It was the third year in a row that the Diocese offered a local celebration of this important day in the faith life of Nicaraguan Catholics. The Cathedral received the participants warmly on a rainy day. Bishop Barnes was the chief presider of the Feast Day Mass and he greeted the people with the traditional dialogue exchange that all Nicaraguans can identify: “Who causes so much Joy?”
“Mary’s Conception!” was their enthusiastic response.
Father Eliezer Lopez, ST, a native of Nicaragua who currently serves as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Soledad Parish in Coachella, concelebrated the Mass. He commented on the message of the Holy Scriptures mentioning the difficult reality that this beloved country is going through, the repression of young people and the many tears that this historic moment has cost the people. Fr. Lopez encouraged the whole assembly to look more than ever at the purity of our Mother as the triumph of good that rises above so many effects of sin.
Bishop Barnes encouraged the assembly to ask the Blessed Mother to intercede for the United States, that she, as patroness of this country, maintain the founding values of hospitality and respect. For Nicaraguans, the expression “Cause of our joy” that is repeated in the litanies to Our Lady, has become essential, and it seems difficult to express it when living with suffering. But joy is vital to the Christian, and even if the penalties abound, Mary will always shine with her reasons to rejoice and to expect.
Petra Alexander is the Director of the Diocesan Office of Hispanic Affairs.