Local News Archive

Print Issue: June 6, 2002

Go Deeper Into Catholic Faith, Hispanic Speakers Say

By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer

COLLEGE PARK - In the Hispanic track at the Eucharistic Congress, Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas, following the schema of Christ's Passion, death and resurrection highlighted in the Holy Week Triduum, offered reflections on living out this paschal mystery in daily life.

Describing the victory of the Easter Vigil, he said that the faithful who truly believe in Jesus' resurrection over death and darkness conquer their fears, receiving an abiding joy.

"Joy is a sign of our victory over fear and darkness. This joy does not come from telling jokes, but from a profound conviction in the power of Jesus over sin and death. When we are afraid, we get depressed and look for destructive solutions to our problems. When we lack resurrection faith in our lives, we even get ill. Living with hope is a sign of our faith in the resurrection," he said.

As they build lives in the United States, he and other speakers at the June 1 congress encouraged Hispanics to keep deepening their spiritual foundation by staying close to God and his church, particularly in light of the current crisis of priest sex abuse.

The largely young adult and Mexican-American crowd of some 1,550 were spiritually charged at the day of formation and fiesta. They quietly listened, but also cheered, waved a Mexican flag, sang "Las Mañanitas," normally heard on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and shouted "Vive el Latino America."

Other speakers were Father Albert Cutié from the Archdiocese of Miami and Father Pablo Straub, CSsR, a missionary priest in Mexico. Choirs from St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Smyrna, and the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, led music. The track was coordinated by Pamela Villacrés, Kirial Gamboa, Father Fabio Sotelo-Peña and Father Jaime Barona.

Villacrés, archdiocesan director of Hispanic lay ministry, called the track a "complete success," because of the good speakers and music, and participants' openness to forming community and worshiping God.

"The music was inspiring. At one point the young people got up and danced and did a dance train," she said. "The people really responded enthusiastically to the music and the speakers . . . It was wonderful."

Rafael Alvarez and his daughters Maria, left, and Nelly wait outside for the June 1 Eucharistic Congress to get underway. The Alvarez family belong to Centro Católico, a mission of Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

A pastor in El Paso, Texas, Msgr. Bañuelas holds a doctorate in theology and has lectured at universities around the country. He spoke of how Christ is divinely present in the Eucharist, the summit and font of faith, which calls Catholics to live as eucharistic people. He said Christian service is linked to the Eucharist. During the events of Holy Thursday, both the institution of the Eucharist and the washing of the feet take place, and in the Gospel of John that act of foot-washing is intimately connected to the preparation of sharing at the Lord's table.

"For this reason, being of service-washing each other's feet-is connected with eucharistic spirituality," Msgr. Bañuelas said. "We do not help others because we feel sorry for them, but because we know that it prepares us to see the face of Jesus. This, in turn, is a type of rehearsal for Communion with God. The deeper our service to one another, the more intense our experience of encountering the Lord in Communion" he said.

Good Friday calls a Christian to pick up his cross, Msgr. Bañuelas said, but carrying the cross means focusing not on Jesus' pain and being punished, but on his sacrifice of unconditional love and forgiveness.

"The cross in our daily lives is what it was for Jesus. When he suffered the most, he loved the fullest. Jesus did not seek vengeance when crucified . . . He was totally forgiving," he said. "When we love unconditionally and forgive constantly we experience the Mass in a deeper way. Forgiveness has a power of healing and transforming us. The madness of violence in our hearts and in our world will not be solved with more guns and weapons, but with the power of Jesus' cross."

He then drew from the "Sabado de Gloria" - Holy Saturday - where the lighting of the new Easter fire and the baptism of new Christians celebrates new life and Jesus' victory over death. Working for justice is a sign of triumph. "The greater hope we have, the greater joy, the more we promote justice, the fuller and more intense will be our experience of Mass."

The Mexican-American priest concluded saying that the sacrifice of the Mass is both a celebration of the original paschal mystery and an anticipation of the final one, which Catholics prepare for daily by living a "eucharistic spirituality of service, sharing, unconditional love, forgiveness, resurrection faith, joy, hope, justice."

"The Mass celebrates this level of faith and nurtures it further. Then we, in turn, go out to the world to live in a deeper way, a holier life. We continue to grow and mature in our spiritual lives."

Father Straub, who has lived in rural Mexico for 18 years, and who appears on Catholic television in Mexico and the United States, further encouraged immigrants to deepen their faith. As they sustain poultry and other industries in Georgia, he reminded them they are also responsible for the large growth and vibrancy of the multicultural church of North Georgia, and assured them they are welcome.

"You have crossed the sea from Puerto Rico, you have crossed the Rio Bravo with or without papers. You didn't come to another country to lose the faith . . . You came to another country by the grace of God," he said. "Adore Jesus, receive Jesus, don't live apart from his grace . . . so that as you arrive in this country you don't lose your faith but are filled with it."

Father Straub said despite the fact that the Greeks and Romans in Jesus' time had rich cultures, Christ said he came to bring full, abundant life. "This life that Jesus refers to is called sanctifying grace, habitual grace."

He encouraged them to receive all the sacraments, visible, tangible ways to embrace God, and spoke of the Catholic doctrine that those who have committed mortal sins like adultery and drunkenness must receive the sacrament of confession before receiving Communion. "He who commits mortal sin and receives the Eucharist insults God ... The other sacraments require that one goes to confession first."

As God's greatest desire is for the hearts of men, he urged them to spend time in adoration and go to Mass more frequently, noting that as they watch Braves games in English they can also attend English Masses when necessary. He called them to respect all, including boyfriends and girlfriends by living chastely.

Father Cutié, who directs a Miami Catholic radio apostolate and hosts the live weekly television program "America en Vivo," then took the microphone, and his training shone through as he oozed with energy, working the room and inviting audience interaction. He told the story of three red beans in a garden, one that hid itself after realizing it was a different color than its surroundings, another that painted itself multicolored to blend in and a model bean that remained proudly red. "We are Hispanic and we have to be proud of our roots," he said. "We don't have to hide ourselves because in the end we are Catholics and to be Catholic is to be universal."

Father Cutié, 33, said every Catholic's first love should be Jesus Christ present in the Eucharist, which one must approach with respect and reverence. He imitated how some mothers receive it while juggling their baby and pocketbook, and others appear as if in a shopping line. He also encouraged them to go to confession, despite any fears, because it serves as a spiritual mirror. Father Cutié confesses biweekly and said it is required once a year for all Catholics. "The church hands us through the liturgy, the sacraments, what Christ gave us."

He said that as Jesus honored his mother, a Catholic's second love must be Mary. She is intimately tied to the Eucharist, as Mary gave Jesus life, and permitted him to be present to his followers.

"The Catholic that isn't Marian isn't Catholic," he said. " A Catholic isn't an orphan and has a Father in heaven and has a Mother, Mary, who is a Catholic's second love."

The Catholic's third love is the church, which is both the body of Christ and the house of God, he said. He said in the midst of the clergy sex abuse scandal, the media doesn't really know the church or that most priests are dedicated to God. "There is never going to be a report of all the good."

While the church is being scrutinized, he called Latinos to stay committed Christians and strong examples to the world.

"Hispanics belong to a church that is one, holy, catholic and apostolic and began with the apostles. For this, my Latino friends, don't abandon the church . . . because the church is the body of Christ," he said.

San Felipe de Jesus Mission, Atlanta, center, was one of the many Hispanics groups carrying banners in the morning procession of the June 1 Eucharistic Congress. (Photo by Michael Alexander)

"The Christian that doesn't have the three loves - the Eucharist, Mary and the church - has to examine himself very well because these three loves help us to live our faith," he said.

Spreading that Good News, the church's first mission is evangelization and must use every means possible, including radio and television, computers, music, the written word and youth, he said.

"We have to use all the methods within our reach to bring the message of Jesus Christ. We all need to be part of this new evangelization because many brethren don't know Jesus Christ."