Archbishop Luis Cabrera Herrera of Guayaquil, Ecuador, served as principal celebrant of the Archdiocese of New York’s 30th annual Our Lady Nube Mass, on Sunday, December 17, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.   

“I share my joy with you,” Archbishop Cabrera told the faithful toward the end of Mass, addressing the Ecuadorians of all age groups who traveled with him to attend the Mass and spend Christmas with relatives here in the New York area. “To be here in this cathedral, St. Patrick’s, that I’ve heard about so many times; this is my first time here,” he said. “Continue being missionaries of the love for Mary, the love for Jesus – that is what our world needs.”

Devotion to Our Lady of Nube is a tradition in Ecuador.     

The homily was delivered by Father Alvaro Criollo, who serves as superior of Convento Franciscano de Azogues, Ecuador. The afternoon Mass, conducted in Spanish, was attended by nearly 2,000 people.             

“What an immense joy – I feel in my heart an inspiration on this day of celebration,” Father Criollo said at the start of his homily, noting the significance of the Virgin Mary’s “precious and wonderful” title of Our Lady of Nube.          

Father Criollo, citing the day’s readings, went on to talk about the importance of humility and reconciliation; and he noted that God provides us with “that Light from heaven, so that none of us is lost from the path to the home where the Father leads us…Brothers and sisters, receive the Franciscan greeting: ‘Peace and Good.’ We give thanks to God for all your lives and the lives of your families.” 

He noted the sacrifices Ecuadorian immigrants have made over the decades, coming to the United States to start new lives, to reach the American Dream, “without forgetting your roots, and above all, without forgetting your faith. Our Lady of Nube gave you the courage to persevere, to continue on that mission…You are the sign of hope for many.”

“On this Third Sunday of Advent, our hearts should widen with joy, because Christmas is near; because the birth of Jesus converts into a stimulus in each Christian to better center his life of faith,” Father Criollo added. The priest spoke of the important role of John the Baptist – his message, with humility and simplicity, about conversion and the coming of the Messiah.  

“John the Baptist invites us to be ambassadors of the Good News,” Father Criollo said, noting the importance of trusting in God, Mary’s intercessions, and maintaining hope. And he added, “If you are at a point of losing hope, there you have your Mother; look at her, pray to her…We are not alone…We have Jesus born from the pure womb of the Holy Virgin.”   

The Hermanos Minchala Ecuason Band served as the Mass choir’s Henry Vargas sang the “Ave Maria,” and Valeria Espinoza, a lead Mass organizer, gave the closing words of gratitude. “Friends, thank you for accompanying us on this very special day,” Espinoza said, wishing the congregation a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year, and ending, “Que viva la Virgen de la Nube!”   

“Que viva!” the faithful responded.   

Our Lady of Nube:

When Bishop Sancho de Andrade y Figueroa of Quito, Ecuador, was gravely ill, the local faithful made a prayer procession in late December 1696, with the image of Mary from the Church of Guapulo. On their way, the Blessed Mother appeared in the sky on a cloud seen by about 500 people.   

The bishop miraculously recovered. The Franciscan friars later founded a sanctuary in Azogues, known as the Santuario de la Virgen de la Nube. Now the Fiesta de la Virgen de la Nube takes place in Azogues every year on January 1. The veneration was also adopted by nuns in Lima which also started its spread in Peru.