Annual Hispanic Heritage Mass celebrated, two receive recognition
The Archdiocese of Newark celebrated its annual Hispanic Heritage Mass with an abundance of pride and gratitude on Oct. 14 in Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
The Mass began with a procession of people wearing clothing representing Latin American countries, including soccer jerseys and traditional dresses. Each person carried either a flag of their country or a banner with the name of the nation’s corresponding advocation of the Virgin Mary. The procession walked to the sounds of the song “Alabaré a mi Señor (I Will Praise My Lord)” played by the band Nuestra Señora de Libera from Holy Redeemer Parish in West New York.
There were several special celebrants and attendees. Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, welcomed the enormous crowd of parishioners. Three of the four auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Newark, — Bishop Manuel A. Cruz, D.D.; Bishop Michael A. Saporito; and Bishop Gregory J. Studerus– concelebrated the Eucharist with Cardinal Tobin. Additionally, 30 priests and deacons from archdiocesan parishes filled the first group of pews. And the voices of the Cathedral’s Spanish Choir rang throughout the service, encouraging parishioners to sing along.
During his homily, Cardinal Tobin pointed out that both of the Mass’s readings, one from Genesis and one from Ephesians, were indications of how God wants us to live in order to live with Him.
“If you want to maintain your Hispanic identity…it is not enough to have a slight touch of Catholic faith in your family’s traditions,” he said. “It is also important to have a vocational faith.”
Cardinal Tobin also restated the important role that the Hispanic community had in the ongoing Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis’ global initiative intended to gather feedback from the world’s Catholics regarding how to improve the Church. According to the recently released archdiocesan Synod results report, 212 small groups of Hispanic Catholics gathered across 43 parishes for a total of five sessions in which they shared how they felt about the Church. These Catholics pointed out the strengths and missing parts that could help unite the Catholic community.
Some of the key findings of the listening sessions demonstrated that parish communities are welcoming to new members but sometimes there can be ignorance and prejudice. The Hispanic community also wants to find ways of better engaging young people into parishes because many of them have said that they feel out of place.
Before the conclusion of the Mass, Deacon Asterio Velasco, director of the Hispanic Ministry, thanked everyone for attending. A special thanks was given to Dr. Maria de los Angeles Garcia and Dr. Jose “Pepe” Planas.
De los Angeles Garcia was the associate director of the Catechetical Office for the Hispanic Community for 25 years. One of the first Hispanic woman to work in the Pastoral Center, she also taught Spanish to many priests to help them better connect to their parishioners. Her successor, Planas, was also the associate director of Catechesis for many years. Cardinal Tobin handed these two influential figures plaques to honor their contributions.
I’m sure that you’ll go home with nice memories of this extraordinary celebration,” Asterio Deacon Velasco said to the Mass attendees afterward.
Ana Chogllo from Ecuador and a Hispanic Heritage Mass attendee certainly did. She explained that this Mass was an opportunity for her to not only represent her home country of Ecuador but to renew her faith as a Catholic.
“Today more than ever, I feel very blessed by the Lord, and for that reason I am here and very happy with my daughters and my family,” Chogllo said. “I am always there saying ‘yes’ to the Lord even with my difficult moments… but I am there for Him, serving with a lot of pride in my heart.”
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
Flagbearers and banner holders eagerly waiting for the beginning of Mass//Abanderados y portaestandartes esperando ansiosamente para el comienzo de la misa 
The flags were displayed at the right-side of the Cathedral// Las banderas fueron expuestas en el lado derecho de la Catedral 
The Mass attendees listening intently to the first reading// Los asistentes de la Misa escuchando atentamente a la primera lectura 
A parishioner in a traditional dress during Mass// Una feligresa con un traje tradicional durante la Misa 
Cantor Olfary Gutiérrez 
Cardinal Tobin delivering his homily 
Thirty priests and deacons praying during the annual Hispanic Heritage Mass// Treinta sacerdotes y diáconos rezando durante la Misa anual de la Herencia Hispana 
Bishop Manuel A. Cruz, D.D., Bishop Michael A. Saporito, and Bishop Gregory J. Studerus, auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Newark// Mons. Manuel A. Cruz, Mons. Michael A. Saporito y Mons. Gregory J. Studerus, obispos auxiliares de la Arquidiócesis de Newark 
A parishioner praying during Mass// Una feligresa rezando durante la Misa 
The Cathedral Basilica’s Spanish Choir// El coro hispano de la Catedral 
The band Nuestra Señora de Libera from Holy Redeemer Parish in West New York 
Deacon Asterio Velasco, Hispanic Ministry director // El diácono Asterio Velasco, director del Ministerio Hispano 
Dr. María de los Ángeles García and Dr. José “Pepe” Planas, former associate directors of the Catechetical Office (seated at the end of the bench)// La Dra. María de los Ángeles García y al Dr. José “Pepe” Planas, los directores asociados anteriores de la Oficina de Catequesis (sentados al final del banco) 
Cardinal Tobin greets Dr. Maria de los Angeles Garcia and Dr. Jose “Pepe” Planas// Cardenal Tobin saluda a la Dra. María de los Ángeles García y al Dr. José “Pepe” Planas 
Cardinal Tobin with Mass attendees // Cardenal Tobin con los asistentes de la Misa 
El diácono Asterio Velasco, director del Ministerio Hispano, tomándose un selfie con una feligresa 
Two men wearing ponchos with the saying “100% Colombian”// Dos hombres con ponchos “100% Colombiano” 
Ana Chogllo with her family// Ana Chogllo con su familia 
Cardinal Tobin with Mass attendees // Cardenal Tobin con los asistentes de la Misa 
To learn more about the Hispanic Ministry, visit the Archdiocese’s website.
To rewatch the full celebration, visit the Cathedral Basilica’s livestream.
Featured image: Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, with flags of Spanish-speaking countries and from around the world after the annual Hispanic Heritage Mass in the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart
