32nd Annual Red Mass Set for March 14th in Tallahassee

Tallahassee, FL - The Catholic Bishops of Florida will observe a 700-year-old tradition in Tallahassee on Wednesday, March 14 at 6:00 p.m., when they gather to celebrate "The Red Mass of the Holy Spirit." Mass participants pray for divine inspiration and guidance during the 2007 Legislative Session and for all those who serve in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government and members of the legal profession in Florida.

The Red Mass will be celebrated at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, 900 W. Tennessee Street (W. Tennessee St. at Woodward Avenue). Bishop Felipe J. Estévez will deliver the homily. Bishop Estévez presently serves as Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Miami.

The Red Mass, an annual event in Tallahassee, originated in France in the early 13th century as a service in which God was called upon to help lawyers and judges adhere to truth and justice. The tradition soon spread to England, where, during the reign of King Edward I, the entire Bench and Bar would mark the opening of each Term of Court by attending a Mass together.

In those services, the priest-celebrants, as well as the judges of the High Court, wore red robes to signify their willingness to defend the truth inspired by the Holy Spirit, even at the cost of shedding one's blood. Thus, the celebration became popularly known as the "Red Mass."

In Florida, the Red Mass coincides with Catholic Days at the Capitol, a two day event, March 13-14, in which Catholics from throughout the state gather at the Capitol to meet with their legislators and discuss current areas of public policy of importance to the Catholic Church and that affect the life and dignity of all Floridians.

The Mass is open to the public at no charge.  A reception immediately follows at the Co-Cathedral Center.

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Bishop Felipe de Jesus Estévez, Homilist

Bishop Estévez was born February 5, 1946 in Havana, Cuba and arrived in the United States on a Pedro Pan flight as a teenager. He was ordained in 1970 and has done extensive studies in Spiritual Theology, earning a doctorate from Gregorian University in Rome. He is fluent in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

From 2001 to 2003, Bishop Estévez served as spiritual director of Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, where he had served as rector from 1980 to 1986. He was pastor of Saint Agatha Parish in Miami for 14 years, while also directing the Campus Ministry at Florida International University.

Appointed Auxiliary Bishop on November 21, 2003, and ordained January 7, 2004, he oversees the archdiocese's Ministry of Pastoral Services including family life, youth, campus, prison and Respect Life ministries, as well as all the apostolic movements.