By Anne DiBernardo - Florida Catholic
Photographer: ANNE DIBERNARDO | FC Members of St. Agnes' youth group and the religious education confirmation class carry their banner in the procession.
KEY BISCAYNE | The community of Key Biscayne made history Feb. 2: Prompted by the disturbing amount of violence in the world — reported both locally and globally — the faithful of Key Biscayne decided to do something proactive.
On Wednesday, at least 1,000 members of various religious communities throughout the island came together to place Key Biscayne under the loving protection of God.
"A group of the faithful got together and discussed the growing concern for safety, especially for police and firemen who are our friends and are there to protect us," said Teresita Amorin, a member of St. Agnes Parish. "We would like to put God first by entrusting them into the hands of God."
Photographer: ANNE DIBERNARDO | FC
Father Luis Rivero, associate pastor at St. Agnes, prepares to proclaim the Gospel.
St. Agnes hosted the ecumenical prayer service that was led by church leaders from multiple denominations in Key Biscayne, including Pastor David Moran of Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church; Rev. Bud Shroeder of Key Biscayne Community Church; Rev. Burt H. Froehlich of Key Biscayne Episcopal Church; and Father José Hernando, pastor of St. Agnes.
Although Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Estevez was unable to attend the ceremony due to a scheduling conflict, he relayed his sentiments in a letter which was read during the ceremony.
"This gesture of honoring God brings healing," he wrote. "We need a just society of people who trust in God from the depths of their heart."
Photographer: ANNE DIBERNARDO | FC Members of the Arriba Cadania family -- Alvaro, Fatima and Macarena -- pray during the service.
Bishop Estevez also noted the inverse relationship between respect for God and violence, saying violence will diminish as respect for God increases.
"The groundhog may have been looking for his shadow, but we are looking for the light of God to shine upon us," Rev. Shroeder said. "May we as a people of God, who consecrate this holy ground, do so with understanding that we can make a difference to others."
"We humbly reach out to God the Father with humility and consecrate ourselves to him. We commit ourselves to peace, to act with love and to promote justice, practice respect and accept all without reservation," said Father Hernando.
Photographer: ANNE DIBERNARDO | FC Rev. Burt H. Froehlich of Key Biscayne Episcopal Church and St. Agnes' pastor, Father Jose L. Hernando, right, recite the prayer of consecration.
Key Biscayne Mayor Franklin Caplan closed the ceremony by saying the event proclaimed not just a message of oneness but rather a reality of oneness. "With all the various backgrounds present, this is a community in the best sense of the word, by sharing the same attribute for stability, civility and peace."
Ana Arellano, one of the event coordinators, said there were many reports of healings and conversions after members of St. Agnes consecrated their parish to the Lord last February. She noted that consecration to God is in accordance with Mary's request at Fatima, where she said that salvation will come to the world through consecration.
Susy Hoyo, who has been attending St. Agnes for 35 years, said she was overjoyed to see the beauty of all the different races that came together to celebrate the one God.
"I hope this inspires other communities to do the same thing. We have got to get back to God. He is being taken out of everything for fear of offending anyone. There is hope, and let it begin with me," Hoyo said.
"To see this community embrace us was overwhelming," said Charles R. Press, Key Biscayne's chief of police. During the ceremony, a special intention was included for members of the police force to always be treated with respect and appreciation and be protected by God.
According to organizers, Key Biscayne is the first South Florida city to be consecrated to God. Its citizens hope more and more cities will follow in their path.
"Consecration, in a simple but beautiful way, means an alliance between God and a person, family, business, community, city or country," said Monica Acquaviva, event coordinator and member of St. Agnes Parish. "By consecrating ourselves to the Lord, we promise him to live according to his will, and God promises us all his love and protection. We can fail in our promise but he will never break his promise to us."
