Our Lady of Lourdes dedicates new baptistery

By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

MIAMI | Because of a scheduling conflict, Archbishop Thomas Wenski could not make it to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish on Jan. 11, feast of the baptism of the Lord. But he came the next Sunday, Jan. 18, to celebrate Mass and dedicate the church’s new baptistery.

The parish retained the same baptismal font that had been used in the church for years. But instead of keeping it along a back wall, it now occupies a prominent place near the front of the church.

“When people come back to see where our local saints were baptized as children we can proudly and with confidence state that it was in that font,” explained Msgr. Kenneth Schwanger, Our Lady of Lourdes’ pastor, in a message to parishioners.

To highlight the importance of the sacrament, the area behind the baptismal font features a stunning relief depicting the baptism of Jesus. Artists in Granda, Spain, created the relief and designed the baptistery.

“I think they were particularly sensitive to the beauty and structure of our church and for that reason the new baptistery looks like it was part of the original design, and had been there all along,” Msgr. Schwanger said.

He also pointed out that the baptistery includes an ambry holding the sacred oils which are blessed each year by the archbishop at the Chrism Mass.

“The sacred chrism stands alone on the top shelf,” Msgr. Schwanger said. “It is the oil used to configure us uniquely to Christ. It is used at our baptism, our confirmation, and for holy orders — those sacraments that change us forever and are never repeated. On the second shelf is the oil of catechumens, used at our baptism to strengthen us in Christ; and the oil of the sick, used to bring us healing in the sacrament of the sick.”

In his message, Msgr. Schwanger also reminded the people of Our Lady of Lourdes that “as the parish family has been crucial to making our new baptistery possible (so it) shares in the mission of Jesus to go and baptize the nations.”