RCIA (the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) is the process the Catholic Church uses to help non-Catholics learn more about the Church and, if they desire it, actually become Catholic. Saint Coleman will begin the 2020-2021 RCIA classes on Tuesday, September 9th. Visit our RCIA Information page for more information or to register.

Congratulations to Deacon Nicholas Toledo! On Sunday August 9th, Deacon Nick performed the Sacrament of Baptism for the very fist time as he baptized Conner Scott Smith. Special thanks to Conner's parents Christina and Graham for sharing this photo with us.

The book of Wisdom speaks about Truth. It speaks about our need to search for truth. Up until relatively recent history, it was always understood that it was man’s job to go out of himself and search for the truth. The truth is out there; we just have to discover it. Then in the 17th century, a French philosopher by the name of René Descartes sought to obtain absolute knowledge – a knowledge with absolute certainty, without doubt. He begins by questioning the certainty of external realities. He questions the existence of things around him. Unhappy with his results, he basis his philosophy on the one thing he felt could not be questioned, the one thing he did not doubt: his own existence. The very fact that he was able to think, the fact that he was conscious, proved that he, himself, existed. We therefore have the his famous saying: “Cogito, ergo sum,” i.e. “I think therefore I am.” He bases everything on this one certainty and he builds upon this philosophy. This began the Modern period and perhaps the majority of all the tragedies we are witnessing today. Man now becomes the arbiter of truth. I decide the value of what is external to me. I decide what is real. Truth is no longer an objective reality, but a subjective understanding. Science, which also rose during this period, denied metaphysical realities (i.e. anything beyond the physical) since they could not be subjected to the scrutiny of the human senses, i.e. the scientific method. Therefore, the notion of love, justice, and even God has been undermined according to one’s own subjective view. Is there any wonder why during this period we have the rise of 40,000 interpretations of the Christian God following the Protestant Reformation, as well as the rise of atheistic communism, which flat out denies the existence of God and justice as understood in the classical sense? At least science, with regards to physical realities, still follows the understanding that we must go outside ourselves to discover the truth. In fact, prior to the Enlightenment, science was understood as discovering the fingerprints of God within nature. What we have today in our Contemporary period is the full maturation that resulted from modern philosophy. We are born into to it. We think in these terms. I determine what is real. The Nazi’s determined that the Jews were not persons. Abortionists determined that fetuses are also not persons in opposition to scientific evidence that supports the contrary (militant atheists, such as Christopher Hitchens, recognized the legitimacy and value of life prior to birth). Even gender is subject to one’s own opinion. I’m not going to be politically correct with regards to objective truths, because frankly, truth is not confined to subjective opinions. As the book of Wisdom implies, the truth, by its very nature cannot be hidden. It is within its nature to be revealed. Spiritual anarchy, hedonism, and lawlessness are all products derived from a rejection of Divine and Natural Law. To reject these laws is to reject God himself. We are called to discover the truth. This is what separates us from the animals. We are not driven merely by impulse, but by our thirst for knowledge. We delineate from our humanity when we become complacent, like the five foolish virgins from this week’s gospel. In their complacency they fell asleep and failed to prepare themselves for the coming of the bridegroom. They had chosen the convenient path, the lazy path. There are many who choose to remain intellectually and spiritually “asleep” because they refuse to conform themselves to the demands that come with indisputable truths. The rejection of these truths stem from an individualistic approach whereby I determine what is the way, I determine what is true, and I determine the value of life. In so doing, the “way” becomes tyrannical (e.g. communism), the “truth” becomes relativistic (e.g. gender identity), and “life” gets robbed of its dignity (e.g. abortion, euthanasia). This is the natural outcome when the Way, the Truth, and the Life is replaced by my way, my truth, and my life. Although we are born into this way of thinking, the good news is, we can choose not to abide by it and seek out Truth for ourselves. Why let someone else’s subjective definition of truth rob me from the Truth that my nature as a human being is rightly entitled to? Do we not have the freedom to think for ourselves? We can choose to be like the five wise virgins who centered their lives on the bridegroom (i.e. Christ), or we can choose to be like the five foolish virgins who centered their lives on themselves and were denied entrance into the kingdom. Beware of being met with the words, “‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski ordained Andrew Tomonto and Ryan Saunders to the Priesthood on Saturday, June 27th. Moments after the Ordination Ceremony was over, he informed both men where they would serve their first assignment as a priest of the Archdiocese of Miami. St. Coleman is truly blessed to have Father Andrew return to us a our Parochial Vicar after getting to know him over the last year when he was assigned to our parish as a Transitional Deacon.   Father Tomonto, the oldest of three brothers, was born in Miami and attended St. Louis Covenant School in Pinecrest and Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. He graduated from the University of Miami in 2013 with a business degree and entered St. John Vianney College Seminary that same year. He continued his formation at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. During his years in the seminary, he served summers at the Church of the Little Flower in Coral Gables and Immaculate Conception in Hialeah; did a summer of chaplaincy at Jackson Memorial Hospital and a pastoral year at St. Andrew Church in Coral Springs; and served his diaconate year at St. Coleman Church in Pompano Beach.  

Their ordination ceremony, like their "yes" to priesthood, was a bit delayed. But Fathers Andrew Tomonto and Ryan Saunders both agree that it ultimately happened in God's good time. Their ordination ceremony took place June 27, 2020, more than a month after the usual date, with reduced attendance and no post-ceremony first blessings due to the COVID-19 precautions. In his homily, Archbishop Thomas Wenski noted that the archdiocese usually ordains its priests in May, on the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend, as "a kind of gift to the mothers of our priests." Since this year the ceremony took place the weekend after Father's Day, he said, it could be considered "a belated Father's Day gift to this local Church of Miami." Local being a key word this year, as both of the newly ordained are South Florida-born and raised, products of Catholic elementary and secondary schools. Both also felt God's call early but postponed entering the seminary until graduating from college — and, in Father Saunders' case, pursuing a parallel interest in politics. Here are brief profiles of Miami's newest priests. FATHER ANDREW TOMONTO "It's in his blood," Elsa Tomonto said of her eldest son's vocation to the priesthood. Archbishop Thomas Wenski lays hands on Deacon Andrew Tomonto, ordaining him "a priest forever." Archbishop Thomas Wenski ordained two South Florida natives to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami June 27, 2020. The ceremony had been postponed from May due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and was still punctuated by mask-wearing and social distancing among the limited number of both faithful and priests in attendance. Archbishop Thomas Wenski lays hands on Deacon Andrew Tomonto, ordaining him "a priest forever." Archbishop Thomas Wenski ordained two South Florida natives to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami June 27, 2020. The ceremony had been postponed from May due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and was still punctuated by mask-wearing and social distancing among the limited number of both faithful and priests in attendance. Andrew's grandfather, the late Bob Tomonto, was a permanent deacon at the family's home parish of St. Louis in Pinecrest. He and his wife, Irene Tomonto, joined the Christian Family Movement in the 1960s. At St. Louis, they created the Covenant Experience, a parish-based enrichment program for married couples. "I've always had very, very good priests in my life," said Father Tomonto, who was born in Mercy Hospital. But Elsa Tomonto didn't necessarily want her son to become a priest. "She's a Colombian mom who wants to be a Colombian grandmother," he explained. His becoming a priest would cut her chance at that by one-third, as Andrew is the eldest of three sons. "He remembers when he was 12, he told me he wanted to be a priest and I started crying," Tomonto said moments before her son's ordination. "Now we're thrilled." Father Tomonto said he first vocalized the thought of becoming a priest in seventh grade, as a student at St. Louis Covenant School. He then moved to Marist-run Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, where a couple of archdiocesan priests — both retired now — proved deeply influential: Father Liam Quinn, who taught him theology in ninth grade, and Father Arthur Dennison, who taught him in 11th grade. But Father Tomonto didn't realize it at the time. At 14, he thought "you couldn't be happy without a family." Looking back later, he realized how Father Quinn changed that perspective. "This guy is happy. There's a joy in him, and it's infectious," Father Tomonto recalled. "It helped bring down a wall in my mind, a barrier to discerning." But he moved on, to major in business at the University of Miami. "This is where the vocation really showed itself," he said. "College was where I had that adult moment when you take ownership of your own faith." He began "praying more profoundly." During his sophomore year, he attended a vocation awareness weekend at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami. He got involved in UM's Catholic campus ministry. Still, he put off entering the seminary. "I had a good scholarship and I loved college," he said. He entered the seminary immediately after graduating. "It was just like a puzzle piece fitting," he said. "I went into the seminary and I loved it. I knew that's where I was supposed to be." As for not having a family: "I haven't found any life that's really that easy," he said. "Each (vocation) has its own challenges and its own joy." His mother thinks he'll make a good priest. "He's a very comforting person. He's very calm," she said. "I think he's going to be a wonderful person to minister to the people of God." FATHER RYAN SAUNDERS Father Saunders remembers the question the late Auxiliary Bishop Agustin Roman would ask him whenever he visited St. Mary Cathedral: "When, Ryan, when?" At the time, Saunders was working fulltime as master of ceremonies at the cathedral and associate director of the archdiocesan Office of Worship. Msgr. Terence Hogan, then rector of the cathedral, had hired him for the job in 2005, while he was completing his studies in political science at Barry University in Miami Shores. Archbishop Thomas Wenski lays hands on Deacon Ryan Saunders, ordaining him "a priest forever." Archbishop Thomas Wenski ordained two South Florida natives to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami June 27, 2020. The ceremony had been postponed from May due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and was still punctuated by mask-wearing and social distancing among the limited number of both faithful and priests in attendance. Photographer: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC Archbishop Thomas Wenski lays hands on Deacon Ryan Saunders, ordaining him "a priest forever." Archbishop Thomas Wenski ordained two South Florida natives to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami June 27, 2020. The ceremony had been postponed from May due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and was still punctuated by mask-wearing and social distancing among the limited number of both faithful and priests in attendance. The combination of studies and work harmonized with Saunders' lifelong passion for both politics and the priesthood. He remembers as a child telling his family he would either become "president or pope." He also remembers dragging his grandfather to the front pews of the church whenever they went to Mass. "There was always something about the liturgy that drew me in," said the Fort Lauderdale native, born at Holy Cross Hospital. "There was always something about the elevation that I loved, and I wanted to be close to that." He also was close to Father Timothy Hannon, his pastor at St. Anthony, where he attended elementary school, taught religious education and served as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion. He also gained experience there coordinating liturgical ceremonies for the parish. Near the end of his years at Cardinal Gibbons High School, young Ryan spoke to Father Hannon about entering the seminary. The priest, who died in 2005, advised him to get some life experience and finish college first. "If God is calling you, you will know when he's calling you," Father Hannon advised. So Ryan graduated from Barry and worked at the cathedral until 2010, when a friend, Chip LaMarca, asked him to run his campaign for Broward County commissioner. LaMarca, now a member of Florida's House of Representatives, won that seat and Saunders became his chief of staff. "It was a fantastic opportunity," Father Saunders recalled. "I loved what I did," managing the office, meeting with constituents. "But there was always something missing, always something I would experience at Mass, receiving the Eucharist, a voice in the back of my head saying, 'This is what you should be doing.'" The voice turned into a psalm one day while he took part in daily Mass at St. John the Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale: "You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek." "It was like a lightbulb went off," Father Saunders recalled. He left church knowing he had to enter the seminary. As he was searching for his car keys, he inadvertently pulled from his pocket the holy card from Bishop Roman's funeral. "When, Ryan, when?" "Ok, I get it," Father Saunders recalled thinking. "To this day, I keep that holy card on my desk."

Saint Coleman says goodbye to Father Jerry Morris, who retired at the end of June after 50 years of priesthood. Fr. Morris entered the St. John Vianney Minor Seminary, in Miami, Fl. in 1959; when he was about 14 years old. There Fr. Morris completed the 10th and 11th Grades. While in the Seminary, he took academic classes at Christopher Columbus High School. Fr. Morris finished his 12th grade at St. John Vianney Seminary. He worked hard the first two years of college at St. John Vianney, and received his AA Degree in Liberal Arts. He went on to St. Vincent De Paul for his 3rd and 4th year of College, where he received his B.A. Degree in Philosophy and Education. He continued his studies at St. Vincent De Paul for the next four years studying Theology where he received his M.Th. Degree and M.Div. Degree. He served as Deacon for one year at St. Patrick's Church in Miami Beach and taught Vacation Bible School. He was ordained at St. Mary's Cathedral on May 30,1970, from St. Vincent de Paul Major Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida. He celebrated his first Holy Mass on May 31, 1970, on the Feast of Corpus Christi at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish in Perrine, Florida. From 1970 to 1971, he was Associate Pastor of Epiphany Parish, South Miami, Fl. where he worked with the Youth Group, The Parish Elementary School and Administered Wedding Preparations. From 1971 to 1974 attended the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy where he in 1974 received the Degree in Sacred Scripture, S.S.I. Magna Cum Laude. In 1974 Fr. Morris was assigned to St. Mary's Cathedral. He taught a Comparative Religion Course at the University of Miami. He was also a Faculty Member of St. Vincent de Paul and taught Old Testament and New Testament Courses. He was the Spiritual Director at the Seminary from 1974 to 1980. He helped out at St. Martin De Porres in Jensen Beach on the weekends and was involved in 25 Marriage Encounter Weekends. From 1980 to 1983 Fr. Morris continued as part time Seminary and Associate Pastor at St. Martin de Porres. From 1983 to 1994 He became Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven, North Lauderdale, Florida. Fr. Jerry was responsible for building the Educational Building, the Adoration Chapel and the Parish Offices. He was involved in the Ecumenical Projects. In 1994, Fr. Morris became Pastor of San Pablo Catholic Church, Marathon, Fl. Fr. Morris was responsible for the beautiful Parish Piazza and Gardens, the renovations of all Church Buildings and Ecumenical Outreach. In June of 2013, Father Jerry was assigned as pastor at Saint Pius X. In June of 2015, He was appointed Parochial Vicar at St. Coleman's Catholic Church.

This weekend we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord into Heaven. Jesus finishes his mission and leaves his apostles with the charge to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that [was commanded to them].” In our current situation in the world, with churches closed and families confined to their homes, it can feel as though Jesus has left us just as he did with his apostles. But what did we learn from all this? Could something good come out of a terrible situation? This period of isolation has given us a lot of time to reflect. We were given the opportunity to slow down, to preoccupy our minds with things that perhaps were not at the forefront of our thoughts. I am reminded of what happened to the people of Israel, when the glory of God was taken away from them and they were forced into exile. This unimaginable situation of both losing their place of worship, the Temple, and the familiarity of their way of life as they have known it, caused them to rethink every aspect of their lives. It was in the darkness of exile where they rediscovered the ancient texts. It was in exile that they rediscovered the love of God, a love that just prior to the exile they had taken for granted. They were able to look back at how God had saved them from the slavery of Egypt, how he guided them in the desert, how he established for them a kingdom, and how despite the infidelity of Israel’s leaders, he remained the faithful spouse to His people. This caused the Israelites to realize the extent of their infidelity and began a movement of reparation and self-discovery. During this period of study they rediscovered their identity as God’s children – not of Ashtoreth, Chemosh, Milcom, or Ba’al, whom they previously worshipped – but of Yahweh, the God of their fathers Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob. They began to write new texts with this new self-awareness and new understanding, such as 1st & 2nd Kings. And when God saw them turn back to Him, they were granted the freedom to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. What does all this have to say to us, we who are going through our own exile and are at the cusp of returning to our own temple of worship? We cannot say that things will be exactly as they were before, and perhaps, there are things with our new-found understanding, that shouldn’t be as they were before. Our approach to the Eucharist and the liturgy should remind us that what our hearts truly desire is to love and serve the Lord. Perhaps we have taken for granted the incredible gift of what God offers us through his sacraments. This period in which the Lord has ascended could be the catalyst for a new zeal, a new heart, a new driving force to go out and make disciples of all nations, and to teach them to observe all the commandments. As much as it had seemed that God had abandoned the people of Israel, or left his Apostles as he took his seat at the right hand of his Father, God has made known throughout the annals of history this very important fact: that he has been, and will be, with us always until the end of the age. Perhaps God occasionally takes a step back so that we can take the step forward.

Photo of the place of the crucifixion (Golgotha) inside the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem.  

Usually when we think of the birth of our Lord, we tend to think of Mary and Jesus. In the Joyful mysteries of the rosary we have primarily moments within the life of Mary and Jesus: the Annunciation, The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, the actual birth, the Presentation of Jesus to Simeon, and Jesus lost in the Temple. But today we have an opportunity to talk about a very important figure that cannot be overlooked. Today I’m going to be talking about St. Joseph, patron saint of fathers and the Universal Church. The 4th Sunday of Advent focuses on the essential role that Joseph played in the birth of Jesus. Matthew’s gospel opens up by telling us that Joseph was betrothed to Mary. In Jewish custom the betrothal initiates the marriage followed by several days of celebration ending with the husband taking his wife into his home. So yes, even though Mary and Joseph were not living together they were indeed already married by the time the angel Gabriel appeared to her. I would like to take this moment and ask every man here to place themselves in Joseph’s shoes, because this will show how righteous he really was. Joseph finds out Mary is pregnant just as they got married. He doesn’t understand what just happened. She hasn’t even moved in with him yet. Instead of being angry with her his first concern was her wellbeing and reputation. He was unwilling to expose her shame. He instead decides to divorce her quietly because he knows that if she was caught, under Jewish law, an unfaithful or adulterous wife would have to be stoned to death. Despite not understanding what had happened, he still loves her. I could not imagine what must have gone through his mind. Was he able to enjoy the celebrations after his wife announced that she was pregnant? Could he enjoy himself knowing that at any moment she could be discovered and stoned to death? Could he sleep at the end of each night when his mind was filled with so much anxiety? Have you ever tried to be happy in front of others when everything in your life seems to be falling apart? He had only been married for a couple of days and his love was already being put to the test. Could we be so righteous? But God peered into his heart and saw his intentions. Indeed, Joseph was a righteous man, worthy of being the adopted father of the Son of God. It’s difficult moments like these that define who we are and what we’re made of. He may not have had a lot said about him in scripture, but what was said says all we need to know about him. Everyone desires a fairytale wedding. Everyone desires the ideal marriage. But sometimes we have to put aside what we desire for the sake of those we love. I’m sure Mary and Joseph thought they were going to live happily ever after with barely a care in the world, but that wasn’t the plan God had for them. I’m sure they would have loved to go on a honeymoon instead of fleeing their home because of some jealous psychopathic king who wanted to murder every child two years and under. I’m sure they would have preferred to remain in Nazareth than to flee to Egypt where they were away from friends and family. Sometimes we forget that God doesn’t call us to a life of comfort, but of sacrifice. They are called The Holy Family for a reason. They put the needs of God before their own. This is what made them holy. St. Joseph was a man who gave up the fruits of marriage by being chaste and safeguarding the purity of the tabernacle which held the Son of God. Instead, he took up the mantle of being a spiritual father, a man who put the needs of his family above his own wants and desires. In many ways, St. Joseph represents the modern day priesthood. He is called to love others without claiming them for his own. He has given his life to protect and care for those God has put in his path. He was called to lay down his life for the one who in turn would die for his salvation. Perhaps this is why Joseph is the patron saint of the Universal Church. In short, St. Joseph was a real man. He had the utmost respect for his wife, he was faithful to the will of God, he showed tremendous courage in the midst of uncertainty and persecution, and he raised Jesus with the love that he deserved. St. Joseph is the model for all men. Don’t be led astray by the way the world defines manliness, which is usually defined by self-gratification. If you ever want to teach your sons how to be a man just point them to Joseph, for he was righteous. May St. Joseph show us the way to best serve God and our families.