March 13, 2010

25th Anniversary’s jubilant finale to be HUGE

As the diocese’s 25th anniversary celebration winds down, planners are preparing for a grand finale Oct. 24 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PALM BEACH BUREAU EDITOR

Posted: 09.17.09

WEST PALM BEACH | Everyone is invited Friday, Sept. 25, to a 7 p.m. celebration at St. Helen Parish in Vero Beach for the last in a series of deanery Masses commemorating the silver jubilee of the Diocese of Palm Beach, but the yearlong anniversary celebration is far from being over.

The diocese encourages everyone to participate in an energetic, jubilant and spiritual grand finale Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in downtown West Palm Beach. It will conclude the 25th anniversary festivities, gathering Catholics of the five-county faith community as a family in grand celebration.

“We are excited,” said Jeanne Clark, director of music and liturgy at St. Paul of the Cross in North Palm Beach, who directs the diocesan choir.

Clark is organizing the choirs, musicians and liturgical dancers for the finale. And there is probably no better person to help add to the historical moment and capture the spirit of the theme, “Thanksgiving and Celebration of Diversity.”

“I was at the first official opening Mass,” said Clark, about the opening and dedication of the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola on Oct. 6, 1984, which was both exciting and eventful.

Clark was singing in the choir and during the Mass an announcement brought news that Bishop Thomas V. Daily was taking the helm as first leader of the brand new Diocese of Palm Beach. Bishop Daily was installed nearly three weeks later, on Oct. 24.

“It was the birth of the diocese,” Clark said. “People always say, ‘Remember the fire?’”

Yes, the first Mass was not without incident.

Annette Russell, executive secretary for Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito who was part of the first pastoral staff, recalls all the excitement of the people and the fire at the cathedral opening.

“They were burning, I believe, palms in a hibachi, which caught fire on the altar,” she explained. “An usher went up to remove it. As he was coming down, it got so hot he could no longer hold on to it and dropped it. The carpet caught on fire. There were some gasps, but no one panicked. The fire was put out, and Mass went on.”

Clark hopes to cause some excitement at the finale with the explosive music planned. The guest list is impressive, too. Bishop Daily, 82, a resident of New York now, and Auxiliary Bishop John G. Noonan and Archbishop John C. Favalora of the Miami Archdiocese are expected to attend.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Participants are asked to arrive at 10 a.m., when the music begins with singers and musicians from different parishes showcasing the diverse talents and ethnicities of the diocese.

“There might be 500 or so,” Clark said about the number of singers.

Songs will be presented throughout the morning in different languages. Some traditional Church hymns will be sung in Latin, too.

“I am asking the groups to dress in bright, solid colors. We will all mix together as one,” said Clark about the concept of sticking to the theme of diversity, while highlighting and continuing to adhere to the 25th anniversary theme, “A Eucharistic People.”

Mass, scheduled to start at 11 a.m., is being organized by Father Brian King, the diocese’s episcopal secretary. Bishop Barbarito is main celebrant, and young adults and others from various parishes are invited to serve as ushers and greeters.

“The procession will consist of members of the various organizations in the diocese,” Father King explained about invitations to schools and groups, including the Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus, Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, Knights of Malta and others to take part.

“Altar servers from all the parishes are being selected to represent their parishes in the procession as well,” Father King added.

Celebration readings will be in Creole and Spanish, and the Gospel will be in English, and representatives of the women religious will lead prayers at times. An African-American youth group will perform a liturgical dance of thanksgiving, while young musicians of Life Teen groups play the World Youth Day 2008 hymn, “Receive the Power.”

After the homily, Bishop Barbarito will lead a diocesan consecration to Mary.

“Members of the Vietnamese community in traditional costume will escort a statue down the center aisle singing traditional Vietnamese hymns. The bishop will then lead the consecration to the Blessed Mother,” explained Father King.

A reception with light refreshments will follow the Mass. The food is still being planned at this point, but organizers hope to stick to the diversity theme and feature ethnic fare. This will be a time of fellowship and a time to reminisce and share thoughts about days past.

PIONEERS’ THOUGHTS

Taking a informal survey around the diocese, the Florida Catholic found some excited longtime parishioners who saw the Diocese of Palm Beach conceived and have watched it grow in ministries, parishes, clergy and faithful.

“I am very proud of the diocese,” said Dulce Maria Roine, parish secretary at St. Juliana in West Palm Beach, who was in the diocese at the time of its establishment and has been with St. Juliana for 29 years. “We flourished into a new diocese. It was exciting. We have a wonderful diocese. The priests are delightful. I am proud of all the accomplishments. I am very happy here and have made many friends. It is like my home.”

Elaine Messina, who has worshipped at Ascension Parish in Boca Raton since 1971, has also been here since the beginning.

“I am absolutely excited,” she said. “It is a momentous time. We have grown so much. It is something that has unified,” she said about watching the various 53 parishes and missions, and parishioners unite in prayer, initiatives and faith over the years.

Russell of Bishop Barbarito’s office moved to Palm Beach County in 1970. She began with the diocese under founding Bishop Daily and has served under all five bishops. Russell said she is excited about the jubilee year, and considers her life blessed for being part of the beginnings and growth that continues today under Bishop Barbarito, who marked his sixth year as leader July 1.

“It is a great experience to be part of this diocese at the beginning of its growth, and to be part of the excitement of establishing new parishes and the ministries that were happening,” said Russell. “New people were coming aboard. There was so much enthusiasm going on. It was a wonderful time. To be part of the diocese has been a wonderful experience. It has been just awesome. I have been very fortunate and blessed.”

Chancellor Lorraine Sabatella has also been with the diocese in various roles since it began. She said in the beginning days. the family of staff assisting Bishop Daily was very small.

“I tend to look back on the history of the Diocese of Palm Beach with the eyes of a mother and grandmother,” she said. “Our parent dioceses, Miami and Orlando, gave us a solid foundation upon which to build and grow. I watched with wonder and excitement as this baby diocese developed, taking baby steps at first, finding its voice, and blossoming to adulthood.

“As in all families, there have been and will continue to be times of trouble, sadness, disappointment, but all in all, as in most families, these are overshadowed by all the moments of wonder and joy,” she continued.

“We’re still very young, but I think we are well-grounded and have a wonderful future ahead. Just as I pray daily for my children and grandchildren, I pray for Bishop Barbarito, our priests and the entire Diocese of Palm Beach to continue to be a true witness to the love of Christ and to be his voice in a troubled world.”

 

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