Spanish Masses resume

Until a year ago, Father Falletta had been celebrating a weekly Mass in Spanish at the Columbia County parish, but illness forced him to put that on hold. About 25 families from the Mexican-American community joyfully celebrated his return last Sunday.

Beginning at noon with a procession around the church parking lot in honor of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the families carried red roses and sang a Mexican hymn. After the roses had been brought inside the church and laid at the side altar under Our Lady's picture, Father Falletta celebrated Mass in Spanish.

People of God

Just as we work to nurture our family, he said, we must also work to nurture the members of our larger community, the parish and the rest of God's creation.

As Father Falletta stood at the head of the center aisle during his homily and on the altar throughout the Mass, toddlers and youngsters in Mexican dress roamed about the church. The girls were dressed in colorful peasant skirts and blouses, while the boys wore ponchos, sandals and sombreros. Even the littlest ones sported traditional Mexican dress. All the boys had black mustaches painted on their faces to commemorate Juan Diego, to whom Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared.

Vision

Three days later, she reappeared to Diego and told him to pick flowers to take to the bishop. When he presented them as instructed, roses fell out of his mantle and beneath them was the painted image of the Lady.

In 1754, Pope Benedict XIV designated the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe as Dec. 12; in 1910, Pope Pius X declared the Virgin Patroness of Latin America. Pius XII stated in 1945 that the Virgin of Guadalupe was the "Queen of Mexico and Empress of the Americas."

Latino touch

Most of the Mexican-American families that are parishioners of Nativity/St. Mary's are permanent residents of Columbia County. Father Falletta noted that the area is an active agricultural community; in the summer, he sees as many as 75 families at the Spanish Mass.

"Families such as the Gomezes and Lopezes here [families whose children were dressed in traditional clothing] have settled into this community. Their traditions are very important to them," he said.

Although the fathers of the young families, Hector Lopez and Guillermo Gomez, could both speak some English, neither of their wives are bilingual. Father Falletta explained that the Spanish Mass was important for the non-English speaking members because it allowed them to come together as a community. The parish sponsors several programs that teach English as a second language to those who are interested.

Taking a whack

Amid squeals of glee as tiny hands grabbed at candy and lollipops that tumbled out of the pinatas, one elderly female parishioner summed up the afternoon's activities.

"I am so glad I came today," she said. "This entire afternoon has touched my heart."

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