Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando appointed to Lead the Archdiocese of Miami. Miami is in for a Ride!

His Episcopal motto is "Omnia omnibus" - "All things to everyone" taken from the Apostle Paul. His courageous policy positions are well known. He embraces Catholic Social Doctrine in its fullness. A friend of the immigrant and the poor he is also a strong defender of every human person from conception to natural death and at every age and stage.

MIAMI, FL (Catholic Online) - An Archdiocese which is home to 900,000 Catholics and one of the most beautiful Cities in the Nation, Miami, Florida is welcoming home a native born son to serve as its Fourth Archbishop. Soon to be Archbishop Thomas Wenski will succeed Archbishop John Favalora, who has resigned his post eight months before mandatory retirement age. It seems, contrary to the old adage,  you can go home again. The response among the faithful of Miami to the selection of their new Archbishop was great joy. The news is being treated like the soon return of a beloved son. Bishop Thomas Wenski  was born to a Polish immigrant father and a Polish-American mother. He was raised in Lake Worth and attended his parish school, Sacred Heart. He did not wander far from the nest even to respond to his vocation to the priesthood. He studied at St. John Vianney Minor Seminary in Miami-Dade and went on to St. Vincent de Paul Major Seminary in Boynton Beach. He was ordained as priest for the Archdiocese of Miami in 1976. At the age of 46, Fr. Thomas Wenski was then ordained a Bishop. The wonderful event took place in the old Miami Arena to a packed assembly. Now he will become the first native Floridian to assume the leadership of this burgeoning and challenging Archdiocese. Recently interviewed by Orlando's Channel 13, Bishop Wenski was asked about the challenge of assuming this post. He responded with the kind of grit which has made him both fruitful in his service and beloved by God's faithful "I have been told that Miami has its challenges. What else is new? But the Lord tells us, do not be afraid." Amen to that! This American of Polish stock looks like he could have come from the same home town as the Venerable John Paul II. Yet he is clearly at home in his beloved South Florida. His first assignment was to a Hispanic parish. He spent a substantial amount of his ministry in the early years building and leading a dynamic Haitian apostolate, the Pierre Toussaint Haitian Catholic Center in Miami. A vibrant witness to the true meaning of Catholic Social Teaching's call to a love of preference for the poor, the Center Fr. Wenski helped to build embodied it. The center provided social, educational, legal and life assistance to Haitian immigrants. In fact, his love for the people of Haiti led him to that suffering Nation right after January's quake. He is an ardent champion of immigrants and a supporter of true immigration reform. In 1997, when he was consecrated as a successor to the Apostles, he served as an auxiliary Bishop of Miami. Then, in 2004 he was called to serve the Diocese of Orlando. There he led the Diocese in an extensive period of strengthening its mission and identity. His service in Orlando included launching a dynamic and thriving $150 million capital campaign. It also included extensive renovation of the cathedral of St. James and the erection of the stunningly beautiful National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe which  was granted official designation as a  "Basilica" in 2009. It was in 2009 that I had the privilege of meeting Bishop Wenski and serving as his Deacon at Holy Mass. I attended the Catholic Leadership Conference on the weekend of September 10, 2009. The conference, led with great skill by my friend Dr. Deal Hudson and his gifted team, has become one of the highlights of every year for me. As is their custom, the steering committee seeks a Bishop who will welcome them into his Diocese. This past year, it was Bishop Thomas Wenski. I will never forget meeting him. It took place in this absolutely beautiful Church dedicated to Our Lady, planted, by design, smack dab in the middle of the tourist sites to serve as a missionary outpost and spiritual pilgrimage site. It is nothing short of extraordinary  - from its grounds to its embracing sacred beauty within which draws you into worship. When Bishop Wenski came to greet us, I immediately liked him. He has smiling eyes and a down to earth, humble, inviting demeanor. I grew up in the inner City of Dorchester Massachusetts and I felt like I was back home with this salt of the earth "man's man." I asked him where he was from and was somewhat taken aback when he told me he was a "native Floridian". Of course, as many of my readers know, my champion in life is the Venerable John Paul II. Meeting him in person in Rome changed my life forever. When I met Bishop Wenski I immediately thought back to that moment. His physical characteristics make him look like he could have grown up alongside of the late Pope. He shook our hands with the strength of a man "comfortable in his skin". He interacted with us with the genuine warmth of someone who loves to be with people. Bishop Wenski is clearly a Shepherd with the heart of the Good Shepherd. When I commented on the utter beauty of the Basilica he immediately began to explain every piece of religious sculpture and art. He was effusive in his description. His enthusiasm was contagious. He spoke with particular fondness of a bronze rendering of Joseph and the child Jesus in the carpenters shop. I told him I had deep love for Joseph and have been drawn into the mystery revealed in the bond he had with the child Jesus - and what it teaches us about fathering, the dignity of human work and the call to holiness in the stuff of everyday life. This wonderful Bishop then insisted on showing it to me personally. I followed him as led me briskly to the side of the sanctuary. Upon arrival I agreed that his enthusiasm over the work of sacred art is well earned. All I could do was pause in silence to pray and reflect. He then invited me to serve as his deacon at the Sacred Liturgy. It was one of the many honors of the 14 years I have been ordained. His presence at the altar, love of the Lord and living faith had a deep impact upon me and all who were present at Mass. This is a Bishop truly in love with Jesus and clearly comfortable in his apostolic office. Throughout the weekend, he stayed with the participants at the conference and made everyone feel comfortable, exuding the demeanor of a spiritual father. This is a strong leader in an age desperately in need of true strength. The people of Miami are fortunate to receive him. The Bishop will be installed as Archbishop of Miami on June 1, 2010. In a prepared statement to the faithful of the Orlando Diocese he said "I am being called back to that local Church where I was ordained a priest and where I served as a parish priest and auxiliary bishop. . I am deeply grateful to the clergy, religious and faithful of the Diocese of Orlando who almost seven years ago welcomed me as coadjutor bishop on August 22, 2003. As your bishop since November 13, 2004, I have enjoyed your support and affection." His Episcopal motto is "Omnia omnibus" -- "All things to everyone" taken from the Apostle Paul. I experienced how apt that motto is in my brief encounter with this good man. His courageous policy positions are well known. He embraces Catholic Social Doctrine in its fullness, as it is rightly understood.  A friend of the immigrant and the poor he is also of necessity a strong defender of every human person from conception to natural death and at every age and stage. That includes children in the first home of the whole human race, those whom Mother Teresa rightly called the "poorest of the poor".  He does not back down from controversy as evidenced when he offered a Mass of Reparation after the University Of Notre Dame conferred an honorary Doctor of Law degree on President Obama. The Presidents opposition to the Right to Life for our youngest neighbors is well known. The Bishop is a man well acquainted with the important public policy issues of our day. He cannot be "pigeonholed" by those who seek to marginalize Catholics by putting limiting political labels on us. He gave the invocation at the Republican convention. He has served on government commissions on homelessness. He has helped lead important efforts such as the delivery of 75 tons of food to Cuba after a devastating hurricane. He is still affirmed for his personal visit to Haiti after the devastating earthquake. He is well known for his love for the people of Haiti.  We invite all of our readers to pray for soon to be Archbishop Thomas Wenski as he responds once again to the call of the Lord whom he has served with such fidelity and courage. In my meager effort to report on this appointment and communicate some of the uniqueness of this good man, I cannot leave out the delightful fact that he loves to ride his Harley. Will he ride that motorcycle to the Cathedral on the day of his installation? Somehow I doubt it. But, who knows? If nothing else - it is a good symbol on which to end. Miami is in for a ride!  

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