Latino community members attend Spanish Mass on Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

WARWICK — Members of the local Latino community joined together last Thursday evening, Dec. 12, in a celebration of a mass said in Spanish on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr, in Warwick.

The mass, which was said by The Rev. Adaly Rosado from the Church of St. John, the Evangelist, in Goshen, began with a procession by members of the congregation carrying images of Our Lady of Guadalupe along with roses and other flowers while singing traditional songs in Spanish with their choir.

Warwick resident Judy Battista, an advocate for the growing Latino community, arranged for Rosado to say mass in Spanish. The visiting priest also offered a special blessing for the children and all the images they carried.

"This community meets in each other's home for prayer meetings," said Battista. "They are such a humble community and they want and need to practice their faith."

She said that Latinos from this area, in particular those from Mexico, celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a title of the Virgin Mary, with much fervor.

1531 at the Hill of Tepeyac
The story behind the famous image, explained Battista, begins in 1531 when a peasant, Juan Diego, claimed that he had an apparition of a young pregnant girl at the Hill of Tepeyac outside Mexico City. The girl requested that a church be built on that site in her honor. Diego then understood she was the Virgin Mary and told the story to the Archbishop of Mexico City, who instructed him to ask her for a miraculous sign. Diego reported that she told him to gather flowers and although it was December and beyond the growing season, he discovered roses that were not native to the area.

When he opened his cloak before the Bishop, the flowers fell to the floor and inside his garment was the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, now displayed in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

After the mass, everyone gathered to enjoy the traditional foods of Mexico including tamales, tostadas de flautas, pan dulce (sweet bread), mole (Mexican chocolate) and various homemade dishes the people brought to the church.

Masses in Spanish each month
A mass in Spanish will be celebrated at St. Stephen's at 7 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month along with traditional holidays such as Misa de los Reyes on Jan. 4.

"There are a number of Hispanics from all countries who live and work in this area," said Battista. "Practicing our faith is very important to us and we are grateful to our pastor, Father Michael McLoughlin, for his support and the parish of St. Stephen the First Martyr for opening the doors to this growing Spanish ministry."

For additional information call Battista at 987-4207.

- Roger Gavan