By Lizsandra Trastoy - Florida Catholic Newspaper
Photographer: Lizsandra Trastoy
Catholic Hospice staff present at the Memorial Mass on June 20, at St. Hugh Church.
Photographer: Lizsandra Trastoy
Bonnie Alkema, executive director of Catholic Hospice, thanked families for trusting her staff in the care of their loved ones.
Photographer: Lizsandra Trastoy
From left to right: Zuzel Echevarria, a parishioner of St. Kevin Church, with her family members: Alejandro Suarez, Marisol Padron Suarez and Jorge Suarez. They attended the memorial Mass for Echevarria's husband, who passed away last December.
MIAMI| "Death is not the end of human life but a door into eternal life." Archbishop Thomas Wenski emphasized these words in his homily for this year’s Catholic Hospice Memorial Mass, held at St. Hugh Church.
About 200 families came on June 20 to the Mass, held annually for families to gain closure, as it honors and remembers those who have passed away in the last year.
"When you lose someone, there is the idea of being able to say goodbye -- to know they are in the hands of God, and that you have reassurance in your faith," said said Bonnie Alkema, executive director for Catholic Hospice. "I think this Mass is important because we all need to say, ‘I miss you, I’m still here, and I know that there is eternal life and we will one day meet again.’"
Archbishop Wenski’s homily emphasized not only the significance of the services provided by Catholic Hospice, but also the importance of grieving for a loved one. "We grieve and we must do so -- for grieving is the pain of letting go," he said.
Photographer: Lizsandra Trastoy
Archbishop Thomas Wenski prays before the Catholic Hospice Memorial Mass held June 20, at St. Hugh Church, in Miami.
Photographer: Lizsandra Trastoy
Dove ornaments like this one were given out to family members before the Mass, in hopes of sending a positive and lasting message of peace to those who have lost loved ones.
Before the Mass, Catholic Hospice staff members greeted families and gave every person a dove ornament with the words "peace, hope, joy" carved in them. The gifts are meant to convey three reassurances, said Maylen Montoto, director of community development for Catholic Hospice.
First, "We want families to understand that their loved ones are now at peace," Montoto said. The message of hope is "in order for them to be reunited one day with their loved ones," she continued.
"The last message is joy, because we need to continue life in joy."
Ricardo Pol, director of professional services at Catholic Hospice, said the annual Mass is good for staffers, too.
"This is a great opportunity for our staff members to re-join and reunite with the families they have helped, and hopefully come and deliver peace to them," said.
Zuzel Echevarria, a parishioner from St. Kevin Church in Miami, expressed gratitude toward Catholic Hospice in helping her husband, who died Dec. 8.
"I was happy to see how his last moments were so peaceful and comfortable, as he received great medical attention," said Echevarria. "There were staff members spiritually guiding us at all times.
"It was important for my husband to receive this guidance, as I am sure he is now in a good place," Echevarria added. "I am thankful to God that we found Catholic Hospice and are part of this Mass."
Following the Mass, Alkema and Montoto thanked families for their trust in Catholic Charities. "From our staff of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers, I would like to thank you for allowing us into your lives," said Alkema.
The memorial Mass began 27 years ago and is celebrated at different times throughout the year, in both Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
