Inspiring Tribute To Hispanic Heritage Takes Place At Newark Church

NEWARK, NJ — Nearly 1,000 Spanish-speaking Catholic residents of North Jersey honored their culture and faith during the Archdiocese of Newark’s annual Hispanic Heritage Mass.

The Mass took place on Sept. 20 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. It was concelebrated with dozens of clergy from throughout the archdiocese, which serves 1.3 million people in Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties.

Attendees enjoyed performances from a choir representing West New York’s St. Joseph of the Palisades Parish, one of the largest Hispanic congregations in the archdiocese. Many also participated in a procession where they marched into the Cathedral Basilica carrying flags of Spanish-speaking nations and banners.

The demonstration was meant to exemplify how much faith and culture are intertwined in the Hispanic community, archdiocese leaders said.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, led last week’s Mass, later commenting that he was “pleased to see so many people commemorating their heritage.”

Tobin said the occasion was a chance to remind the community that immigrants should always be valued, especially as the Catholic church prepares to celebrate its World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sept. 29.

“Immigrants are an important part of this country and of the church,” said Tobin, who has enjoyed a strong bond with Hispanic Catholics since his first assignment ministering to a Detroit parish’s Spanish-speaking community in 1979.

“This celebration reminds us of their history, their culture of music, and their different types of dancing,” he said. “[But] the history of the culture isn’t simply folklore. It’s also a path of struggle and suffering. We console those who are suffering, and let us not be afraid to practice tenderness.”

The Hispanic Heritage Mass was organized by the Archdiocese of Newark’s Hispanic Ministry.

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