By Tom Tracy - Florida Catholic
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets past director and CEO of Miami Catholic Charities Deacon Richard Turcotte.
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets local and visiting clergy and bishops before the start of Mass.
During a May 15 Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on the 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood of Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, the archbishop’s sister Mary Wenski, carries a box of novena prayers for the archbishop. The novena was organized by the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets clergy and fellow bishops from Florida and the region as he exits the Cathedral following Mass.
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski was greeted clergy and fellow bishops from Florida and the region as he exits the Cathedral following Mass.
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets well-wishers as he exits the Cathedral following Mass.
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets well-wishers as he exits the Cathedral following Mass.
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski shares a moment with Katie Blanco Bourdeau, president of the Archdiocesan Development Corporation, along with Fr. Agustin Estrada, priest secretary to Archbishop Wenski.
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets members of the Knights of Columbus before the start of Mass.
Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL) was on hand to honor Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski on the 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood during a May 15 Jubilee Mass and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami.
A plaque from Congressman Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL) honors Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski on the 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood during a May 15 Jubilee Mass and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami.
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski thanks family, friends and fellow clergy for their presence at the jubilee event.
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski thanks family, friends and fellow clergy for their presence at the jubilee event.
Photography: Tom Tracy
MIAMI | Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski joked that he became a priest “so that I would not have to listen to another priest preach,” drawing laughter from the congregation gathered May 15 at St. Mary’s Cathedral to celebrate his 50 years of priesthood.
But beneath the humor was a deeply personal reflection on five decades of ministry — from entering the seminary at age 13 to serving immigrant communities across South Florida and eventually leading the Archdiocese of Miami.
The cathedral was filled with clergy, religious, parishioners and civic leaders who gathered to honor the archbishop’s golden jubilee. Several bishops from Cuba joined local priests in concelebrating the Mass, while supporters from across South Florida packed the pews in thanksgiving for Archbishop Wenski’s decades of ministry.
After welcoming visiting clergy, bishops and guests from around the region and beyond, Archbishop Wenski presided over his Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving May 15 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami.
Photographer: Tom Tracy
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets clergy and fellow bishops from Florida and the region as he exits the Cathedral following Mass.
A priesthood rooted in gratitude
“Let me begin with gratitude to Almighty God who called me in spite of my flaws, my fears and my failures,” the archbishop said.
He also expressed gratitude to the priests and religious who inspired him throughout his vocation, as well as to the faithful of South Florida.
“With deep gratitude to you, the People of God, for your support of me over these 50 years, for your patience with me over these 50 years, and for your prayers for me over these 50 years,” he said.
Born into a middle-class Polish immigrant family in Florida, Archbishop Wenski reflected on a vocation that has become deeply intertwined with the multicultural identity of the Church in South Florida.
Over five decades, he became one of the most recognizable Catholic voices in the region through his advocacy for immigrants, Haitian Catholics and the poor, while helping shape the multicultural identity of the Archdiocese of Miami.
Photographer: Tom Tracy
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrates Mass. To his right is Cardinal Seán Patrick O'Malley OFM Cap, Archbishop Emeritus of Boston.
Serving Miami’s immigrant communities
The archbishop recalled his seminary years doing summer internships in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood, working with a Puerto Rican youth group in Wynwood, and learning Spanish while serving in Hialeah.
He was among the first fully bilingual seminarians in Florida, paving the way for future priests who would minister in both English and Spanish.
Later, while serving at Corpus Christi Parish in Miami, the future archbishop encountered the Haitian community and began learning Creole.
“When Archbishop (Edward) McCarthy found out that I was learning Creole, I was assigned to the Haitian ministry in 1979, where I worked for 18 years,” Archbishop Wenski recalled.
“It involved a circuit-riding ministry from Homestead to Fort Pierce, from Fort Lauderdale to Immokalee, besides Notre-Dame d’Haïti, until becoming auxiliary bishop of Miami in September 1997.”
Photographer: Tom Tracy
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving and reception at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets well-wishers as he exits the Cathedral following Mass.
A shepherd shaped by Haitian ministry
Those years, he said, profoundly shaped his priesthood.
“Those 18 years were not easy, but perhaps they were the best years of my life,” Archbishop Wenski said. “I know that because today I still dream in Haitian Creole.”
Archbishop Wenski was ordained to the priesthood in 1976 and later served as Bishop of Orlando before being appointed Archbishop of Miami in 2010.
Following the Mass, the United States House of Representatives honored the archbishop with a Congressional Record tribute presented on behalf of Florida’s 28th Congressional District by Rep. Carlos A. Giménez, who attended the celebration with his wife, Lourdes.
“The archbishop is a champion for the oppressed and for immigrants, and a very good shepherd to his flock,” Congressman Giménez said while presenting the tribute plaque.
“As Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Miami, he has guided countless families with compassion, wisdom and unwavering faith. His commitment to serving the poor, welcoming the vulnerable, and defending freedom has left a lasting impact on our community,” the Congressional statement read.“
Archbishop Wenski's leadership has strengthened the moral fabric of South Florida and inspired generations through his humility, courage and devotion to Christ and His Church,” Congressman Giménez said.
A legacy felt across South Florida
Also attending the celebration was Olga Lucia Villar, executive director of SEPI, the Southeast Pastoral Institute, who praised Archbishop Wenski’s longstanding support for multicultural ministry and women in leadership.
“We at SEPI could not do what we do without his support,” Villar said. “He has been part of this institution for at least 40 years and of building bridges across cultures.”
She also recalled the archbishop’s humor.
“When he welcomes people from different parts of the region, he always jokes that ‘Miami is so close to the United States,’” Villar said.
Father Rafael Capó, vice president of mission at St. Thomas University, said Archbishop Wenski’s ministry has consistently reflected closeness to young people and immigrant communities.
“His priesthood has been a joyful witness of the Gospel for all peoples of South Florida,” Father Capó said.
Photographer: Tom Tracy
On May 15 at a Jubilee Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Miami on his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets local and visiting clergy and bishops before the start of Mass.
He recalled traveling with Archbishop Wenski and young pilgrims from the archdiocese to World Youth Day 2016, where the archbishop accompanied them throughout the demanding pilgrimage experience.
“He was happy to be in the land of Pope Saint John Paul II and showing it to the young people of the archdiocese,” Father Capó said.
Mother Adela Galindo, founder of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, said her community organized a novena of prayers for the archbishop in honor of his jubilee.
A box containing prayer intentions and messages from faithful across the region was presented during the Mass.
Reflecting on the celebration, many attendees pointed not only to Archbishop Wenski’s leadership, but also to his pastoral closeness, humor and ability to connect with South Florida’s many cultures and communities.
For Archbishop Wenski, however, the memories that remain closest to his heart appear to come from the years spent ministering among Haitian immigrants across South Florida.“Those 18 years were not easy, but perhaps they were the best years of my life,” he said.
“I know that because today I still dream in Haitian Creole.”
