Special Mass At Cathedral Basilica Will Celebrate Hispanic Heritage

NEWARK, NJ — The Archdiocese of Newark’s Hispanic Ministry will celebrate national Hispanic Heritage Month with a commemorative Mass on Friday, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

According to a news release from the archdiocese, Cardinal Joseph Tobin, the archbishop of Newark — who began his life as a priest by ministering to a Detroit parish’s Hispanic community from 1979 to 1984 — will preside over the Hispanic Heritage Mass.

The public is invited to participate in the Spanish-language liturgy, which will feature music and songs performed by the cathedral choir and visiting musicians. Attendees are encouraged to wear attire representing their Hispanic cultures, archdiocese administrators said.

“We’re celebrating a Mass to honor our culture because, as Hispanics, our faith is a key part of our identity,” said Asterio Velasco, director of the archdiocese’s Hispanic Ministry.

“We’re an immigrant community, so honoring our faith is a way of maintaining our identity,” Velasco added. “Holding celebrations like this is important because we’re passing our traditions, like the joyful way Hispanics worship, to the next generation.”

This intertwining of faith and culture will be demonstrated with a procession prior to Mass, during which participants in cultural attire will carry the flags of Spanish-speaking countries into the cathedral in a display of global solidarity.

“Other processors will carry banners of the corresponding nations’ advocation of the Virgin Mary as an acknowledgement of her crucial role in Hispanic worship,” the archdiocese stated.

“Hispanics are a very Marian people,” Velasco said. “Even those who leave the Catholic church bring the Mother with them. The idea of praying to Our Lady is ingrained in our being and our prayers since we are infants. So it’s important that we honor her through this procession.”

The archdiocese referenced a recent survey done among Catholic youth, which found that many worshippers in North Jersey said they want their churches to keep promoting social outreach, build vibrant communities for their members, and “do a better job at welcoming all people.” Read More: North Jersey Catholics Want To Reach Youth, See Women Ordained (Survey)

According to the archdiocese:

“The Hispanic Heritage Mass is the latest event for the archdiocesan Hispanic Ministry. Earlier in 2022, the ministry conducted 212 Spanish-language group discussions in which more than 2,000 people shared their opinions on the Catholic church as part of Pope Francis’ worldwide Synod on Synodality. Now that results have been recorded and released publicly, the ministry will work to address participants’ concerns, such as finding better ways to connect with youth. It will also continue collaborating with the roughly 85 local Hispanic ministries in parishes throughout the archdiocese.”

The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholic residents of Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Union counties.

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