Some 600 Catholics celebrated their heritage and their faith at the 10th annual Hispanic Heritage Mass Saturday, Aug. 29 at Holy Innocents Church in Philadelphia. The Mass was sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office for Hispanic Catholics. Read the full story. (Photos by Sarah Webb)
Lydia Gomez is from Puerto Rico.
Participants display the flag of their heritage, Cuba.
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Children display the flag of their family’s homeland, Ecuador.
Women are proud of their Panamanian heritage.
A woman shows the colors of her homeland, Dominican Republic.
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A family shows the flag of Venezuela in procession.
Rosario (left) and Brandon Pulgarin, proud of their Ecuadoran heritage, participate in the Mass.
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Not only the flags of many nations but banners from the many parishes in the Philadelphia Archdiocese with significant populations of Spanish-speaking Catholics also were presented in procession.
Redemptorist Father Bruce Lewandowski, vicar for cultural ministries for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, blesses families during the Mass.
Javier and Gabriel Kutner-Rodriguez’s family is from Venezuela.
Permanent deacons assist at the Mass.
Olivia Romero, left, with her children Abigail and Daniel Nolasco, whose heritage is from Mexico.
Lector Anna Vega
Deacon Andres A. Carrillo proclaims the Gospel.
Father Bruce Lewandowski greets a mother and son during the presentation of families.
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