MEDIA ADVISORY

Catholic Days at the Capitol set for March 11-12, 2008 in Tallahassee
33rd Annual Red Mass to be celebrated March 12

Tallahassee, FL - Catholic faithful from the seven dioceses in Florida will gather at the Capitol for two days, March 11-12, to meet with legislators and discuss public policies of concern to the Catholic Church. Before constituents meet with their elected officials, Florida Catholic Conference staff will brief participants on current issues affecting the lives and dignity of Floridians and the common good.

Luncheon with legislators, bishops and Catholic faithful
Catholic Days attendees will join public policy makers and the bishops of Florida at a luncheon at the Tallahassee Civic Center on Wednesday, March 12 from 11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Selected lawmakers will be honored by the Florida Catholic Conference for their work in the Florida legislature. Cost to attend the luncheon is $25, pre-registration is required.

2008 award recipients
At the luncheon, Representative Anitere Flores, District 114, Miami, will be presented with the Defensor Vitae (Defender of Life) Award for her ongoing, courageous and valiant defense of the sanctity of life.

Representative Bill Galvano, District 68, Bradenton, will receive the Defensor Dignitatis (Defender of Dignity) Award for his ongoing efforts to protect the human dignity of the residents of Florida.

Red Mass of the Holy Spirit
The Catholic Bishops of Florida will celebrate "The Red Mass of the Holy Spirit", at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More, 900 W. Tennessee Street, Tallahassee on Wednesday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Mass participants will pray for divine inspiration and guidance during the 2008 Legislative Session for all those who serve in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government and for members of the legal profession in Florida. Bishop John G. Noonan, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Miami, will deliver the homily. In past years, the Mass has been attended by several hundred congregants, Catholic and non-Catholic, including leaders from all three branches of Florida State government.

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

Lectors
Senator Rudy Garcia, District 40, Miami, and Representative Bill Galvano, District 68, Bradenton, will serve as readers of the Word of God during this year's Mass.

Bishop John G. Noonan, Homilist
Bishop Noonan was born February 26, 1951 in Limerick, Ireland, the only child of John Noonan and Margaret Purcell. In 1977, he entered St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami, later earning Masters degrees from both St. Vincent de Paul Seminary, Boynton Beach and Boston College. Bishop Noonan was ordained to the priesthood in 1983 and to the episcopacy, August 24, 2005 at the Cathedral of St. Mary, Miami.

Miami's ninth auxiliary bishop is Irish by birth but Floridian by choice. Friends and co-workers describe Bishop John Noonan as a “priest's priest,” a wise man with strong principles, gentle ways and total dedication to service.

Archbishop John C. Favalora has appointed Bishop Noonan as executive director of the Ministry to Persons, which includes priests, deacons, religious, vocations and associations of Christian faithful as well as ministries to professional groups such as attorneys, doctors and policemen. Bishop Noonan served as the Rector/President of St. John Vianney College Seminary from 1996-2007.

History of the Red Mass
The Red Mass, an 800 year old tradition, 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 Tallahassee, the Red Mass is scheduled annually during Catholic Days at the Capitol. Other Red Masses are held throughout Florida and the U.S. at various times during the year.