VINELAND – With festive music filling Saint Francis of Assisi Church, about 600 people of all ages clapped and sang at the start of the diocesan Hispanic Celebration held Oct. 2 at Divine Mercy Parish.
There were hugs and smiles as friends greeted each other as well as handshakes with the nearly two dozen clergy who joined Bishop Dennis Sullivan at the annual event, celebrated for the first time since the pandemic.
Father Joel Arciga Camarillo, pastor, began the afternoon with a presentation on the Eucharist, coinciding with the event’s theme – “My Flesh for the Life of the World” – and the National Eucharistic Revival. Afterward, the church fell silent for Adoration.
PHOTO GALLERY: Diocesan Hispanic Celebration
VIDEO: Watch the replay of the livestream video
Faith and culture combined at the start of the procession, with parishioners from across the Diocese carrying banners that represented each parish’s Hispanic Ministry.
In his homily, Bishop Sullivan preached on the day’s reading from Habakkuk and the prophet’s personal struggle and lament on the amount of suffering and injustice in the world.
“Does it ring a bell?” he asked. “When we look at our world, do we not see a similar situation?”
In the Book of Habakkuk, the Lord responds that he is aware of the corruption and when the evil is confronted, those with faith will be saved.
“God calls the prophet to faith. … He calls us also to faith. An active and animated faith,” Bishop Sullivan said.
Before the Mass ended and the crowd enjoyed traditional Hispanic food in the parish hall, Andrés Arango, the Bishop’s delegate for Hispanic Ministry, presented Bishop Sullivan with a plaque. The plaque was in appreciation for the Bishop’s service and pastoral care to the Hispanic community of South Jersey, explained Arango, who is director of evangelization for the Diocese of Camden.
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