Catholics from around the world living in the archdiocese celebrate St. Martin de Porres

(En Espanol)
 

Marianhill Father Jean Bosco Ntawugashira elevates a chalice during a Nov. 3 Mass at St. Rita Church in Indianapolis honoring St. Martin de Porres, a patron saint of racial justice. Joining him as concelebrants at the Mass are, from left, Father Jack Wright, Father John McCaslin, Father Michael O’Mara, Father Vincent Gilmore and Father Jose Neri. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Sean Gallagher

Catholics from around the world have come to Indianapolis to live and practice their faith.

Their great diversity in culture, language and experience of the faith was on display as they came together as one on Nov. 3 at St. Rita Church in Indianapolis for a Mass to honor St. Martin de Porres on his feast day.

The saint was a Dominican brother who died in 1639 in Lima, Peru. The son of a Spanish father and a mother who was a freed African slave, he is a patron saint of racial justice.

Taking part in the Mass were many African-Americans and Catholics from numerous countries in Africa, Central and South America and the Philippines.

Marianhill Father Jean Bosco Ntawugashira, administrator of St. Rita Parish and a native of Rwanda in eastern Africa, reflected on how the spiritual gifts that St. Martin shared with the sick and poor whom he served flowed from his relationship with God in prayer.

“We need to pray,” Father Jean Bosco said. “The more we pray to God, the more we relate to God, the more we will see our spiritual gifts. We’ll have strength from God.”

Calling St. Martin “an elder brother supporting us to love one another,” Father Jean Bosco encouraged his listeners to imitate the saint’s example of giving loving service to all people regardless of their racial or ethnic background.

“As we celebrate St. Martin de Porres, let this great man be our example of faith so that we’ll all feel that we’re all children of God,” Father Jean Bosco said. “We are called to live in peace and love so that kind of love can be a manifestation of Christ’s presence.”

Proclaiming the first reading at the Mass was Andres Pecho, who helps lead catechetical ministry at St. Monica Parish in Indianapolis. Pecho and his wife Ena moved to Indianapolis five years ago from Lima, Peru, where St. Martin de Porres lived and where there is a great devotion to him today.

“It felt so good,” said Pecho of being at the Mass. “This country is multicultural. I’m learning to share with people from other communities.”

He spoke of the lessons that people in Indianapolis and around the world can learn from the saint from his home country.

“In these days, the world is a little bit materialistic,” Pecho said. “But this man was always teaching others to share with everybody. I love that.”

Sally Stovall, a member of Holy Angels Parish in Indianapolis and a native of Nigeria, has attended many St. Martin de Porres Masses through the years organized by the archdiocesan Office for Intercultural Ministry. She appreciates how the liturgy brings together diverse Catholics from across central and southern Indiana.

“The Church is made up of different cultures, of people from every ethnic community,” Stovall said. “So, it makes sense for us to be able to come together as one in unity. We display our cultural heritage. Right from the beginning, the African community has been a part of this.”

Felix Navarrete, archdiocesan coordinator of Hispanic Ministry, helped to organize the Mass and the reception that followed.

“It was very exciting seeing such a diverse congregation—Filipinos, Africans, African-Americans, Anglos and Hispanics worshiping one God,” said Navarrete. “Seeing our diversity reflected in the celebrants not only in terms of nationality but also in terms of age was fascinating.

“I appreciate the openness of our communities to congregate together in the celebration of the memory of a great saint such as Martin de Porres. I believe that today we are called to humility.” †