“This is a joy and a blessing to celebrate, together with devotees of Our Lady of Cisne, this Holy Eucharist,” Father Jamie Chamba, visiting from the Diocese of Loja, Ecuador, told the faithful during welcoming remarks on Sunday, September 24, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. 

“All the intentions we have, with the flowers that we’ve brought here, these are pleas that we make to God. From this land (the U.S.) we greet the Virgin of Cisne – we celebrate with faith and hope.”       

In his homily, Father Chamba talked about the joy among Ecuadorians when there are gatherings honoring Our Lady of Cisne. “That is why, my brothers and sisters, we are here in this sacred place.” He went on to talk about the importance of praying to the Virgin Mary for her intercession and counting on the grace of God.

He also spoke of the significance of salvation through Christ, and of praying to the Lord with hopeful hearts and expressing gratitude to Him when our dreams and goals are realized. The priest said that too often, “We pray with insistence, but we are not prepared to receive the blessings of God; we are not convinced that God will make it possible.”

The Mass was preceded by a street procession featuring a visiting figure of Our Lady of Cisne – a procession that occurred despite significant rain from Tropical Storm Ophelia. The figure, which will soon be returned to Ecuador, was displayed during Mass.

Ecuadorian-born Father Esteban Sanchez, the pastor of the Church of the Assumption in Peekskill, gave closing remarks of gratitude. “May the  Virgin Mary always bless us, and Viva the Virgin of Cisne.”

Among the Mass concelebrants was Father Brian McWeeney, archdiocesan director of the Ethnic Apostolate. The deacon of the Mass was Deacon Carlos Campoverde from the Church of the Assumption; he too is Ecuadorian-born and gave closing words of thanks, including to the staff of the archdiocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry. 

The choir was Coro de la Iglesia de San José from Spring Valley. The visiting figure is made of fiber and is a replica of the historic statue of Our Lady of Cisne of Ecuador, sculpted in 1594, which is made of wood.