Oasis for immigrants

By Blanca Morales - Florida Catholic

MIAMI | A lot can change in three quarters of a century. But as Sts. Peter and Paul Parish celebrated its 75th anniversary this month, parishioners and school staff noted that the parish's spirit of service and community have not diminished.

When the parish was founded in December 1938, its founding pastor, Father Robert Brennan, set out to build a community of faith. He could not foresee the changes that would occur less than 25 years later, when thousands of Cuban families began arriving in South Florida.

The church’s pastor at the time, Msgr. Bryan Walsh, who is considered the spiritual father of the exiles, extended a welcome to the huddled masses who fled the tempests of communist Cuba.

He urged the parish school, which was then staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph, to find desks to accommodate the new students, who would in time grow up to become dedicated members of the Sts. Peter and Paul community.

One of them was Rosa Lopez. Even though her family could not afford to send all nine of their children to Catholic school, Msgr. Walsh found a way to help them. If a child was deprived of anything, he would make sure they experienced the same blessings as all the other children — even if it meant taking money out of his own pocket.

Teachers also ensured the same level of education for the incoming students by teaching a second session. Most teachers even found themselves having to learn Spanish in order to reach out to the growing student body. One of them was Sister Margaret Mary Lyons, who carried a list of essential vocabulary words during her second shift.

Their effort was duly noted — so much so that it inspired Lopez to join the order. Upon her return to school grounds for the anniversary Mass, Sister Lopez noted that everything looked exactly the same as she remembered — even the cafeteria tables had not changed.

The sisters taught at the school until 1991. Their successors are lay, many of whom are alumni and parishioners. 

Cafeteria tables aside, changes have taken place at Sts. Peter and Paul School, including the use of the latest technology. Current pastor Father Juan Lopez credits school principal Carlota Morales, who began as a teacher at the school in 1968, for leading the school in academic advancement.

Yet she believes in keeping tradition alive.

"We cannot build a future without looking to the past," said Morales, who is the school's first lay principal.

The bilingual diamond jubilee Mass, celebrated Nov. 29 by Archbishop Thomas Wenski, reflected the demographic changes of the parish community.

Fifty years ago — let alone 75 — salsa-infused hymns were unheard of, and Spanish language Masses took place in the school auditorium while English language Mass was celebrated in the church. The "Anglo" priests would then be baffled when their Cuban parishioners loitered after Mass.

"That was our social life, our time of fellowship," said Roberto Hernandez, a parishioner for 47 years.

Like many of his contemporaries, Hernandez has seen his children and grandchildren attend the parochial school and become active members of the parish.

The after-Mass social hour also paved the way for Hispanic ministries in the parish.

The Cursillo movement became one of the first ministries to foster community among Hispanics, though one of its participants was a “Spanish-speaking gringo" seminarian named Thomas Wenski.

The parish today welcomes people from all corners of the globe, not just Cubans but also Latin Americas and immigrants from Europe and Africa.

"We might travel on rough seas, but we are not adrift," the archbishop said in his homily.

He explained the literal meaning of the word parish: "a sojourn in a foreign land, or a community of sojourners." And he reminded those present that a parish should be a "community of love and school of prayer."

"This parish is an oasis for God’s people," said Archbishop Wenski. "This is what Sts. Peter and Paul Parish has meant to its parishioners for 75 years."

Though she has seen many changes at Sts. Peter and Paul, Morales said she relishes that which has not changed: "Love, hope and that welcoming spirit that has opened its arms to everyone.”