Bishops approve liturgical texts for Hispanic Catholic rituals

Published: 2004-11-17

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- To meet the needs of the growing number of Spanish-speaking Catholics in the United States, the U.S. bishops unanimously approved Spanish-language liturgical texts that formally incorporate important Latin American rituals in U.S. worship services. These include a blessing ceremony for the "quinceanera," a popular celebration among Hispanics that takes place when a girl is 15 to mark her passage from childhood to adolescence. The blessing can take place within a Mass or as a separate ceremony. Other Spanish-language liturgical texts approved Nov. 17 were for an infant baptismal rite and for additions to the marriage liturgy that incorporate traditions popular mostly in Mexico, Central America and Puerto Rico. The Nov. 17 votes on the "quinceanera" and the additions to the marriage liturgy were unanimous, while the baptismal rite passed by a 208-1 vote.

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