing yet simple,
and has excellent lighting for recording.
The tabernacle in which the
Eucharist is reserved is also perfect: Nontraditional in design, it
has two little windows, or flaps,
which can be opened up to reveal the Eucharist. This keeps
the Blessed Sacrament visible yet
protected, since it cannot be unattended while it is exposed.
The design allows it to be vis-
ible to the camera even when it is
not exposed, said Penagos, who
set up the equipment and continues to oversee its operation.
The Web site features a virtual
wall on which prayer requests
can be posted. Radio Paz’s intercession ministry, along with the
Servants of the Pierced Hearts of
Jesus and Mary, an archdiocesan
religious community, pray for the
posted intentions.
Approximately 1,000 prayer requests are e-mailed to the site on
a daily basis. Visitors come from
all over Latin America, Spain and
the U.S.
The service, which was first
announced on Radio Paz, drew
an even larger number of visitors after Gonzalez mentioned it
on EWTN, the Catholic television
network. n