St. Brendan celebrates renewal

MIAMI — It was a picture-perfect South Florida fall evening, with a slight breeze and no humidity.

“This weather is a blessing,” said Sylvia Camaraza, a parishioner of over 50 years at St. Brendan Church in Miami-Dade County’s Westchester neighborhood. “It’s not like the day when Hurricane Katrina came through that caused all the damage in the first place. It’s time to celebrate our blessings.”

In September 2005, Katrina damaged 11 of the 13 buildings at St. Brendan Parish. On Oct. 21, the time finally arrived to anoint that which had been reconstructed. Even though all the old stained glass had been in danger of falling apart, all of the panels were saved, restored and repositioned on the property as a part of the heritage of St. Brendan Parish.

“Just look at the stations of the cross window panels that are now a part of the student plaza,” said Miguel Massens. “This renovation was done with great care and attention to the many parishioners who have given over the years for the good of St. Brendan.”

The main church and the chapel had to have all their stained glass replaced with wind resistant glass. All of the carpeting was removed and replaced with tile. The pews were restored. The altar and the ambo in the chapel had to be replaced. New chairs made of onyx tiger marble from Turkey that matched the existing marble were placed on the main altar; five different colored pieces from the original stained glass were embedded in the presider’s chair in the form of the cross. The side aisle in the main church was widened to cater to the needs of the handicapped.

“It is very important that everyone is made to feel at home because it is their home,” said Father Fernando Heria, pastor. “When I arrived at St. Brendan eight years ago, I was in a wheelchair,” he continued. “It gave me a unique, inclusive perspective, particularly when we began the renovations.”

As the parishioners filled the chapel and church, there were feelings of excitement and anticipation.

“The renovations are beautiful,” said Clara Lopez. She and her husband, Jorge, have been parishioners for over 20 years. “The new stained glass is amazing, particularly the panel of Our Lady of Charity in the back of the chapel,” she said.

“Today this parish community celebrates the solemn consecration of a new altar in the chapel where daily Mass is held,” said Archbishop Thomas Wenski in his homily. “It is here at this altar, despite our differences in language, culture or political preferences, we Catholics are united as brothers and sisters in Christ, in the same bread and the same cup that we share.”

He recalled the story of Cardinal Van Thuan, who after the fall of Vietnam, was arrested and put into solitary confinement for 13 years.

“His friends smuggled bread and wine to him, and he offered the holy Mass using the palm of his hand as an altar, worthy of the sacrifice of the Lord, without resentment, without rancor or hatred toward those who imprisoned and persecuted him. Like St. Paul, he converted many of those who jailed him. When Christ was sacrificed at Calvary, sin was defeated. At this altar, the same sacrifice is made present to us every day so that his victory over sin, death and evil is also ours,” concluded Archbishop Wenski.

With that, the new altar and ambo in the chapel were consecrated with the relic of St. Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Order, embedded in the altar.

“We selected this relic as a sign of fraternity with our Marist Brothers,” said Father Heria, whose parish is next door to the Marist-run Christopher Columbus High School.

As the altar was rubbed with the holy chrism, and the incense lit, the three combined choirs of Nueva Vida, the children’s choir from St. Brendan Elementary, directed by Grace Koelig, and the adult choir sang Psalm 141, “Mi Oracion Como El Incienso" (Let my prayer rise like incense).

As the gifts were presented, the choirs sang “Señor, Quien Puede Entrar,” (Lord, Who Can Enter).

“As a choir, we were so pleased how the songs related directly to the liturgy,” said Maria Perez-Rudisill, music director at St. Brendan. “The music nurtured our spirituality, and complimented the prayer.”

“It was very important to produce music that integrated into the entire ceremony because of the beautiful work that was done for our church and chapel. We were not just moving furniture; we were consecrating the altar and ambo and blessing the church,” Perez-Rudisill said.

The placement of the new stained glass windows tells a beautiful story. The Holy Spirit is above the canopy of the altar. The seven sacraments of the Catholic faith are on the left and right side of the main altar. The doors that face S.W. 87th Avenue portray the figures of St. Peter and St. Paul, with St. Brendan magnificently portrayed above them.

“We tried very diligently to keep continuity with the past, as well as with our Catholic traditions,” Father Heria said. “Many people over the years and currently have made many sacrifices and contributions. I believe they are looking down from heaven and they are pleased with the work that has been done, and with the promise of our future.”