Florida Catholic | Bishop Wenski’s Column

After 40 years, “the Holy Spirit continues to breathe life” into Orlando Diocese

Published: 05.09.08

Festival of Faith

Remember to attend the Festival of Faith — May 8-10, Orange County Convention Center, South Concourse, International Drive, off I-4, Orlando — celebrating the Diocese of Orlando’s 40th anniversary and the “Year of Evangelization.” For more information, visit the Web site: www.festivaloffaith.org.

During the days and weeks after Easter, we have read from the Acts of the Apostles during the Liturgy. This short book of the New Testament recounts the early history of the nascent Church – from her beginnings on Pentecost Sunday to her expansion to the center of the then-known world, Rome. The theme of Acts could well be summarized by these words: “The number of disciples continued to grow. …” (Acts 6:1). These words describe the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit as He began to work within the Church from her very beginnings.

The promised Spirit descended on the Apostles on that first Pentecost when they, in the presence of Mary, were gathered at prayer in that upper room. This gift of the Holy Spirit marked, if not the Church’s birthday (St. John has the Church being born in the blood and water flowing from Christ’s pierced side), then certainly her “baptism.”

“The number of disciples continued to grow. …” These words while situated within the context of a particular chapter and verse of a particular book of the New Testament – because of that same Holy Spirit – stretch across the centuries and across the continents to describe not only ancient history, but also present reality.

Here in central Florida, the Holy Spirit continues to breathe life into that portion of the Body of Christ that is the Diocese of Orlando. Our Diocese was established by Pope Paul VI in the summer of 1968. The history of this diocese – like any history forged by fallen human beings – is full of lights and shadows.

It suffices to remember that the ’60s, while they began with great enthusiasm and optimism, were years of no little uncertainty and confusion. The year of our founding – 1968 – was the year of the radical student riots in Europe, of race riots in the United States; it was the year of the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy; it was the year of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, the year of “Humanae Vitae” and the beginning of great defections from the Church and contentious dissent within her.

These were hardly auspicious times for a new diocese to get started. Yet, despite the shortcomings and foibles of her human members, the Church of God has continued to spread and grow here in central Florida. Who could deny these past 40 years have been years of grace? We can look back on these years – and on the bishops, priests, religious and the members of Christ’s faithful who have served the Church in this area so well – with great gratitude.

“The number of disciples continued to grow. … ” The Holy Spirit has continued to breathe life into that portion of the Body of Christ that is the Diocese of Orlando. Within these boundaries of the nine counties that make up the Diocese of Orlando today, there are more than 800,000 Catholics.

Realizing that what we do is in continuity with a long tradition, one that is ultimately guided and directed by the Holy Spirit, can help us maintain a healthy perspective that will help us embrace the challenges of the present with enthusiasm and those of the future with confidence.

Without that perspective we risk perhaps forgetting that what we do – after all – is the Lord’s work, not our own. On this our 40th anniversary, we do well to remember Pope Benedict XVI’s words: “In all humility we will do what we can, and in all humility we will entrust the rest to the Lord. It is God who governs the world, not we. We offer him our service only to the extent that we can, and for as long as he grants us the strength. To do all we can with what strength we have, however, is the task which keeps the good servant of Jesus Christ always at work: ‘The love of Christ urges us on’” (2 Cor 5:14; No. 35 “Deus Caritas Est”).

“The number of disciples continued to grow. … ” May the Holy Spirit make each one of us more fully “Alive in Christ” and a “Witness to Hope” so that these words will also describe the Diocese of Orlando in its next 40 years.

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After 40 years, “the Holy Spirit continues to breathe life” into Orlando Diocese

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