The United States annually celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, which recognizes the history, culture, and contributions of the Hispanic community. In honor of this recognition, Wilfredo Aguirre, Associate Director of the Diocesan Office of Hispanic Affairs and Advocacy, provides a reflection about the Hispanic Catholic community within the diocese.
Q: In what ways do you believe Hispanic heritage enriches the life of the Catholic Church in our diocese?
A: Often, when we think of heritage, our minds naturally turn toward the obvious and tangible things we can experience through our senses. These are our dances, foods, songs, and art. However, an often overlooked component of Hispanic heritage is our lived experience.
At the heart of this lived experience is our faith and trust in the Lord, which has sustained our communities through generations. Rooted in this faith are the stories of our ancestors, marked by struggle and perseverance, as well as the experiences of our own lives, shaped by the difficulties we have encountered. From this source we draw our steadfast faith in God and our unwavering devotion to the Blessed Mother, our refuge, protector, and source of maternal care.
From this same source, we draw values such as family, faith, hard work, sacrifice, hospitality, generosity, and community. These values are reflected in our virtues, such as devotion, fidelity, perseverance, fortitude, humility, and love. We live these virtues and share these values through our ministries, liturgies, parishes, and instill them in our children. This is perhaps the greatest richness Hispanic heritage brings to our Diocese: not simply the traditions we celebrate, but the faith, values, virtues, and lived wisdom we carry forward and share with the Church.
Q: Which traditions, values, or expressions of faith within the Hispanic community do you consider especially important to pass on to future generations?
A: Hispanic heritage is a shared heritage within our Diocese, enriched by the diverse cultures, histories, traditions, faith experiences, and stories of the many communities that make up our Hispanic Catholic family. We are blessed to have expressions of faith from many different countries. These diverse expressions of faith give us a glimpse into the rich spiritual heritage that our Hispanic communities have carried with them and continue to share with the Church.
The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe commemorates Mary’s apparition to Juan Diego in 1531 and her message of love, compassion, and closeness, which became a profound source of faith, hope, and identity for the people of Mexico. This celebration has continued for centuries, bringing people, through her intercession, closer to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This same faith and devotion, passed down from generation to generation, is also expressed through Las Posadas, when families and communities gather in the days leading up to Christmas to recall the journey of Mary and Joseph in search of lodging, while praying, singing, and preparing their hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ. Marian devotion is a thread that binds many Hispanic cultures.
In a similar way, La Gritería celebrates Nicaragua’s deep devotion to the Immaculate Conception of Mary, as families, neighbors, and communities gather in homes and public spaces on December 7 to pray, sing, and share the joy of their faith in a tradition passed down through generations. Nicaragua is unique as the only country in Central America that shares its patroness with the United States. However, devotions and patronal celebrations are not limited to the Blessed Mother.
The celebration of El Divino Salvador del Mundo honors Christ as the Savior of the world and commemorates his Transfiguration, bringing Salvadoran families and communities together in prayer, processions, and joyful celebration as a cherished expression of faith and hope passed down through generations.
Q: What message would you like to share with Hispanic families during Hispanic Heritage Month?
A: To the Hispanic community of the Diocese of San Bernardino, whose communities, families, and marriages are under constant attack through the inundation of social media, struggles with mental health, the affliction of drug, alcohol, and pornography addiction, socioeconomic disparities in income and health, and immigration enforcement actions taking place within our cities, I would say first: “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.” In this time of uncertainty and persecution, remember that our Lord is near. In our time of greatest need and deepest despair, He is nearest. He does not abandon His people.
Second, I would like to remind our Hispanic community that we are a people of hope. Hope is not something we long for, nor is it simply a feeling of optimism. Hope is something we do. It is getting up each day knowing that what we do today is not only for ourselves, but for our spouses, our children, and our community. It is rooted in the belief that we are children of God and that He will always have the final word.
Lastly, rather than flee and hide in a polarized world, I would like to invoke the spirit of Juan Diego and embark on the work of building social bridges. We have always connected people who do not share the same language, culture, or traditions with our own. We must continue in that spirit. At the same time, in the same spirit of Juan Diego, we must, with humility and confidence, sustain the Church that has been entrusted to us.
Wilfredo Aguirre is the Associate Director of the Diocesan Office of Hispanic Affairs and Advocacy.