Thank you Bishop Barbarito for your unfailing support of marriage, family life, faith formation & youth ministry in the Diocese of Palm Beach
Ever since I met with our soon-to-retire Bishop Gerald Barbarito in early 2013 to discuss the open position for a diocesan Director of Marriage and Family Life, I knew without a doubt how much importance he places on the family and all aspects of family life. Those who know him well know that he was very prayerful about his decision, wanting to make sure that marriage and family would remain a key focus in his diocese. Even today, Bishop Barbarito holds that “family life remains a priority for the Diocese of Palm Beach, especially in today’s challenging environment. We are made in the image and likeness of God, the Trinity, and the family reflects this reality in a special way.”
Bishop’s priority reflects the truth that family is the fundamental unit of society, and as St. Pope John Paul II famously warned us: “As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.” Over the years, Bishop has made good on his promise to support and strengthen families in the diocese of Palm Beach. Whether earmarking funding for special initiatives to strengthen marriage, supporting new endeavors in faith formation or new approaches to youth ministry, or celebrating wedding anniversaries, Bishop Barbarito has joyfully embraced and supported many new initiatives and longstanding traditions.
One of our favorite traditions is the annual anniversary masses celebrated by Bishop for couples marking significant wedding anniversaries during the year. These celebrations are so well attended that we hold two masses to accommodate the demand. They are joyful celebrations presided over by the smiling Bishop who loves to incorporate marriage jokes into his homilies and laughs at his own jokes. Following mass, Bishop always graciously poses for photos with all the couples who would like a picture with him.
Since a solid marriage is the foundation of a strong family, Bishop Barbarito has been very encouraging of efforts to help form engaged couples for marriage and has been an advocate for promoting natural family planning as a healthy and licit means for couples to plan their families in concert with God’s will for their lives and the realities facing each couple in their daily lives. In addition, Bishop has supported the development and ongoing implementation of marriage enrichment retreats to support marriages and more intense intervention efforts for couples whose marriages are troubled.
In the area of faith formation and catechesis, Bishop Barbarito has enthusiastically supported multiple new and creative initiatives aimed at engaging families and assisting parents in teaching their children about the faith. Whether for families with very young children through the Catholic Tots ministry or families with adolescents through the LoveEd program, parents are prepared and guided in leading their children to the truths of our Catholic faith in an age-appropriate way. Bishop Barbarito has consistently encouraged the development of ministry efforts to support families and teach the faith.
When he was approached about bringing Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) to the diocese, Bishop Barbarito stated that he “is pleased that the Diocese of Palm Beach is able to offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, which is meant to concretely help a young person, from an early age, to experience and grow in the faith, especially in regard to the sacraments.” CGS is a unique method of catechesis where the catechist offers select presentations from scripture and liturgy in a specially prepared environment to honor and foster the relationship between God and the child. Speaking about the volunteer catechists, Bishop reflected: “I was very impressed by the enthusiasm and positive response of those who want to utilize the program in the parishes. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will be a blessing for our diocese in many ways.”
Of course, Bishop Barbarito has always held the young people of our diocese close to his heart. He remains a strong advocate of Catholic Schools and our parish-based faith formation programs for our youth. He joyfully presides at the annual Confirmation masses for our 54 parishes and missions and is encouraged by the young people who step up as leaders of their peers and positive witnesses to the faith. He has embraced the relationship-based approach to youth ministry where young people are invited to join a small group led by a team of mentors who foster a safe and trusting environment for young people to deepen relationships with each other and with Christ, so they can dive deeper into and grow in their Catholic faith.
Over the years, Bishop has embraced and supported many different initiatives to build up the family of faith in the Diocese of Palm Beach. He has helped promote spiritual healing through the development of the Unbound Healing Prayer Ministry, supported life through countless prayer vigils, celebrated masses honoring new life and offering blessings of babies in the womb, celebrated our young people at graduation masses and rallies, and encouraged grandparents in their role of passing on the faith to younger generations. Bishop Barbarito has been a blessing to us all in the Diocese of Palm Beach, and we will miss his gentle and genuine smile.
This is article is from the JoyOfTheFamily blog by the Diocese of Palm Beach, Office of Marriage, Family Life, Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, posted originally on 2/2/26.
