WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Jan. 25-Feb. 7, 2019 | Volume 80, Number 6 WORLD YOUTH DAY Bishops address abuse scandal with U.S. pilgrims RHINA GUIDOS Jesus, and anyone and anything that takes his place Catholic News Service is not a choice worth making today. I ask you, don’t be afraid to choose Jesus. Don’t be afraid to choose PANAMA CITY | As Pope Francis was arriving light!” in Panama Jan. 23, bishops from the United States Sister Lucia Richardson of the Sisters of St. Francis wasted no time addressing the sex abuse scandal of Perpetual Adoration said she was glad the bish- back home during a popular event aimed at Ameri- ops had addressed the “elephant in the room” and can and other English-speaking World Youth Day discussed “this ugly reality,” one that she hears con- pilgrims. cerns about from young Catholics who speak with “It’s not easy being Christian, it’s not easy be- her. ing Catholic ... especially today when things in the Bishop Caggiano said he was deeply sorry for the church are difficult,” said Bishop Edward J. Burns of times the church has “failed you, and anyone in the Dallas, addressing the sex abuse scandal in a room church has failed you. I am deeply sorry,” he said. of hundreds of U.S. young adults attending the FIAT “I ask you in this time of shadows and darkness Festival for U.S. pilgrims at Panama’s Figali Conven- to join with me and all others who wish to move for- tion Center. The event was sponsored by the U.S. ward and allow our church to be healed and trans- Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Knights of Co- formed and purified,” he said. lumbus and FOCUS. But members of the church are facing choices, he “How often do we hear our friends say to us: I’m said. done, I’m bowing out. I will have no more of this, “ “It seems to me, in the time in which we live in the Bishop Burns said. “My friends, I want you to tell your church, it is a time of spiritual twilight,” he said. “For friends that you’d never separate yourself from Jesus there are shadows, there are sins in our midst.” Pilgrims listen to a talk in Panama City Jan. 23, 2019, at FIAT, the largest English-language World Youth Day event. because of Judas. You’d never do that!” The sin and crime and abuse of young people has Many in the room applauded. deeply destroyed many lives and broken trust with “Yes, you look at the church today,” he continued, the leadership of the church, he said. “and there have been some who have betrayed us, Brian Florin, 24, a seminarian at Mount St. Mary’s some even in church leadership.” Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, told Catholic But he told the pilgrims to “stay strong, stayed fo- News Service it was important to be open and to talk cused, stay steady.” about the scandal, even at World Youth Day, because The message was well received by those in the it’s a point of pain for those in the church in the U.S. room, including Kennedy Horter, 16, of Indiana. Bishop Caggiano said this is the time when many “I don’t let people come between me and God,” are considering choices, and he continually referred said Horter, wrapped in a U.S. flag. to the image of dark and light during the day. She said she was not going to judge priests and oth- “What do we want? The dawn or the dusk? Do we er good people in the church by the actions of men want the dawn where you and I seek holiness of life who likely were never priests “spiritually.” lived in ordinary ways and bring the light of Christ to Like other pilgrims, she did not seem to be both- whomever we meet? Or will we sit back and say ‘the ered by the open conversation, which was mixed in darkness is here and I surrender to it,’” he said. “What with accounts by other young people who spoke of is it that you or I will choose? I can say to you, as my overcoming difficulties, of lives of prayer, and chal- family in Christ, I stand before you, with every ounce lenges in life. But the situation in the U.S. church of energy and grace God has given me, and say that I seemed to weigh on the minds of many, and the bish- will choose the dawn and I ask you, are you ready to ops stressed that, in this situation and in other mo- choose the dawn?” ments of difficulty, Christ must be the anchor. Bishop Burns reminded pilgrims that the church Bishop Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport, Connecti- had lived with scandal from the beginning, includ- cut, also addressed the scandal while speaking to ing the betrayal of Jesus, but reminded them of Peter the pilgrims; he spoke to them about choices. He said and Jesus. there’s one choice in life, most important above all “We’re going to survive this. Our Lord promised Olivia Brouillette of Grand Rapids, Mich., fans herself in Panama City others. ‘on this rock I will build my church.’ Step up and Jan. 23, at FIAT, the largest English-language World Youth Day event. “There can be only one person who sits at the cen- continue to have the strength,” he said to great ap- (CNS PHOTOS BY Chaz Muth) ter of your life — and mine,” he said. “That person is plause. n Diocesan happenings Celebrating Catholic Schools • ORLANDO • Rite of Consecrated Virgin reveals beauty of chastity Week • PALM BEACH • Sacred Heart • The strength of students explore wildlife refuge Catholic schools, B4 • • VENICE • Mass honors widows • Stewardship is a way and widowers of life, B6 • WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Jan. 25-Feb. 7, 2019 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE Rite reveals beauty, gift of chastity GLENDA MEEKINS of the Florida Catholic staff During the Rite of ORLANDO | Marianne Cano walked Consecration, Marianne down the aisle of St. James Cathedral in Cano, right, Orlando dressed in a long white gown and is called forth filled with irrepressible joy. and sings her Jan. 19, the day she awaited and pre- reply. A fellow pared for since her youth — to become a consecrated “bride of Christ” — was here. Surrounded virgin, Dr. by parishioners, family and guests from Magalis as far away as Dominican Republic, Cano Aguilera, was consecrated to a life of virginity. The stands with Ascension Parish, Melbourne, parishio- her. Signifying ner is the first woman to become a pub- her joy after licly professed consecrated virgin in the consecration Diocese of Orlando. The rite dates back Cano sang, “I to the apostolic era and was revived after am espoused Vatican II. to him, whom Pursuing this path for more than 20 years, the angels Cano began private formation with a spiri- serve. Sun and tual director in 2013 after learning of the Rite moon stand of Solemn Consecration to a Life of Virgin- in wonder ity. After petitioning Bishop John Noonan, at his glory.” (PHOTOS Cano entered her final phase of formation BY GLENDA with Sister of St. Joseph Kathleen Power in MEEKINS | FC) January 2018. “The restoration of this ancient rite in the church impacts each one of us as laity, priests, deacons, consecrated religious, and ‘This wonderful consecrated widows,” Sister Power said. “This wonderful consecrated virgin stands as an icon of all of virgin stands as an icon of all us in the Church publicly. … it is another way of us in the Church publicly. … to consecrate yourself to Christ in the world as laity. Having the chance to participate in it is another way to consecrate Marianne’s formation has enlightened me yourself to Christ in the world and brought me great joy.” Cano’s mother, Marta Menendez Cano, as laity.’ said her daughter has “been a consecrated person on her own since she was a teenager.” — Sister Kathleen Power “Daily Mass would not be missed by her, no matter what was going on in her life,” she said. “Marianne has been with the Lord all To do this, the bishop encouraged her to her life. This is her wish coming true. She speak with God in prayer. has officially found what she did not know “Marianne, the Scriptures reveal so much existed.” to us about God and our faith. Unfortunately, As Sister Power called Cano to come forth, too many Christians today do not know or her attendant and fellow consecrated virgin, believe in God. Jesus has become a personal- Dr. Magalis Aguilera, lit a brass lamp recall- ity not a person, set in dogma and doctrine,” ing Matthew chapter 25. The story speaks of he said. “Pope Benedict reminds us that Je- 10 virgins who awaited their bridegroom, sus cannot be an object, but must become Christ, but only five were prepared at his ar- the subject of our lives. Jesus is not only be- Bishop Noonan takes Cano’s hands as he says the Prayer of Consecration at St. James rival. Cano was ready and eager, singing her side us, but dwells in us. It is God’s grace that Cathedral, Orlando, Jan. 19. response with ardor. gives us the knowledge and strength to make “Marianne, God has called you and has Jesus the subject of our lives. ... Marianne, tity. You inspire her to take this vow; now she op Noonan in November 2017, when she led you to this moment in your life.