The Archdiocese of Miami has been honored by Pope Benedict XVI, who has designated St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West as a Minor Basilica. The Rev. John Baker, pastor of St. Mary, made the official announcement Saturday during the Mass of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

In a press release, Archbishop Thomas Wenski said, "Such recognition of one of our parishes by the Holy Father should link all Catholics here in South Florida more closely to the person of the Holy Father. In a certain sense, St. Mary Star of the Sea becomes the Pope's 'parish church' here in the Archdiocese of Miami."

Wenski made the official request for the honor in 2011, through the Holy See's Congregation for the Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments.

A solemn Mass with the conferral of the insignia of a basilica will be celebrated at St. Mary Star of the Sea on May 31.

Established in 1846, St. Mary of the Sea is the oldest church in the Archdiocese, and will be the first Minor Basilica in the Archdiocese and the fifth in Florida.

St. Mary of the Sea Catholic church is at 1010 Windsor Lane in Key West.

Black history

Robert Battle, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, will be the guest speaker at Wactor Temple AME Zion Church at 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 26, for the church's annual Black History Celebration.

Battle, who grew up in Miami and attended Northwestern High School and graduated from the New World School of the Arts, was named the artistic director of the famed dance company in 2011. Last year, he was the speaker for the United Nations Leadership Program in Turin, Italy.

In his lecture, Dessie Williams, chairwoman of the program said, Battle will "encourage young people to pursue their dreams and aspirations with healthy doses of hard work, determination, courage and faith in God."

Local talents, such as the Passage 2 Dance Group, directed by Camille Jones, and Ronzell St. Louis will perform.

Wactor Temple is at 5632 NW 31st Ave. The program is free and open to the public.

Ex-prime minister

The community is invited to hear former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert , who will be the guest speaker at Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus' "One Spectacular Evening," on March 21, at 20350 NE 26th Ave. in North Miami Beach.

As the special guest, Olmert will present the Israeli Prime Minister Award to Beth Torah's lifetime members Raquel and Michael Scheck.

The synagogue will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to its lifetime members Lois and the late Sanford Hildebrandt; Marcia and Joel Hochberg; Cheryl and Ruben Kloda; Shelly and Arthur Lipson; Linda and Robert Shelley, and Ronni and Robert Whitebook.

In addition, the Legacy of Education Award will be presented to Sheila and William Steiner.

"One Spectacular Evening" will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail party, followed at 7 p.m. with the program and dinner. Tickets are $180 per person and may be purchased by call Sherry Krug at 305-932-2829 or send an email to sherry@btbrc.org.

‘Love on a Sunday’

It’s the season of love, and Temple Beth Tov-Ahavat Shalom at 6438 SW Eighth St. in West Miami, will host a free concert entitled "Love on a Sunday Afternoon," at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The program will feature the Intrafaith Choir of South Dade. A dessert reception will follow the concert and the community is invited.