May this blog 'connect' us as the 'body of Christ'
Monday, August 18, 2008
Bishop Felipe Estevez
A new eucharistic prayer says: “Keep your church alert in faith to the signs of the times and eager to accept the challenge of the Gospel.”
Blogs are a sign of the times. Peoples of the world are able to communicate instantly with others in the global village. Today, the Archdiocese of Miami embraces this sign of communication. Each week our readers will interact with me or Father Manny Alvarez, seminarian Luis Rivero, Sister Silvia Tarafa, Mrs. Cheryl Whapham, Gloria Luna and others. We are honored to start with this first set of authors, which as you can see reflects the different states of life in the church. More names will be added to this roster.
You are invited to submit your comments to all the blogs. We hope to get back to you, and through you, to the hundreds of readers who will be part of the conversation.
This bold initiative of our Communications Department takes place on the 2000th anniversary of the birth of St. Paul. This is more than a coincidence. For Paul, the Good News needed to reach all peoples. He kept connecting new and diverse communities through letters, greetings and messages. The love of Christ impels us, he said. It is the same love that animates us in this blog project.
A unique feature of being a bishop in the Archdiocese of Miami is being in contact with a vast variety of faith communities from Key West to Deerfield Beach, from Miami Beach to Weston or Kendall. This variety reflects the beauty of the potentialities of the Spirit of God renewing his church. I dream that this new blog will connect us — the Body of Christ — better and more often. I dream that our conversation will reach not only those in the boundaries of our archdiocese but the entire planet —because now, it is possible.
Most Reverend Felipe J. Estévez, S.T.D.
Auxiliary Bishop of Miami
Comments from readers
Yes your idea of using our blog to learn more about St. Paul is sound.
This 2000 anniversary of his birth in Tarso (today Turkey) has produced a great momentum. I think this grace is related to John Paul II's dream for the new evangelization in all continents of the world and to Aparecida"s call for a Continental mission in America and for the next International Synod on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church which begins in October in Rome. The Gospel is for all!
Father Alejandro Roque, Pastor of St. Stephen
Your comments on how hurricane Andrew revealed such solidarity in the Catholic community helped me to remember how true that was. The Archdiocesan 50 years Jubilee has given us Samples of that unity amidst our diversity. I hope we will also show that unity in voting in November in favor of Amendment 2 which seeks to protect and enhance marriage as God intends for us.
Peace!
Les escribo al amanecer del Sabado, 23 de Agosto '' decimo sexto aniversario del impacto del Huracan Andres en el Sur de la Florida. Me parece mentira todo lo que ha pasado desde ese amanecer del dia Lunes, cuando un huracan categoria 5 impacto y desvasto esta comunidad. Son muchos los recuerdos que me vienen a mente... lo duro que fue la reconstruccion. Pero tambien vi tantas bendiciones en medio de esa horrible tragedia.
Recuerdo que antes de la tormenta habia mucha desconfiaza entre los diversos grupos que componen esta sociedad (incluyendo la Iglesia donde soy parroco.... entonces yo era vicario). Cuando la Beata Madre Teresa de Calcuta vino a MIami y hablo en la Parroquia de San Francisco Javier en Overtown ante un diverso publico de Lideres Comunitarios, Eclesiales, Laicos y curiosos ella dijo algo como: "Miami, una ciudad tan linda por fuera con sus bellos edificios... pera tan fria y vacia por su falta de amor!"
La desvastacion de toda esa 'belleza' sirvio para romper las barreras entre las gentes y por primera vez y reconocernos como creaturas de Dios. Vi a todos trabajar juntos, olvidandose si eran cubanos o latino-americanos, norte-americanos, afro-americanos, etc. Desde ese momento en adelante hubo una gran evolucion en el espiritu de la gente en San Esteban en Miramar, al igual que en todas partes de Miami que fue para el beneficio de la sociedad.
Me gustaria que los que somos mas viejitos comentaran sus recuerdos para las futuras generaciones en este tema... especialmente por el papel tan importante que tuvo nuestra Iglesia Catolica en la reconstruccion de nuestra ciudad y comunidad '' fuimos los primeros en ayudar en el area de Homestead... y los ultimos en salir!
Bendiciones y 'Shalom' para todos!
Padre Alex Roque, OMI
I hope the Squires will also connect with our blog.
Patricia C
Affirming the other has a great synergy. Fifteen years after being a priest I received a grace to accept love from my flock; this grace was very liberating and made my promise of celibacy more fulfilling.
Luis
Thank you for your suggestion. My vote goes to St. Paul.
Felipe Barreda
From this day on I will be praying for Victor Nicholas. In my daily rosary the names of the sick come to my heart.
Todd
We will need to discuss your idea. At times we need to give reasons of our hope to others even for our own convincing�
Andrew Meszaros
Your comments are very constructive and will enable others to participate
Sue Deferrari
Our Spiritual Center Morningstar is a cool resource also.
I look forward to my day of recollection next January there on St. Paul.
Steven
Benedict XVI is an example in engaging in vigorous debate the only limitation is that at least myself I do not possess vast knowledge and time for research and I need time to think things carefully.
Harold Dopico
Thank you. Newman said we are a link in a chain; this blog enables us to see it.
Monica Vega
Blessings to John Paul when I see him your little baby my heart rejoices.
Cira Aguilar
Gracias por tu apoyo. Ya hice una peregrinacion a la tumba de San Pablo en las afueras de Roma y alli experimente la gracia de este jubileo
Mirian Novoa
A teacher is not forgotten. Thank you for your interest. Today I met with one of your students. She came to introduce her fianc�e to me. Catholic education is fruitful in a wider scope of time.
Claudio
Thank you for your suggestion. We will improve.
Lucia Mor
I share with you the same hope that is why I said yes to the invitation.
Msgr. Tomas Marin
Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for your involvement in EWTN to share teachings on issues of bioethics or explaining to the great audience Benedict�s visit to us last spring. You will be surprise to know that even in Sidney I was reading our bloggers. They informed me a lot.
Claudio Croce
I still do not know you personally but I am grateful for your openness to comments received.
Chuck O�Halloran
I see your point on internet and print media. I am finding an enriching complementary taking place.
Rene Medina Sr.
The wind is one of the most enduring images of the Spirit. I will never forget your comment.
Sara Torres
I thank you for your encouragement. Your music filled with quality lyrics help our evangelizing efforts.
Luis
Thank you for your patience and your hope that we will grow your comments are always welcome. Thank you for sharing yours with us.
Bernardo Garcia-Granda, MD
Thank you for your encouragement. May the spirit of St. Francis help us.
Lisette Lantigua
Yes you are right John Paul the Great was not afraid of technology as long as it helped the dignity of humans and the common good.
Isabel Lopez Healy
I share your objectives which are very clear
Frank Pages
Your words affirm me and I thank you for your eyes which see the invisible.
Maria Teresa Lopez
I am like you. I am thrilled the future generation seeks God boldly.
Irvin
Thank you for you enthusiasm. We feel something new is emerging. John Paul II used to dream of a civilization of love.
Antonio Fernandez
I was very happy to read your message and think of your beautiful marriage and family.
Alexandra Medina
When I read your first two words I wondered if you were writing from China. I even thought could it be someone from the Olympics?
Walter
I like your circles of audiences�and there are many others.
Francisco Javier Camps
Bendiciones a ti y tu bella familia. Recuerdo a tus nietos quienes me ayudaron en el altar.
Helena Ruiz
You are on target we hope God will be all in all our efforts
Javier Plumey
Thank you for your encouragement and constructive ideas.
I hope to know more about your show.
David
Your patron saint is great. I am glad we have a parish in his name.
He witnessed in his own body the love of the Crucified. He dedicated to the Immaculate his remarkable printing apostolate.
Chris Wills
You understand deeply the impact of media communication and the difference Catholic media can make in people�s life.
I know some people have suggested improvements (I being one of them) Hang in there! This is a great beginning and if anyone deserves a blog it is our Archdiocese! I pray that you are able to incorporate some of the recommendations without too much difficulty. Have you considering dedicating the blog to the patronage of a saint? If I am not mistaken St. Isadore might be the patron of the Internet.
Luis
http://faithandreasoninmiami.blogspot.com
Mr. Barreda, you, your son and your whole family are in my prayers tonight.
Thank you for this gift of communication. May the Lord bless this endeavor. I also ask for prayers for my son 23 month old son Victor Nicholas Manuel Barreda who is suffering with Leukemia. God bless, Felipe
What a great initiative!!! Thank you for the invitation to continue to build up the community of faith in such a "cool" way. Looking forward to meeting you all here.
A WARM EMBRACE FROM YOUR FAMILY AT ST. AUGUSTINE CHURCH AND CATHOLIC STUDENT CENTER IN CORAL GABLES!
P.S. Rigo and John Paul send you their love! <><
With love from your old St. Agatha faculty. :)
Claudio - adding the RSS would be ideal.
This initiative will open communication between the Church and the People of God (the people in the pews). This blog will give equal access to all to express opinions, ideas and concerns. May we take this opportunity to reach out to each other in Faith, Hope and Love in Christ Jesus. Lucia M. Mor
How happy I am to see the Archdiocese take this step into the blogosphere. I agree with JAVIER PLUMEY that the blog is a bit primitive. However, many great projects have had even more humble beginnings. While I too would prefer all the "bells and whistles," I will be making this blog part of my usual blogosphere reading list and join the list of those applauding the start of your blog.
May the Lord continue to bless you according to the perfect intercession of His Immaculate Mother,
Luis
http://faithandreasoninmiami.blogspot.com
God Bless and thank you for your service.
Gods blessings for this new project
In JC
Amen
God bless you all and continue providing you with the grace and energy to maintain this new form of apostolate and evangelization.
felicito a la arquidiocecis. Que todo sea para el beneficio de todos. Le
pedimos su bendicion.
I would also add that one of the most important aspects of a blog is the RSS syndication feed, which these blogs currently lack. These feeds allow subscribers to use special software such as Google Reader and others to be notified of new posts and to read the posts on mobile devices. I highly recommend that your staff look into implementing an RSS feed for each of your blogs, for without the RSS feed, the blog page is really just a web page.
God Bless,
Javier Plumey
Host, The Hands and Feet Show
http://www.beyourhands.com