June 2, 2023

Latino Catholics mark feast of Pentecost with special celebrations

REGIONAL
Staff report

(iObserve photo/courtesy of Deacon Pedro Rivera Moran)

SPRINGFIELD — On Sunday May 28, 2023, the church celebrated the feast of Pentecost. It has been a longstanding tradition for the Latino community across the Springfield Diocese, to have a great celebration. This year, three nights of preparation and the culminating celebration were held in Holyoke at St. Jerome Parish’s Our Lady of Guadalupe Center and Immaculate Conception Chapel.

“The Holy Spirit is certainly a strong advocate for us, as we are very aware of his presence in all the baptized,” said Deacon Pedro Rivera Moran, director of the Office of Catholic Latino Ministry. “We gathered for an intense preparation three nights before. From Thursday May 25 to Saturday, May 27, we held vigils of praise and worship, eucharistic adoration, and an inspiring spiritual reflection each night.

“Deacon Adalberto Santiago was a key player as he exposed the Blessed Sacrament,” Deacon Rivera Moran said. “He did Benediction, making it a very special moment, and as he reposed our Lord Jesus in the tabernacle, all who attended closed the night with great enthusiasm, singing, praising, and worshiping, knowing that his (Christ’s) presence is transformative.”

The talks addressed the gifts of the Holy Spirit encouraging people to live a life using those gifts as they live and share the Good News. Speakers encouraged all to pray, to serve the needy, to pray for vocations to priesthood, religious life, and permanent diaconate. The focus of the talks was “to live a life worthy of a child of God,” Deacon Rivera Moran.

(iObserve photo/courtesy of Deacon Pedro Rivera Moran)

The Vigil Triduum inspired a few hundred people attend the feast of Pentecost celebration on May 28 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Center in Holyoke. Hispanics across the diocese from the movements and parishes that celebrate the Eucharist in Spanish were represented that evening. “Many were pleasantly surprised by the visit of our brother, Nicolas Sanabria, who came back from Puerto Rico and attended the celebration,” said Deacon Rivera Moran. “He lived in Westfield for over 40 years and was one of the pioneers who was used to strengthen the charismatic presence throughout the Diocese of Springfield. Nicky, as we all know him, was a great evangelizer and continues his mission back home in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico.”

Deacon Rivera Moran expressed gratitude for all those who helped to organize and participate in the Pentecost celebrations.

“We thank the leaders who serve in the Hispanic Catholic Charismatic Renewal for coordinating such an inspirational event,” he said. “We also acknowledge the music ministries who did such a great job leading participants in prayer. We thank the people who helped in facilitating the vigils, the speakers, the coordinators, and more importantly, the presence of the Holy Spirit among us.

“It was a great celebration and as we continue to grow as missionary disciples, we pray that we can live by the fruit of the Spirit and use the spiritual gifts as the Lord our God gives them to us. May we all continue in unity, to live and share the Gospel of Jesus.”