The Spanish Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral was dedicated to Hispanic Heritage Month and, as is tradition, was held a week before the annual Hispanic Day Parade up Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. 

Fr. Enrique Salvo, the cathedral’s rector, served as principal celebrant and homilist. More than 800 people attended the October 4 Mass. National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15 each year. 

“It is a pleasure to have your presence here this afternoon; we thank God and the Archdiocese of New York,” Arlett Rojas, a lead organizer, told the faithful during closing remarks, also expressing gratitude to Fr. Salvo, the concelebrants, and the archdiocesan Cultural Diversity Apostolate. 

Next Sunday’s parade 

Rojas added, “This was a beautiful Hispanic Heritage Mass (Misa de la Hispanidad), beautiful and very significant for all of us. Thank you all for your support, and we thank all the organizations represented here, and all the volunteers. And we’ll wait for all of you next Sunday, October 11, at noon, starting on 44th Street and Fifth Avenue. Thank you. May God bless you, and Que Viva la Hispanidad.” The remarks were greeted with cheers and applause, with some responding, “Que Viva!” The parade is set to end at 69th Street. 

In his homily, Fr. Salvo spoke of the day also being the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, marking 800 years since the death of the Italian mystic and poet. The priest noted the importance of the works and teachings of St. Francis. 

“We are grateful for what St. Francis has meant to our faith, 800 years afterward, starting with what he did with his life,” Fr. Salvo said. “In his time, there was division in the Church, there were problems in the world, and St. Francis came to remind us of what the Gospel is all about. … He grew up in a wealthy family; he had everything he wanted. But he realized he didn’t have what truly had value, that he had a hole in his heart, in his soul.” 

Instrument of your peace 

Fr. Salvo noted that it was “a relationship with God” that was gravely missing initially from St. Francis’ life. He said that eventually St. Francis’ mind and heart began to change, and he left everything behind and followed the Lord. “In one of his prayers, he said, ‘Make me an instrument of your peace.’” 

Gladys Irias was among the faithful at the Mass. She is a parishioner of Holy Family Church in the Bronx. “This is very important for the Hispanic community,” Irias told The Good Newsroom afterward, speaking of the Mass and the parade. “And we are here celebrating our faith, our Father and Creator. We give Him thanks for all He has given us, and we pray to Him that everything will turn out well.”