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Ecuadorian Catholics in the archdiocese and throughout the metropolitan area gathered at St. Patrick’s Cathedral May 31 to honor Our Lady of El Rocío, whose shrine and sanctuary in their homeland attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.
This is said to have been the first time St. Patrick’s Cathedral offered a Mass commemorating the feast of Our Lady of El Rocío, a Marian devotion with origins dating to 17th-century Spain and which, through the years, was adopted by the people of Ecuador.
The main celebrant and homilist of the Mass, which was incorporated into the regular Sunday afternoon Spanish-language Mass at the cathedral, was Bishop Carlos Anibal Altamirano Argüello of the Diocese of Azogues, Ecuador, which includes the sanctuary built into the rocks above the village of Biblián.
During his homily, the bishop urged the faithful to never compromise their standards as Christians and to always be true to their faith.
“Don’t be fooled and distracted by the things that steer you away from your faith,” said Bishop Altamirano.
Mary is a role model for the Catholic faithful, by the way she lived her life with loyalty and humility, he said.
The virtues that Bishop Altamirano described as being Marian is what Lourdes Cedeno told CNY has always attracted her to the Blessed Mother.
“I am very happy to be here today and I am proud that they invited a priest from Ecuador to celebrate,” said Ms. Cedeno, a native of Manavi, Ecuador, who has lived in Queens for 37 years.
She said that Ecuadorians for the most part are very faithful Catholics and that children there grow up admiring the Virgin Mary. “On many occasions, for personal reasons, I have directed my prayers to her, for the health and safety of my family and for just guidance during hard times—and my prayers have been answered,” she said.
The Mass was sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry and organized by the Committee of the Virgen Del Rocío of Biblián-Canar, Ecuador. Teodoro Lema, the president of the committee, who emigrated to New York from Canar 28 years ago, said he hopes the Mass becomes an annual event. “It’s great to have so many Ecuadorians united on this day,” he said. “I consider this a big accomplishment for all Ecuadorians.”
Karla Salazar Reiu, an immigrant from Biblián who was a senior at LaGuardia International High School in Queens, was a petition reader at the Mass.
“It’s special to be here,” she said. “I grew up Catholic and celebrated this same day in Ecuador. I grew up going to the sanctuary in my hometown and my prayers were always directed toward her. It’s a custom that was instilled in me by my parents.”
