Archdiocese of New York Auxiliary Bishop Edmund Whalen, Vicar for Clergy, who celebrated the annual Mass in honor of Our Lady of Lujan entirely in Spanish, said, “We are united with the Virgin, and we are united during these days of Easter to celebrate the great gift of the Eucharist.” 

Our Lady of Lujan is the patroness of Argentina.   

“Welcome to all – thank you for your presence here today.” Bishop Whalen, principal celebrant and homilist, said during opening remarks. “And a special welcome for members of the Argentinian community to this celebration of Our Lady of Lujan.” This year’s Mass took place on Sunday, May 5 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

In his homily, the bishop spoke of the significance of Our Lady of Lujan and of Mary under all her Marian titles. He talked of the importance of reflecting on the Resurrection during this Easter season. “We reflect on the reality of Jesus resurrected, on the reality of the love of God,” he said, noting that this week the Church will celebrate Ascension Thursday on May 9, the Lord’s ascension to Heaven.                     

Bishop Whalen talked to the faithful about the significance of the power of God’s love, citing the day’s Gospel reading from John 15, which says in part, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.”  

The bishop reminded the people about the gift of faith, relying on faith in all aspects of our lives, and about the importance of patience, service, and accompaniment. “The commandments are for us not only as exterior law. It is for us a law for the heart – a help to live concretely the reality of our faith, such as Moses in his encounter with God.”  

The entrance procession of the livestreamed Mass featured an encased figure of Our Lady of Lujan, which was then placed at the steps of the sanctuary. Pablo Piñeiro Aramburu, consul general of Argentina in New York, served as a lector.  

Joseph Paladino, president of the archdiocesan Our Lady of Lujan Committee, gave closing remarks of gratitude, noting that the annual Our Lady of Lujan Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral began 47 years ago, in 1977. “Thank you very much to all of you.”  

The figure of Our Lady of Lujan is a small statue that has been venerated in Argentina since 1630. It was crowned canonically in 1887 and was moved to its current sanctuary, which was given the title of basilica in 1930 by Pope Pius XII. The feast day of Our Lady of Lujan is May 8. And it was on May 8, 2013, that Pope Francis (who is originally from Argentina) visited the Basilica of Lujan to commend Argentina to the protection of its patroness.