By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami
Homily by Archbishop Thomas Wenski at Mass for the 75th anniversary of Holy Redeemer Parish and the installation of Fr. Emmanuel Essiet as Pastor. Miami, Dec. 14, 2025.
During Advent, we often sing the hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel! The hymn expresses Israel's desperate yearning for the Messiah, as promised by the ancient prophets of God: The King who would save the chosen people from otherwise certain death and destruction.
John the Baptist who announced the fulfilment of those promises in his cousin, Jesus of Nazareth, finds himself in prison. So, we should not be surprised that he might have had some doubts as he sat there in chains. So, he sent his followers to ask Jesus: are you the one who is to come or should we look to another? Jesus sends those followers back to John to reassure him. His response is simple: look around and see for yourself what I am doing! His works, his miracles are signs that he indeed is the long-awaited Messiah and Redeemer.
That Jesus is Emmanuel, “God with us”, is why we can rejoice. Today, the third Sunday Advent is known as “Gaudete” Sunday – Gaudete is a Latin imperative and means Rejoice! We rejoice for the Lord is truly Emmanuel. The Word became flesh of our flesh and entered into our human history, a history filled with light and shadows, with joys and sorrows, with hopes and fears.
On this Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, traditionally rose-colored vestments are worn by the priest. (Please don’t say they are pink). But if the violet or purple vestments of Advent and Lent are meant to convey the need for the repentance and conversion necessary if we are to greet the Lord properly when he comes, the rose-colored ones tell us that the joy of Christ’s coming among us is close at hand. Christmas is just around the corner.
We anticipate the Joy of Christmas – even as we still attend to the spiritual house cleaning necessary for us to prepare for his coming.
And so today is a great occasion for Holy Redeemer to rejoice as you celebrate not only “Gaudete” Sunday but also the parish’s 75th anniversary and the formal installation of Fr. Emmanuel Essiet as your pastor. We rejoice!
Wow! This parish was born 75 years ago – just like me. But Holy Redeemer has lots of years still ahead of it, and I hope I do too.
75 years might not seem like a long time for a Church that is almost 2,000 years old; but here in this still young Archdiocese, 75 years is certainly something to celebrate.
For 75 years Holy Redeemer has stood here in the heart of Liberty City as a beacon of light, as a witness to hope. We remember with gratitude those early pioneers who had moved here from Overtown and St. Francis Xavier and with Father John DeVaney brought a Catholic Church to Liberty City. We remember with gratitude the Oblate Sisters of Providence and generations of young people they educated at the school. We remember with gratitude the Josephite Fathers and Oblates who served here, as well as Holy Ghost Father Alexander. And you can look to the future with hope as Father Emmanuel is installed as your pastor today.
For the past 75 years, Holy Redeemer has weathered many storms and challenges. Today, we thank God that Jesus has been for the parishioners here a sign of hope; he has been calm in the eye of the storm, wisdom in the face judgment, love in the face of hatred, perseverance in the face of persecution and protection in the face of adversity.
Yes, Come, O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel. Even while the storms and hurricanes of life swirl around us, faith in Jesus, our Holy Redeemer, offers hope that in any situation we can weather any storm.
Let us make way for the Light who is Christ so that his light shines through the darkness that hides within us: selfishness, the refusal to forgive, the lack of love. Holiness, which is the call of our baptism, is the constant struggle to let Christ and his light shine through everything you do as Catholic Christians and as parishioners of Holy Redeemer.
As you look forward to the future under the leadership of your pastor, Father Emmanuel, as a parish community rededicate yourselves to the task of evangelization. To those that have fallen away, invite them to come home. Tell them they are missed, and they are needed. To those that are seeking, tell them that you have found what they are seeking and introduce them to the Lord. To the unchurched, tell them that they have a home here at Holy Redeemer.
John the Baptist and his followers, with their doubts in the face of fear and crisis, asked Jesus if he was the one who was to come or should they look for another. In the midst of crisis, suffering, violence, inequality, and discrimination, the people of this neighborhood, indeed the whole world, is asking us—those who profess to be followers of Christ—whether we are serious, whether we are the ones we say we are by virtue of our baptismal promises, or should the world look for another?
When we are faced with the needs and cries of our neighbors, can we say with our words and actions that we are bearing witness to authentic Christian hope by being Christ for others? Can we say to them, as Jesus said to those followers of John the Baptist, “Look around and see for yourself what we are doing.”
Father Emmanuel and dear parishioners of Holy Redeemer, look to the future of this parish with confidence. In coming years, Holy Redeemer must prosper and flourish not just survive – for there are too many souls needing to be saved.
