"Prayers" ask hurricanes to avoid Central Florida
A Catholic bishop holds a special Mass on the first day of storm season to pray for public safety.
By Mark I. Pinsky | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted June 2, 2005
Bishop Thomas Wenski lost no time preparing for hurricane season, which began Wednesday. He led a special Roman Catholic Mass to protect Central Florida from devastating storms.
The number of worshipers at the noon service in St. James Cathedral was slightly higher than normal for a weekday -- and included Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who is not Catholic.
"We're making all the necessary preparations . . . and I certainly believe in the power of prayer," Dyer said.
Weather, natural disasters and faith were threads woven through the service, sometimes lightheartedly. Rain was falling, and Wenski suggested that an appropriate hymn might be "Singin' in the Rain."
As he began the service, Wenski prayed, "Today, as we begin a new hurricane season, we unite in prayer asking God to avert any storms from inflicting harm on us or our loved ones. . . . We ask the Lord to keep those hurricanes as far away from us as possible, and that he keep us as close as possible to him."
The Scripture reading was from the Gospel of Mark, 4:35-41, in which Jesus is awakened by a violent squall while sailing with the Apostles on the Sea of Galilee. He rebukes the wind and orders the sea to be still.
In another biblical reference, Wenski cited the death of innocents when the tower of Siloam collapsed, and compared it with the damage done by hurricanes and tsunamis.
"Jesus warns us not to see these events as somehow the wrath of an angry God," Wenski said.
Not all religious leaders agree.
In 1985, televangelist Pat Robertson asked his supporters to pray for God to steer Hurricane Gloria away from the Virginia coast, home to his Christian Broadcasting Network. The storm veered harmlessly out to sea, and Robertson credited the prayers of his viewers.
When the Orlando City Council voted in 1998 to allow gay organizations to hang rainbow banners from municipal flagpoles to coincide with Gay Days, Robertson warned that the city was risking not only hurricanes, but also earthquakes and terrorist bombs.
Wenski distanced himself from the notion of weather as heavenly retribution.
"We don't have the same theology as Pat Robertson," Wenski said before the Mass. "Hurricanes are not a divine punishment."
In fact, sometimes the storms provide opportunities, he said. One of the good things that came out of last year's hurricanes, Wenski said, was a greater sense of community and generosity to others, including tsunami victims.
Before the hurricane Mass, Wenski presented a check for $792,480.32 for tsunami relief to a representative of Catholic Relief Services.
The check was the latest installment of nearly $1.5 million donated by Central Florida Catholics.
Wenski was unwilling to predict the exact outcome of the hurricane Mass.
Last year, the bishop also prayed publicly to spare Central Florida from more hurricanes -- just before another one hit.
A Catholic bishop holds a special Mass on the first day of storm season to pray for public safety.
By Mark I. Pinsky | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted June 2, 2005
Bishop Thomas Wenski lost no time preparing for hurricane season, which began Wednesday. He led a special Roman Catholic Mass to protect Central Florida from devastating storms.
The number of worshipers at the noon service in St. James Cathedral was slightly higher than normal for a weekday -- and included Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who is not Catholic.
"We're making all the necessary preparations . . . and I certainly believe in the power of prayer," Dyer said.
Weather, natural disasters and faith were threads woven through the service, sometimes lightheartedly. Rain was falling, and Wenski suggested that an appropriate hymn might be "Singin' in the Rain."
As he began the service, Wenski prayed, "Today, as we begin a new hurricane season, we unite in prayer asking God to avert any storms from inflicting harm on us or our loved ones. . . . We ask the Lord to keep those hurricanes as far away from us as possible, and that he keep us as close as possible to him."
The Scripture reading was from the Gospel of Mark, 4:35-41, in which Jesus is awakened by a violent squall while sailing with the Apostles on the Sea of Galilee. He rebukes the wind and orders the sea to be still.
In another biblical reference, Wenski cited the death of innocents when the tower of Siloam collapsed, and compared it with the damage done by hurricanes and tsunamis.
"Jesus warns us not to see these events as somehow the wrath of an angry God," Wenski said.
Not all religious leaders agree.
In 1985, televangelist Pat Robertson asked his supporters to pray for God to steer Hurricane Gloria away from the Virginia coast, home to his Christian Broadcasting Network. The storm veered harmlessly out to sea, and Robertson credited the prayers of his viewers.
When the Orlando City Council voted in 1998 to allow gay organizations to hang rainbow banners from municipal flagpoles to coincide with Gay Days, Robertson warned that the city was risking not only hurricanes, but also earthquakes and terrorist bombs.
Wenski distanced himself from the notion of weather as heavenly retribution.
"We don't have the same theology as Pat Robertson," Wenski said before the Mass. "Hurricanes are not a divine punishment."
In fact, sometimes the storms provide opportunities, he said. One of the good things that came out of last year's hurricanes, Wenski said, was a greater sense of community and generosity to others, including tsunami victims.
Before the hurricane Mass, Wenski presented a check for $792,480.32 for tsunami relief to a representative of Catholic Relief Services.
The check was the latest installment of nearly $1.5 million donated by Central Florida Catholics.
Wenski was unwilling to predict the exact outcome of the hurricane Mass.
Last year, the bishop also prayed publicly to spare Central Florida from more hurricanes -- just before another one hit.
