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Of Note:
50th Anniversary Kick-Off Celebration
January 19, 2010
August 1960 was the middle of the long night of separation from country, family and friends for los exiliados de Cuba.
It was then that a small-framed Irishman came from Albuquerque to assist the Diocese of Miami address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the exiles congregating along the banks of the Biscayne Bay, mere blocks from here. In the midst of this darkness, Brother Mathias Barrett lit a candle that still burns brightly today. That candle is Camillus House.
Neither priest, nor politician nor potentate, this humble Brother of the Good Shepherd challenged, cajoled and convinced Bishops, Mayors and magnates to help him and all of us follow this simple call of the Gospels: Whatever you do for these, the least of my brothers and sisters you do for Me.
Not priest, politician or potentate, he was a story teller, dream weaver, and candle lighter, and today we the Miami community say to Brother Mathias and the Brothers of the Good Shepherd: thanks for coming to us, working with us and caring for us for the past 50 years.
In November 1962, upon learning of her death, Adlai Stevenson said of Eleanor Roosevelt, She would rather light a candle than curse the darkness and her glow has warmed the world.
Brothers of the Good Shepherd, for the past 50 years the glow generated by you and your predecessors has warmed this city and the worlds of thousands of men, women and children who have been poor and homeless in Miami.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me is lighting your candles to commemorate the contributions of the Brothers of the Good Shepherd to our Miami community for the past 50 years. May your glow warm us as long as the poor are with us.
