Amor en Acción Celebrates 50 Years of Service in Fort Lauderdale

Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the 50th anniversary of Amor en Acción, a lay missionary community, on Oct. 3, 2026, at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Fort Lauderdale. The Mass honored the organization's golden jubilee and its legacy of service.

Founded in 1976 within the Archdiocese of Miami, Amor en Acción embodies self-sacrificing love, prioritizing the good of others. Archbishop Wenski emphasized that effective missionary work begins with committed discipleship, stating that love is an action, not merely a feeling.

Missionaries from Amor en Acción have traveled to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Archbishop Wenski recalled young people returning from a mission trip who, despite witnessing material poverty, observed villagers rich in relationships and community. He contrasted this with material wealth but relational poverty he saw in the students.

These mission trips have led to conversions for both those served and the missionaries. Archbishop Wenski highlighted the humility required in Christian charity, quoting Saint Vincent de Paul: "we must ask the poor to forgive us for the bread that we give them." This acknowledges that material assistance can wound dignity if not given with profound humility.