More than a dream, 'a miracle'

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Ana Rodriguez Soto - The Archdiocese of Miami

BLOGGER PROFILE

Archbishop Thomas Wenski received his pallium today from the hands of Pope Benedict XVI. In the process, he gave his “Haitian mom” a priceless gift.

Marie Lucien met the future Archbishop Wenski back in 1985. She was living in Miami and attending church at Notre Dame d’Haiti. Some time later he returned to her hometown of Les Cayes, where he had first studied Creole, and paid a visit to Marie’s mother, Resilia. Something clicked between them.

“I feel a connection with your mom,” Marie recalls then Father Wenski telling her. “She’s his adopted mother.”

Eventually Resilia came to Miami to live with her daughter, and the bond between Resilia and Father Wenski grew. Marie remembers telling him that she was afraid her mother would fall because she had trouble walking but she insisted on going to church.

“He took her to church every morning, holding her on his arm,” Marie recalled. “He said one day she would walk okay.”

Resilia rejoiced when Father Wenski was made auxiliary bishop of Miami, and again when he was named bishop of Orlando.

“She follows the bishop everywhere,” her daughter said. “She says a rosary for him every day.”

The feeling is mutual, she added. “He loves her. You can’t imagine how much he loves her.”

Because of the pallium pilgrimage, Resilia, 78, is seeing Rome (and Assisi) this week for the first time in her life — something she never imagined she would do.

And this morning, June 29, 2010, Resilia walked well enough alone to receive Communion from the hands of Pope Benedict, an honor bestowed on her by her “adopted son.”

Archbishop Wenski was visibly moved as he watched her go up for Communion. Resilia, who only speaks Creole, seemed pleased and totally at peace throughout the two-and-a-half hour ceremony. She said later through her daughter that she was “happy.”

Perhaps that’s an understatement.

“I cannot say it’s a dream come true because we never dreamed about it,” Marie said. “I would say it’s a miracle.”