Prayers for Victims of Guatemala Volcano Disaster
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WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | June 8-21, 2018 | Volume 79, Number 15 Physiology and social work students tend a displaced woman at a shelter in An aerial view of Escuintla, Guatemala, is seen June 4. The town on the edge of the Volcano Escuintla, Guatemala, June 5. The erupton of the nearby Volcano of Fire June of Fire was inundated by ash and lava by a June 3 eruption. (MINGOB, PNC VIA REUTERS |CNS) 3 killed at least 99 people. (COURTESY IVAN PALMA, CRS | CNS) Prayers for victims of Guatemala volcano disaster JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES The June 3 eruption buried en- to walk around after the soles of “People here in Escuintla have and the number of deaths is in- Catholic News Service tire towns in a thick blanket of ash their shoes were melting because lost everything, family members, creasing. Affected communities and debris, causing hundreds to of the intense heat, CNN reported homes, crops, their animals,” Luis face the drama of losing family. VATICAN CITY | Pope Fran- flee the toxic fumes. Although the June 5. Rolando Sanchez, Catholic Relief “I talked to a woman with three death toll was at 99 people June 6, Pope Francis offered “prayers Services’ emergency coordinator daughters, one of them a newborn cis sent condolences to Gua- authorities believed many more for the eternal rest of the deceased for Latin America, said in a mes- barely 27 days old. They, along temala after a horrific volca- may still be buried under the vol- and for all who suffer the conse- sage to agency staff in Baltimore. with her three nieces, survived. nic eruption left more than 60 canic rubble. quences of that natural disaster.” He said residents from the af- Her sister and husband were bur- According to the Vatican news- Cardinal Parolin said Pope fected communities had “lined up ied in the eruption. There will be people dead. paper, “L’Osservatore Romano,” Francis hoped that families all day” June 4 at shelters and col- many orphans and widows,” San- In a June 5 telegram addressed Guatemala’s National Institute mourning the loss of their loved lections centers for food and basic chez said. to Archbishop Nicolas Thevenin, of Forensic Studies said only 17 ones may be consoled and ex- needs. “Many of them were miss- CRS continued to work with apostolic nuncio of Guatemala, victims had been identified as of pressed “his spiritual closeness to ing family members,” he said. government and local responders Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican June 5. Scientists will have to rely the wounded and those who work “More help will be needed in as well as Caritas Guatemala, he secretary of state, said the pope on DNA to identify victims disfig- tirelessly in helping the victims.” coming days, especially once we added. was “profoundly grieved upon ured by burning embers and hot Meanwhile, Catholic agencies know the extent of the impact,” The agency is accepting dona- learning the sad news of the vio- lava. and parishes quickly responded Sanchez continued. “At one of the tions for the emergency through lent eruption of the ‘Volcan de Firefighters and volunteers after the eruption by providing shelters, the number of people had an online site: https://support.crs. Fuego’ (‘Volcano of Fire’).” were forced to use wooden planks shelter and emergency supplies. doubled by Monday night (June 4) org/donate/guatemala-volcano. ORLANDO DIOCESE PALM BEACH DIOCESE VENICE DIOCESE Two new priests Memorial Day Mass A new hurricane season WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | June 8-21, 2018 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE VESPERS AND ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD Two become fathers to God’s children GLENDA MEEKINS Noting the words of St. Paul in the Let- of the Florida Catholic staff ter to the Corinthians, he stressed that it “tells us that we are given this ministry of ORLANDO | In a tradition that dates back priesthood through the mercy of God. In thousands of years, two men of the Diocese your sharing of divine mercy, may you be of Orlando had their chalices and patens dedicated to living out in your daily lives blessed at vespers May 25, and were ordained the mercy which the Father constantly ex- to the priesthood May 26 at St. James Cathe- tends to you.” dral in Orlando. Father Matthew Hawkins of Father Britton often speaks of the role Annunciation Parish in Altamonte Springs model of fatherhood his own father so gener- and Father Blake Britton of St. Catherine of ously provided. Reflecting on that, his father, Siena in Kissimmee professed their vows be- Tim Britton, said, “It impacts me deeply. It’s fore the many faithful who sustained them in the fulfillment of the commitment I gave so love and prayer. many years ago. You start off fast and strong Father Britton’s mother, Lydia, consecrat- in your journey, then toward the middle ed him to the Virgin Mary while he was still you struggle a little bit. You wonder if that in her womb. “I can’t imagine strength and endurance is what the Blessed Mother said ‘You have been going to be there at the end, when she looked upon her son when the lights go down and and realized his calling,” she chosen through everyone you know is gone, shared. “I always think of that the eyes of the will you still be that faithful, when I look at Blake. I think, determined person? That’s ‘Is this even just a bit of what mercy of God. ... what I pray for Blake. There Mary felt?’ And then I am over- (L)et the Lord love comes a time when you’re not a Bishop John Noonan is flanked by newly ordained Father Blake Britton, left, and whelmed and in awe that God father anymore. You’re more of Father Matthew Hawkins at the doors of St. James Cathedral May 25. (PHOTOS BY chose us.” you so you too a guardian and you have to let GLENDA MEEKINS | FC) Bishop John Noonan also go, have faith in God and faith spoke of being chosen. He re- can share his love in the process. I’ve done my job. ferred to Pope Francis’ motto, with the world.’ Now he’s going to be a father.” based on the call of Matthew, As fathers guiding their “Miserando atque eligendo,” — Bishop John children, Bishop Noonan re- which means “because he saw Noonan flected on the words of Pope him through the eyes of mercy Francis, telling Fathers Britton and chose him.” and Hawkins to cry “the tears “You have been chosen of a priest” and “to battle with through the eyes of the mercy of God,” he the Lord for your people.” He concluded by said. saying, “You will be anointed because your Father Hawkins’ parents, Judy and Paul, names have been made known to God. … have found great joy in the knowledge that Matthew and Blake … behold the treasure God has chosen their son to be a priest. “We you are about to become — vessels of truth. are very happy for Matthew,” said his father. You will not only preach the Gospel, but also “He (Matthew) had a secular life that was live the Gospel. You preach Jesus Christ as very rewarding. He had an interest in Chris- Lord and yourself as servant for the sake of tian ministry, but something was missing. the Gospel.” Father Matthew Hawkins, left, and Father Blake Bishop John Noonan kisses This was his avenue and I think he’s just as Father Hawkins has been assigned to St. Britton bless their parents for the first time as priests. the hands of newly ordained happy as he can be.” James Cathedral in Orlando and Father Brit- The first blessing offers the faithful an opportunity to Father Matthew Hawkins. “When I see him up at the altar and he’s ton to St. Mary Parish in Rockledge. n gain a plenary indulgence. (MARJORIE DURANTE | FC) serving, I really don’t have words,” Judy Hawkins said. “It just fills me with joy be- During the Litany cause he is so happy. It’s just so awe inspir- of Supplication, ing.” Fathers Matthew At vespers, Father Juan Osorno, ordained Hawkins and Blake May 2017, encouraged both men to “love the Britton lay prostrate people” to whom they minister. He told them as all gathered to not be afraid of making mistakes. “Being in pray. (MARJORIE the midst of imperfection makes everything DURANTE | FC) perfect. … It is then that we realize we need Christ,” he said. “The Church is the hospital and God is the healer.” Bishop Noonan reaffirmed this idea dur- ing his ordination homily when he said, “Pope Francis said in the Year of Mercy, ‘Let us allow God to surprise us. He never tires of throwing open the doors of his heart and re- peats that he loves us and wants to share his love with us.’ So, let the Lord love you so you too can share his love with the world.” June 8-21, 2018 Florida Catholic YOUR ORLANDO COMMUNITY A2 Gifts of chalice, paten parallel vocation journey GLENDA MEEKINS Pictured journey, enhance our story and of the Florida Catholic staff are the character adding to the beauty.” chalices He added that its age also reflects of Father | The night before the longevity of the faith and the ORLANDO Blake they were ordained to the priest- Britton, priesthood as one that has been hood, Fathers Matthew Hawkins left, and handed down through the gen- and Blake Britton had their chal- Father erations. ices and patens blessed by Bish- Matthew Because it was made in France, op John Noonan at vespers.