Liturgy reflects love for Mary, culture

METUCHEN — Though pandemic restrictions limited the usual high number of worshippers for the diocese’s annual Hispanic Heritage Mass, the event was livestreamed so all families and individuals could participate.

At the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi for the Mass, held Sept. 25, were representatives of the diocese’s Hispanic parishes.

Highlights of the Mass were also affected by the pandemic. Rather than opening the liturgy with a procession of parish Hispanic apostolates, the brightly-embroidered banners were placed along the side aisles of the Cathedral before the faithful arrived. In addition, there was no procession of Marian images, where men and women dressed in ethnic costume placed a picture of the Blessed Mother unique to their Central or South American country on the communion rail. This year, small pictures of the Virgin Mary were placed there before Mass.

Msgr. John B. Gordon, pastor, Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Perth Amboy, was principal celebrant of the liturgy celebrated solely in Spanish.

Concelebrants included Bishop James F. Checchio; Father Timothy A. Christy, vicar general; and Father Mauricio Tabera-Vazquez, director, diocesan Office of Vocations as well as clergy, deacons and seminarians of Hispanic descent from the diocese.

Father Gustavo Andres Rodriguez-Perez, who was ordained to the priesthood in August and now serves as parochial vicar at St. Joseph Parish, North Plainfield, gave the homily.

“The Hispanic community in the diocese is based on our tradition and on our culture that is steeped in the faith of the Church,” said Father Rodriguez-Perez. He urged his Hispanic brothers and sisters to continue the work of Jesus and called on them to contribute to the reign of God.

“We are called to crucify anything that keeps us from God and Christ. We are called to be disciples in charity and sincerity,” he stated.

Noting that it was only a month since he was ordained, Father Rodriguez-Perez said giving the homily was an honor for him as he joined the Hispanic community in their mission. “We must be a permanent embodiment of the love of God in the life of all,” he said.

The newly ordained priest then focused on the need for vocations. He noted that Hispanics make up about 40 percent of Catholics in the United States, but Hispanic priests only account for four percent of all priests.

“One reason for this is because our young people are suspect of the Church,” he said, adding, “We need to 

do reparation for all those victims of abuse.

“As Hispanics, we must remember our heritage is not our country’s but our Christ’s.

He emphasized the need for Hispanics to leave their passivity and take an active role in raising vocation awareness among Hispanic youth.   

“We need to be permanent missionaries of the Word of God and show these young people by our example what it is to be Christian and Catholic, which is to say Church,” he said.

At the intercessions, a cantor sang a song, written by the diocesan Office of Worship, which listed the Hispanic countries and their titles for Mary. They included: Nuestra Señora de Luján, Argentina; Nuestra Señora de Copacabana, Bolivia; Nuestra Señora de la Aparecida, Brasil; Señora del Carmen de Maipú, Chile; Virgen del Rosario de Chiquinquirá, Colombia; Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, Costa Rica; Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, Cuba; Nuestra Señora de Quinche, Ecuador; Señora Reina de la Paz, El Salvador; Señora del Rosario, Guatemala; Señora de Suyapa, Honduras; Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, México; Inmaculada Concepción, Nicaragua; Santa María la Antigua, Panamá; Señora de Caacupé, Paragüay; Virgen de Chapi, Perú; Divina Providencia, Puerto Rico; Nuestra Señora de Altagracia, República Dominicana; Señora de los Treinta y Tres, Uruguay; Señora de Coromoto, Venezuela; Nuestra Señora del Pilar, España. The clergy and congregation were invited to answer in song “Ruega por nosotros (Pray for us.)”

Reflecting on the significance of the annual Mass, Allan Caballero, director, diocesan Office of Hispanic Evangelization and Pastoral Ministry, said it showcases the rich variety of Hispanic worship through word, music and pageantry.

“The Hispanic Heritage Mass celebrates our presence in the U.S. Church and the beauty of the Hispanic culture,” Caballero said. “A way to show the local church its treasures and the gifts we can share. It is of great importance, an opportunity for us to celebrate the treasure of Hispanic Catholicism, and the Mass aims to highlight and encourage vocations in the Hispanic community.”