Mar 19, 2014
Back to Galleries
A crowd of more than 1,200, many of them playing guitars and banging drums in the hot sun outside, watched as Bishop Peter Baldacchino was ordained auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Miami during a festive and pageantry-filled ceremony on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19. Archbishop Thomas Wenski, whom Bishop Baldacchino will serve as auxiliary bishop, was the consecrator, with Archbishop Patrick Pinder of Nassau, Bahamas, and Archbishop Charles DuFour of Kingston, Jamaica, serving as co-consecrators. Also present was Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, emeritus of Washington, D.C., who ordained Bishop Baldacchino as a priest and a deacon when he was archbishop of Newark, N.J.
The Henneberg family of Weston arrived early for the ordination of Bishop Peter Baldacchino, whom they've known since 2005. On the left and right are Vincent and Tessa, the children of Joanne, second from right. In the middle are Joanne's sister, Irma, and husband Bernie.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way, including visitors from the Turks and Caicos, stand before the movement's banner before the ordination of Bishop Baldacchino.
Czedrick Sevilla shows the flag of his homeland, the Turks and Caicos.
Drummers from the Neocatechumenal Way play before the ordination ceremony for Bishop Baldacchino.
Guitarists from the Neocatechumenal Way play before the ordination ceremony for Bishop Baldacchino.
Claretian Sister Carmen Alvarez, left, chats with Sister Lima Marie of the Missionaries of Charity.
Knights of Columbus give a cheer before the start of the ordination.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way play exuberantly before the ordination ceremony for Bishop Peter Baldacchino, himself a member of the group.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski chats with members of the Miami Police Department before the start of the ordination ceremony.
Bishop-designate Peter Baldecchino flashes a smile as he prepares to enter St. Mary Cathedral for the ordination Mass.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who ordained Bishop Peter Baldacchino as a priest for the Newark archdiocese, enters the cathedral followed by a Knight of St. Gregory.
Paula Muscat, Bishop Peter Baldacchino's sister, brought a picture of their mother, Leonilda, who died in 2001, to the ordination Mass. "I'm getting a picture of mum with me to the church because i am convinced that she has prayed for him so much," Muscat said.
Knights of the Holy Sepulcher process into the cathedral for the Mass.
Bishop-designate Peter Baldacchino is seated just below the altar at the start of the Mass.
Father Israel Mago, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Doral, takes a picture on his cell phone at the start of the Mass.
Florida bishops take part in the ordination ceremony, from left: Bishop John Noonan of Orlando, Bishop Felipe Estevez of St. Augustine, both former auxiliary bishops of Miami. Behind them is Chorbishop Michael Thomas, pastor of Heart of Jesus Maronite Catholic Church in Fort Lauderdale.
Miami Archbishop Emeritus John C. Favalora prays at the start of the Mass.
Archbishop Patrick Pinder of Nassau, Bahamas, prays at the start of the Mass. He was one of two co-consecrators of Bishop Peter Baldacchino, along with the main consecrator, Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Florida bishops take part in the Mass of ordination for Bishop Peter Baldacchino, from left: Bishop John Noonan of Orlando, Bishop Felipe Estevez of St. Augustine and Bishop Gerald Barbarito of Palm Beach.
Claudia Gennarini, who along with her husband, Stefano, are the couple responsible for the Neocatechumenal Way in the U.S., proclaims the first reading in Spanish.
Francette Desources, a member of the Neocatechumenal Way in Turks and Caicos, proclaims the second reading in Creole.
Deacon Ivan Rodriguez of Miami's Redemptoris Mater Seminary proclaims the Gospel.
Father Paul Vuturo, chair of the Presbyteral Council in the archdiocese, presents "this priest," Peter Baldacchino, for ordination as bishop.
Msgr. Chanel Jeanty, archdiocesan chancellor, reads the papal letter appointing Msgr. Peter Baldacchino as auxiliary bishop of Miami.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski listens as Msgr. Chanel Jeanty, archdiocesan chancellor, reads the papal letter appointing Msgr. Peter Baldacchino as auxiliary bishop of Miami.
Archbishop Patrick Pinder of Nassau, Bahamas, co-consecrator, listens as Msgr. Chanel Jeanty, archdiocesan chancellor, reads the papal letter appointing Msgr. Peter Baldacchino as auxiliary bishop of Miami.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches the homily before ordaining Bishop-designate Peter Baldacchino.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C. and former archbishop of Newark, who ordained Bishop Peter Baldacchino to the priesthood, listens to Archbishop Thomas Wenski's homily.
Archbishop Charles DuFour of Kingston, Jamaica, listens to Archbishop Thomas Wenski's homily. He was one of two co-consecrators of the new bishop.
Bishop-designate Peter Baldacchino lies prostrate on the sanctuary while the congregation prays the Litany of the Saints.
Bishop-designate Peter Baldacchino lies prostrate on the sanctuary while the congregation prays the Litany of the Saints.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski ordains Bishop Peter Baldacchino as a successor to the apostles. Behind them, at left, is Bishop Charles Dufour of Kingston, Jamaica, one of two other ordaining bishops.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski lays hands on Msgr. Peter Baldacchino, calling down the Holy Spirit and ordaining him a bishop, successor to the apostles.
Co-consecrator Archbishop Patrick Pinder of Nassau lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Bishop Charles Dufour of Kingston, Jamaica, lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, emeritus of Washington, D.C. and former bishop of Newark, lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Miami Archbishop Emeritus John C. Favalora lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Newark Coadjutor Archbishop Bernard Hebda lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Palm Beach Bishop Gerald Barbarito lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
St. Augustine Bishop Felipe Estevez lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Orlando Bishop John Noonan lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Venice Bishop Frank Dewane lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Pensacola-Tallahassee Bishop Gregory Parkes lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Bishop Martin Holley, auxiliary bishop of Washington, D.C., lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Pueblo, Colo., Bishop Emeritus Fernando Isern lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Deacons hold the Book of the Gospels over the head of Bishop Peter Baldacchino while Archbishop Thomas Wenski recites the prayer of ordination.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski pours the oil of chrism over the head of Bishop Peter Baldacchino, anointing him as bishop.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski rubs the oil of chrism over the head of Bishop Peter Baldacchino, anointing him as bishop.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino receives the Book of the Gospels from Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's sister, Paula Muscat, takes up his miter.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski places the miter, symbol of his new office, on the head of Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski accompanies Bishop Peter Baldacchino to a place behind the altar where he will receive the kiss of peace from his fellow bishops.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino receives the kiss of peace from Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino receives the kiss of peace from Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who ordained him to the priesthood when he was archbishop of Newark.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino receives the kiss of peace from Archbishop Charles Dufour of Kingston.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski prepares to begin the Liturgy of the Eucharist with Bishop Peter Baldacchino at his side.
Bishop Baldacchino gives a high-five to a youngster while distributing Communion after his ordination as auxiliary bishop of Miami.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino walks through the church, giving his first blessing to those in attendance at his ordination Mass.
Newly-ordained Bishop Peter Baldacchino walks around the cathedral imparting his first blessing to those in attendance at the Mass.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's sister, Paula Muscat, and his brother, John, wave the flag of Malta as he walks through the church giving his first blessing to the congregation.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino walks back to the altar after giving his first blessing to those in attendance at his ordination Mass. At left, his sister, Paula Muscat, brother John, and nieces, wave Malta flags.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino speaks at the end of his ordination ceremony at the cathedral.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's ring.
Flag of Malta
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's former parishioners wave Turks and Caicos flags at the conclusion of the Mass.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's siblings, Paula Muscat and John, wave Malta flags at the conclusion of the Mass.
Nina and John Orlando, longtime friends of Bishop Peter Baldacchino, wave Malta flags as the procession enters St. Mary Cathedral.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way sang songs and hung banners in the plaza in front of the cathedral to welcome Bishop Peter Baldacchino to Miami. There are 30 Neocatechumenal communities in the archdiocese, active in eight parishes.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino poses outside the cathedral with all the priests and bishops who attended his ordination.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino greets members of the Neocatechumenal Way who waited for him outside the cathedral, singing songs and banging on drums.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way break into exuberant dance after the ordination ceremony for Bishop Baldacchino.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way break into exuberant dance after the ordination ceremony for Bishop Baldacchino.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino shows his episcopal ring to two young well-wishers.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's brother, John, helps a young well-wisher tie a flag of Malta to a flag of Turks and Caicos.
A young child waves a giant flag from the Turks and Caicos at the reception that followed the Mass.
Framed by the flags of the Vatican, Malta and the U.S., Bishop Peter Baldacchino prepares to give individual blessings to the hundreds who attended his ordination.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way, including visitors from the Turks and Caicos, stand before the movement's banner before the ordination of Bishop Baldacchino.
Czedrick Sevilla shows the flag of his homeland, the Turks and Caicos.
Drummers from the Neocatechumenal Way play before the ordination ceremony for Bishop Baldacchino.
Guitarists from the Neocatechumenal Way play before the ordination ceremony for Bishop Baldacchino.
Claretian Sister Carmen Alvarez, left, chats with Sister Lima Marie of the Missionaries of Charity.
Knights of Columbus give a cheer before the start of the ordination.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way play exuberantly before the ordination ceremony for Bishop Peter Baldacchino, himself a member of the group.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski chats with members of the Miami Police Department before the start of the ordination ceremony.
Bishop-designate Peter Baldecchino flashes a smile as he prepares to enter St. Mary Cathedral for the ordination Mass.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who ordained Bishop Peter Baldacchino as a priest for the Newark archdiocese, enters the cathedral followed by a Knight of St. Gregory.
Paula Muscat, Bishop Peter Baldacchino's sister, brought a picture of their mother, Leonilda, who died in 2001, to the ordination Mass. "I'm getting a picture of mum with me to the church because i am convinced that she has prayed for him so much," Muscat said.
Knights of the Holy Sepulcher process into the cathedral for the Mass.
Bishop-designate Peter Baldacchino is seated just below the altar at the start of the Mass.
Father Israel Mago, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Doral, takes a picture on his cell phone at the start of the Mass.
Florida bishops take part in the ordination ceremony, from left: Bishop John Noonan of Orlando, Bishop Felipe Estevez of St. Augustine, both former auxiliary bishops of Miami. Behind them is Chorbishop Michael Thomas, pastor of Heart of Jesus Maronite Catholic Church in Fort Lauderdale.
Miami Archbishop Emeritus John C. Favalora prays at the start of the Mass.
Archbishop Patrick Pinder of Nassau, Bahamas, prays at the start of the Mass. He was one of two co-consecrators of Bishop Peter Baldacchino, along with the main consecrator, Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Florida bishops take part in the Mass of ordination for Bishop Peter Baldacchino, from left: Bishop John Noonan of Orlando, Bishop Felipe Estevez of St. Augustine and Bishop Gerald Barbarito of Palm Beach.
Claudia Gennarini, who along with her husband, Stefano, are the couple responsible for the Neocatechumenal Way in the U.S., proclaims the first reading in Spanish.
Francette Desources, a member of the Neocatechumenal Way in Turks and Caicos, proclaims the second reading in Creole.
Deacon Ivan Rodriguez of Miami's Redemptoris Mater Seminary proclaims the Gospel.
Father Paul Vuturo, chair of the Presbyteral Council in the archdiocese, presents "this priest," Peter Baldacchino, for ordination as bishop.
Msgr. Chanel Jeanty, archdiocesan chancellor, reads the papal letter appointing Msgr. Peter Baldacchino as auxiliary bishop of Miami.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski listens as Msgr. Chanel Jeanty, archdiocesan chancellor, reads the papal letter appointing Msgr. Peter Baldacchino as auxiliary bishop of Miami.
Archbishop Patrick Pinder of Nassau, Bahamas, co-consecrator, listens as Msgr. Chanel Jeanty, archdiocesan chancellor, reads the papal letter appointing Msgr. Peter Baldacchino as auxiliary bishop of Miami.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski preaches the homily before ordaining Bishop-designate Peter Baldacchino.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C. and former archbishop of Newark, who ordained Bishop Peter Baldacchino to the priesthood, listens to Archbishop Thomas Wenski's homily.
Archbishop Charles DuFour of Kingston, Jamaica, listens to Archbishop Thomas Wenski's homily. He was one of two co-consecrators of the new bishop.
Bishop-designate Peter Baldacchino lies prostrate on the sanctuary while the congregation prays the Litany of the Saints.
Bishop-designate Peter Baldacchino lies prostrate on the sanctuary while the congregation prays the Litany of the Saints.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski ordains Bishop Peter Baldacchino as a successor to the apostles. Behind them, at left, is Bishop Charles Dufour of Kingston, Jamaica, one of two other ordaining bishops.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski lays hands on Msgr. Peter Baldacchino, calling down the Holy Spirit and ordaining him a bishop, successor to the apostles.
Co-consecrator Archbishop Patrick Pinder of Nassau lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Bishop Charles Dufour of Kingston, Jamaica, lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, emeritus of Washington, D.C. and former bishop of Newark, lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Miami Archbishop Emeritus John C. Favalora lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Newark Coadjutor Archbishop Bernard Hebda lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Palm Beach Bishop Gerald Barbarito lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
St. Augustine Bishop Felipe Estevez lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Orlando Bishop John Noonan lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Venice Bishop Frank Dewane lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Pensacola-Tallahassee Bishop Gregory Parkes lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Bishop Martin Holley, auxiliary bishop of Washington, D.C., lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Pueblo, Colo., Bishop Emeritus Fernando Isern lays hands on Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Deacons hold the Book of the Gospels over the head of Bishop Peter Baldacchino while Archbishop Thomas Wenski recites the prayer of ordination.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski pours the oil of chrism over the head of Bishop Peter Baldacchino, anointing him as bishop.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski rubs the oil of chrism over the head of Bishop Peter Baldacchino, anointing him as bishop.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino receives the Book of the Gospels from Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's sister, Paula Muscat, takes up his miter.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski places the miter, symbol of his new office, on the head of Bishop Peter Baldacchino.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski accompanies Bishop Peter Baldacchino to a place behind the altar where he will receive the kiss of peace from his fellow bishops.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino receives the kiss of peace from Archbishop Thomas Wenski.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino receives the kiss of peace from Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who ordained him to the priesthood when he was archbishop of Newark.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino receives the kiss of peace from Archbishop Charles Dufour of Kingston.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski prepares to begin the Liturgy of the Eucharist with Bishop Peter Baldacchino at his side.
Bishop Baldacchino gives a high-five to a youngster while distributing Communion after his ordination as auxiliary bishop of Miami.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino walks through the church, giving his first blessing to those in attendance at his ordination Mass.
Newly-ordained Bishop Peter Baldacchino walks around the cathedral imparting his first blessing to those in attendance at the Mass.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's sister, Paula Muscat, and his brother, John, wave the flag of Malta as he walks through the church giving his first blessing to the congregation.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino walks back to the altar after giving his first blessing to those in attendance at his ordination Mass. At left, his sister, Paula Muscat, brother John, and nieces, wave Malta flags.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino speaks at the end of his ordination ceremony at the cathedral.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's ring.
Flag of Malta
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's former parishioners wave Turks and Caicos flags at the conclusion of the Mass.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's siblings, Paula Muscat and John, wave Malta flags at the conclusion of the Mass.
Nina and John Orlando, longtime friends of Bishop Peter Baldacchino, wave Malta flags as the procession enters St. Mary Cathedral.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way sang songs and hung banners in the plaza in front of the cathedral to welcome Bishop Peter Baldacchino to Miami. There are 30 Neocatechumenal communities in the archdiocese, active in eight parishes.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino poses outside the cathedral with all the priests and bishops who attended his ordination.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino greets members of the Neocatechumenal Way who waited for him outside the cathedral, singing songs and banging on drums.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way break into exuberant dance after the ordination ceremony for Bishop Baldacchino.
Members of the Neocatechumenal Way break into exuberant dance after the ordination ceremony for Bishop Baldacchino.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino shows his episcopal ring to two young well-wishers.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino's brother, John, helps a young well-wisher tie a flag of Malta to a flag of Turks and Caicos.
A young child waves a giant flag from the Turks and Caicos at the reception that followed the Mass.
Framed by the flags of the Vatican, Malta and the U.S., Bishop Peter Baldacchino prepares to give individual blessings to the hundreds who attended his ordination.
Photography: Jim Davis | FC
