Father Jose Felix Ortega, dean of the West Bronx region of the Archdiocese of New York, led Sunday’s celebration of this year’s Hispanic Day Mass (Misa de la Hispanidad) at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

“This cathedral, so beautiful, is constructed of many stones – but we are the living stone,” Father Ortega said early during the homily, noting that it is the people who make up the Church founded by Christ. The Spanish Mass took place the afternoon of Sunday, October 5.

About 1,000 people attended the annual Mass. Father Ortega is the pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and St. Martin of Tours Church, both in the Bronx.

Home away from home                         

The priest spoke of the significance of the cathedral’s history, saying, “It is not only a place made of stones, but a place of unity in diversity – like we are, we are diverse in cultures, languages, and dialects… But we can, we should, and we want to live united. The Church for us immigrants has always been a home away from home.” He noted how in the Archdiocese of New York and beyond, the Church has sought to help immigrants practice the faith based on how they celebrated it in their birth nations. 

“Faith has been the strength that has sustained us and continues to sustain us in the middle of struggles, sacrifices, and difficulties,” Father Ortega said. “Because to come to the house of God is to feel like a family – members of the family of God…St. Paul told us that we are ‘conciudadanos de los santos’ (fellow citizens with the saints). What powerful words for us, Latinos, in this great city…And we remember the sacrifice and the faith of many generations of immigrants.”

The priest, who is Spanish-born, cited the importance of the newly installed mural on the interior walls of the cathedral’s main entrance — noting that the mural themes include the faith and cultural contributions of immigrants past and present in New York. Alluding to the strong faith of the saints and Servants of God on the mural, Father Ortega told the people that when rejected as immigrants, “our response should be love, because ‘Amor siempre vence’” (Love always conquers).

Arlett Rojas, board of directors’ member with New York City’s Hispanic Day Parade, gave closing remarks, saying, “First, I give thanks to God, and to the Archdiocese of New York.” Rojas also thanked Father Ortega for celebrating the Mass, all who helped organize it, and the attendees. “This is the preamble to our parade,” she said.

Words from the pews

Among the Mass attendees were Manuel and Aida Basantes, parishioners of St. Joan of Arc Church in the Jackson Heights area of Queens. The parents of four and grandparents of seven said they’d attended the Hispanic Day Mass at the cathedral in past years and were glad to have made it to this year’s liturgy as well.

“It’s always been important for us to attend Mass at our home parish, but it was also important for us to be here in the cathedral for this special Mass,” Manuel Basantes told The Good Newsroom after the liturgy, citing the gathering’s faith and cultural significance. And Mrs. Basantes noted they also plan to attend this year’s Hispanic Day Parade, as they have in the past. Mr. and Mrs. Basantes were born in Ecuador.

The Mass was held in commemoration of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 to October 15). It was organized by the archdiocesan Cultural Diversity Apostolate in conjunction with the Hispanic Day Parade board of directors.

This coming Sunday, October 12, New York City’s Hispanic Day Parade (Desfile de la Hispanidad) will begin at noon on Fifth Avenue, starting from 44th Street and ending at 77th Street. Joyful participants with heritage from 21 Latin American countries unite each year to showcase their music and culture. For more information, visit www.desfilehispanidadnyc.org.