WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | March 2014 | $1.00 FLORIDACatholic MIAMI EDITION 2 WELCOME BISHOP BALDACCHINO Florida Catholic March 2014 The meaning behind the symbols New bishop’s ‘impulse to evangelize’ evident in design of crosier, image on ring STAFF REPORT MIAMI | During his ordination as bishop, Bishop Peter Baldacchi- no received three symbols of his new office: • the crosier, or pastoral staff, shaped like a shepherd’s crook, which symbolizes his authority and jurisdiction over a particular flock. • the ring, emblematic of the be- trothal of the bishop to the Church. • and the miter, the tall, pointed ceremonial cap worn as part of li- turgical dress. Before his ordination, and as Bishop Peter Baldacchino’s ring and pectoral cross are pictured here in soon as his appointment was made the sanctuary of St. Mary Cathedral. Archbishop Thomas Wenski blessed public, Bishop Baldacchino also them during vespers March 16. The bishop’s crosier is pictured at right. began wearing a fourth symbol (PHOTOS BY TOM TRACY | FC) of the bishop’s office, the pectoral cross, which is worn “on the breast” have taken on a deeper religious CROSIER attached to a chain or cord. meaning over time. The inside of the hook of Bishop The wearing of this insignia Following are explanations of Baldacchino’s crosier represents the traces back, in many cases, to the why Bishop Baldacchino chose Annunciation, the moment when Roman customs or practices ad- specific designs for his symbols of opted in the Middle Ages. But they office. PLEASE SEE SYMBOLS, 9 Coat of arms: ‘Where God is, there is joy’ Explanation of the ral environment and live upon a palm tree, symbol of eternity and coat of arms of paradise. The palm tree is also a reference to the Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop of Miami, and the lobster to the Turks and Caicos Islands, where Peter Baldacchino Bishop Baldacchino ministered for 15 years. STAFF REPORT Above the cross hovers a dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, who is MIAMI | Bishop Peter Balda- the life of the Church, and with- cchino, titular bishop of Vatarba out whom nothing can be done. and auxiliary bishop of Miami, In the upper part are found the has chosen for his motto “Ubi Do- moon, representing the Blessed minus ibidem laetitia”: “Where Virgin Mary: “And a great sign God is, there is joy.” (See Jdt 15:10; was seen in heaven; a woman Ps 67:4; and Pope Francis’ “Evan- arrayed with the sun, and the gelii Gaudium,” “The Joy of the From the description of Bishop Peter Baldacchino’s moon under her feet, and upon Gospel”). coat of arms: an image of a palm tree upon which her head a crown of twelve stars” Dominating the coat of arms is a lobster rests was a well-known symbol of the (Rv 12:1); and the Cross of Malta, Christ crucified: “Far be it from early Church, representing the mystery of salvation but also the star which leads the me to glory except in the cross of through baptism: A sea creature, accustomed way to Christ. our Lord Jesus Christ, by which to live in the waters of sin, through the work The coat of arms is completed the world has been crucified to of the Holy Spirit, can leave behind its natural by the three waves of the baptis- me and I to the world” (Gal 6:14). environment and live upon a palm tree, symbol of mal font representing the three The cross emerges as a sign of vic- eternity and paradise. (COURTESY PHOTO) rivers of the Archdiocese of New- tory over death, represented by Bishop Peter Baldacchino’s coat of arms ark, N.J., where Bishop Baldac- the waters of the baptismal font, chino was ordained in 1996, and the source of Christian life, which of baptism through the Neocate- Beneath the cross and baptis- the mystery of salvation through by the glorious cross that links communicates to every Christian chumenal Way and to the work of mal font is found an image of a baptism: A sea creature, accus- the shield to the pontifical hat, the victory of Christ. evangelization: bringing people palm tree upon which a lobster tomed to live in the waters of with its six tassels in three rows The baptismal font is a refer- to live their baptism so that they rests, a well-known symbol of sin, through the work of the Holy on either side of the shield, the ence also to his own rediscovery may receive divine life. the early Church, representing Spirit, can leave behind its natu- heraldic insignia of a bishop. n March 2014 www.thefloridacatholic.org WELCOME BISHOP BALDACCHINO 3 Bishop Peter Baldacchino: In his own words Miami’s 10th auxiliary bishop is a man of joy, humility, clarity and missionary zeal ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO of the Florida Catholic staff MIAMI | Priesthood? As a young man, Peter Baldacchino was ada- mant. “I wouldn’t touch the priest- hood with a 10-foot pole.” But God obviously had other plans for Miami’s new auxiliary bishop, and they began to take shape at the 1989 World Youth Day in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. “When I arrived there, the first thing I heard — we were late in ar- riving — was the voice of Pope John Paul II saying, ‘Do not be afraid to be holy.’ And I thought, ‘Well, I bet- ter take my bag and go back home because this is not for me.’ “I didn’t understand what it means to be holy,” Bishop Baldac- The Baldacchino siblings are, from left, John, the third oldest; Patrick, chino, 53, explained during a brief Paula’s husband; Paula, the oldest; Peter, the second oldest; and Robert, Father Peter Baldacchino waves as he leaves the church after being but wide-ranging interview with the youngest. ordained a priest. (COURTESY PHOTOS | BALDACCHINO FAMILY) reporters from archdiocesan me- dia: The Florida Catholic, La Voz Católica and Radio Paz. The Malta native, Newark priest and missionary founder of two churches and one school on the Turks and Caicos Islands is a man who laughs easily — including at himself. He often repeats St. Teresa of Avila’s adage “Un santo triste es un triste santo,” which roughly trans- lated means, “A saint who is sad is a sad saint.” No surprise, then, at the motto he chose for his episcopacy: “Ubi Dominus ibidem letitia” — “Where God is, there is joy.” A short time with Miami’s 10th auxiliary bishop also reveals a man Msgr. Peter Baldacchino prepares to proclaim the Gospel during Mass who is approachable, warm and at Our Lady of Divine Providence in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. disarming; a man who worked with Father Peter Baldacchino greets Pope John Paul II during a visit to his hands and vacuumed his own Rome. church in Providenciales; a priest not prone to quoting vague theol- ogy but one who makes deep points with clear examples — a man, in fact, very much in the style of Pope Francis. He speaks his native Maltese — a mixture of Arabic and Sicilian — as well as English, the country’s other official language. In Newark he learned Spanish and in the Turks and Caicos he learned Creole. He also attended a Redemptoris Mater seminary where his fellow students came from all over the world. “My accent is no longer mine,” he Msgr. Peter Baldacchino seems to be toasting his former employer said. “It’s not Maltese. It’s not Eng- after being named a monsignor in 2009. lish. It’s not Italian. It’s a mixture of all. My niece says, ‘Uncle Pete, you speak funny.’” ‘To refuse to answer that question has been a As for the priesthood, don’t get him wrong. He grew up in a family great liberation for me. It means God is here. And of practicing Catholics. His father served on the parish council. The if God is here, I’m staying. If he’s not, I’m the first family joined the Neocatechume- one to leave.’ nal Way (see story, Page 16) when Bishop Baldacchino was 13. Theirs Msgr. Peter Baldacchino gets a haircut and a new zucchetto after his — Bishop Peter Baldacchino PLEASE SEE BIO, 7 appointment as auxiliary bishop of Miami was announced. 4 WELCOME BISHOP BALDACCHINO Florida Catholic March 2014 What he did before becoming a priest: He worked for nine years as a technical manager for Canada Dry in Malta. “I was a workaholic — 36 hours straight work without going home.” When he knew he wanted to be a priest: BISHOP PETER After attending World Youth Day in Santiago BALDACCHINO de Compostela, Spain, in 1989. Auxiliary bishop of Miami Person or event that triggered his vocation: Born Dec. 5, 1960, in Sliema, Malta, Bishop “The World Youth Day in Santiago de Compostela Baldacchino is the second oldest of four in 1989. The words of John Paul II in his homily, children — three boys and a girl — born to ‘Do not be afraid to be holy,’ opened a new Leonilda (known as Hilda) and Rinaldo perspective to life for me.” (known as Rene) Baldacchino. When he was 13, his family joined the Neocatechumenal What the seminary did not prepare him for: Peter Baldacchino, front, gets ready to kick a soccer ball while playing with his siblings, from left, John, Paula and Way. He studied at St. Francis School in Press conferences. Robert, in their native Malta. Msida and Mount Carmel College in Santa Venera, Malta, then studied science and His hobbies: chemistry at the University of Malta. He “I always enjoy a good fishing trip.” entered the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Most difficult aspect of being a priest: Missionary Seminary in Newark, N.J., in “Comforting someone who has lost a loved one; 1990, obtaining a bachelor’s in theology, and a master’s in divinity from Seton Hall when no words can fill that void and we can only University.