TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Priest to the poor recognized by peers

ADVERTISEMENT

By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: October 28, 2009

WIMAUMA - Bishop Robert N. Lynch and fellow priests of the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg recently honored one of South Shore's own.

The Rev. Demetrio Lorden, 63, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission in Wimauma, received the Luis de Cancer Distinguished Priestly Service Award at the diocese's annual priests' convocation in Tampa on Oct. 6.

"I was completely, totally surprised - so much so that I didn't know what to say," Lorden said in broken English. "The only word that came to my mind was 'crazy.'

"

He said he was happy to receive the award because it gave the mission more visibility, and it meant the mission had been recognized for its work with the poor by his peers, who nominated him.

Born in Spain, Lorden was ordained in 1981. He has served the diocese at St. Rita in Dade City; Corpus Christi in Temple Terrace; Blessed Sacrament in Tampa; and, as of 10 years ago, Our Lady of Guadalupe.

"When I came to Wimauma, there was nothing here," Lorden said. "But with the help of our parishioners, area businesses and our mother church, Prince of Peace, we built Our Lady of Guadalupe from scratch."

The parish has up to 2,000 mostly Hispanic members, many of whom work as migrant farmworkers.

As he opened the sealed envelope naming the priest as the newest recipient of the award, Lynch said, "Father Lorden has one of the toughest challenges in the diocese, as he ministers to a community of mostly Mexican brothers and sisters of various legal (statuses). It is a financially poor parish, as you would expect, but it is spiritually rich with culture, tradition and Father Lorden."

Lynch said the priest is responsible for bringing the new parish center to the mission and oversees a food pantry and clothing dispensary.

"He spends a lot his time in the (migrant) camps. ... (He) generously left mother and father and family (to come) to our diocese. How lucky we have been," Lynch said.

The award is named in honor of the Rev. Luis de Cancer, a Dominican missionary who came to Florida in 1549 and was martyred on the shores of Tampa Bay shortly after.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 627-4760.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT