Hispanic community unites for annual celebration
By Erick Rommel
Head Staff Writer
Members of the Hispanic community filled St. Francis of Assisi Cathedrel, Metuchen, Oct. 21 for the annual diocesan Hispanic Awareness Mass.
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, auxilary bishop of Newark, celebrated the Mass and provided the homily.
“It is a special gift when we gather together to pray and to express the diversity of the parishes united in our diocesan Church,” wrote Father John B. Gordon, chairman, diocesan Commission for Hispanic Ministry, and pastor, La Asuncion Parish, Perth Amboy, in his letter to Mass participants.
“It is the same Lord who becomes present in the [Mass] and enlightens us with the hope and the love of his Holy Spirit.”
Marilania DeJesus, a member of La Asuncion Parish, said the Mass was a way of “celebrating all our different backgrounds with the same faith and purpose.”
“It brings us all together to have peace in our heart and with God,” said Ana Mari Collado, a member of La Asuncion Parish. “It doesn’t matter where or from what country we come from.”
“It is important for different Latin cultures to come together for one Mass and learn something new or different about each other,” said Ramon Pena, a member of Holy Trinity Parish, Perth Amboy.
“It is important because we show that the Hispanic community is more than different cultures,” said Yesenia Rosario, a member of La Asuncion Parish. “We are all united in Christ.”
Anthony Rodriguez, a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, New Brunswick, agreed. “Coming together for the Mass is an important reunion with Christ,” he said. “He has helped us get this far (after we left our countries) and he will always be with us.”
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law