GALAPAGOS | Islands discovered long ago and home to some of nature’s most unique creatures: That is where Archbishop Thomas Wenski and a delegation from St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in South Miami visited recently.

The Galapagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador, are home to a wealth of species such as tortoises, marine iguanas, penguins, finches, etc. Aside from their famous creatures, the islands are home to many people who live in the National Park of the Galapagos, people who have a deep-rooted faith and strong family values.

In 2001, St. Thomas the Apostle adopted a parish in the island of Isabela. Father Daniel Kubala, pastor, traveled to the Galapagos with the intention of exploring the island that bore the same name as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

“When I first met the pastor of this small parish, Father Angel Calderon, the pastor of La Parroquia Cristo Salvador, I knew then and there that we could help them,” said Father Kubala. “I saw the need of this faith community and jumped at the chance to help.”

Back in Miami, Father Kubala told his parish community about the needs of the faithful in Isabela, a place with unpaved roads and a church that was condemned after being destroyed by a tsunami.

The response of the faithful at St. Thomas the Apostle was an overall agreement to help their brethren in need.

“It took over three years to slowly gather materials brought in by ship from the mainland, Ecuador, as well as many man-hours donated by the faithful to build their new church,” said Father Kubala.

On July 18, 2012, the work of many both here in Miami and on that tiny island came to fruition. Archbishop Wenski accepted the invitation of Bishop Manuel Valarezo, a Franciscan and apostolic vicar of the Vicariate Apostolic of the Galapagos, to consecrate the new church and celebrate the liturgy with the faithful of Isabela.

The archbishop was joined by a delegation of representatives from St. Thomas the Apostle.  His trip marked the first visit to the Galapagos by a Miami archbishop. 

“The consecration of the church was a joyous occasion with a multitude of faithful, leaving standing room only,” said Father Kubala. “A church filled with great joy and gratitude, voices and souls united to praise God on that Sunday morning in July.”