VINELAND – Urging them to “celebrate the joy of our Lord,” Bishop Dennis Sullivan recently marked Hispanic Heritage Month with nearly 1,000 of the Diocese’s Spanish-speaking faithful.
Preaching to the clergy, religious and dozens of families that spanned multiple generations, the Bishop decried those who “speak about the Lord with a long face, [who] speak of a Lord who judges.”
Instead, Bishop Sullivan called on all to be missionary disciples who “preach with joy, knowing that the Lord knows our problems and sufferings, [and is] full of mercy and love for us. He is the Lord we want to announce, who we want to share with everyone.”
The Eucharist, where Jesus “is alive, glorious and present,” can help all in this vocation, he continued, by inspiring those who receive Him to become “agents of evangelization, sharing with others the Good News.”
The Bishop’s message came during the annual Hispanic Diocesan Celebration held Oct. 6 at Divine Mercy Parish’s Saint Francis of Assisi Church. In addition to Mass, the day included music; discussion on the National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry; a procession of banners representing movements and parish Hispanic ministries in the Diocese, and a cultural meal of rice, beans and chicken.
Coadjutor Bishop Joseph Williams introduced himself to those in attendance, recounting the many years he spent ministering to the Latino community in his former home, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
“I have found such a love in my life,” since beginning that work, he said, adding that it was a prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe that confirmed his desire to shepherd the needs of the Spanish-speaking community.
Walking among the pews, he showed all the shamrock and rose depicted in his crozier. The shamrock is for Saint Patrick, missionary of Ireland, “who served from his heart,” Bishop Williams said. “I have a Latino heart, or at the very least, I have Latinos in my heart.”
The rose, he said, is a reminder of Our Lady of Guadalupe and his mission. “You are the roses of Guadalupe,” he told the crowd.
Andrés Arango, Bishop’s Delegate for Hispanic Ministry and director of evangelization for the Diocese of Camden, called it a blessing for the crowd to be with both bishops, “especially because they are both bilingual and bicultural.”
“The Hispanic community feels very connected to them,” he said, confident that the Bishops’ words “had all filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to share Jesus with others.”
Themed “Missionary Disciples Going Forth with Joy,” the day also included Arango updating the community on the U.S. bishops’ National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, and its focus on areas such as evangelization, faith formation, and ministry to youth and young adults.
“People were excited about the new plan to serve the Latino community in our country and diocese,” he said of the plan, born out of the V Encuentro.
Confirming their call as missionary disciples, each attendee was sent home with a pocket-sized book of the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles and challenged to give the books to someone “who God has put in their heart, and who needs the love of Jesus,” Arango said.
Arango noted the many youth groups, children, teens and young adults in the pews, calling their presence “a great testimony of the Latino community’s love for God, and a great sign of hope for the Church.”
One of those young people was 13-year-old Andrea Aviles from the youth group of Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Parish, Hammonton. A young Catholic of Mexican heritage, she was “excited to learn more about Jesus and be with my larger family.”
From Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, Newfield, Jason Contreras attended the celebration with his wife, Adriana, and 15-year-old daughter, Melanie. The entire family is active in the parish: Contreras plays the piano during Mass; his wife sings in the choir, and Melanie is an altar server.
“We’re all serving for God,” he said. “To have communication with Him is very important for me and my family.”
Contreras was optimistic that the day would lift up his family and continue to lead them on the path to missionary discipleship, especially Melanie. “I know it will strengthen her faith and spirit,” he said.
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