By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

Photography: CRISTINA CABRERA JARRO | FC

MIAMI | Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated his 75th birthday with a Mass of thanksgiving and a pizza party with employees of the Pastoral Center in Miami Shores, Oct. 20, 2025.

At the beginning of the Mass, the archbishop recounted that on his birthdate, October 18, 1950, Hurricane King, a Category 4 storm, hit downtown Miami, and it was difficult for his parents to get to the hospital because fallen tree branches blocked the roads.

During his homily, the archbishop said that, as required by canon law, he will send his letter of resignation as the fourth Archbishop of Miami to the pope. “When I leave office and who will replace me will depend on him. But to be sure, I will let him know of my willingness to continue to serve as your archbishop for as long as he wishes,” he said.

After Mass, the Pastoral Center employees celebrated with the archbishop with pizza because “the archbishop himself requested a pizza party with ice cream,” said Janet Millian, payroll manager in the archdiocesan Human Resources Office, one of several offices that collaborated in organizing the event.

Employes also participated in a trivia battle titled “Do You Know the Boss?” led by Michael Casciato, chief financial officer, who asked the pastoral center employees questions about the archbishop's life and his service to the local and national church.

The party would not have been complete without birthday cake and singing "Happy Birthday."

Sister Elizabeth Worley, chancellor for administration and chief operating officer of the Archdiocese of Miami, said, “It has been my joy to work with him” for almost 30 years. She has known him since the day he was ordained a priest almost 50 years ago.

Regarding the archbishop's upcoming retirement, Sister Worley said, “Nobody can predict. All of us leave the job at some point, so he will retire at some point. We don’t know when that is, and the Holy Father is the one to decide in the needs of this local Church.”

The sister added, "This local Church would be very lucky to have him for a little bit longer. He is in good health, he is able to serve, he is willing to serve. I am sure the Holy Father will allow him to serve a little bit longer.”

Mother Adela Galindo, founder of the Miami-based community of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, said she met Archbishop Wenski in 2001, when he was an auxiliary bishop of Miami and blessed the community's first novitiate.

Then, when he returned to Miami as archbishop after serving as bishop of Orlando, he blessed the new, larger novitiate.

As an ecclesiastical authority, Mother Adela said, Archbishop Wenski has been instrumental in her life and the life of the community.

“I thank God that he has been our archbishop for the past 15 years, and I hope he stays longer,” she added.