THE CHURCH OF THE POOR
Friday, June 5th, 2009Last night I had my second last confirmation of this Spring season. It was at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Waimauma, which is led and pastored by Father Demetrio Lorden. There are several notable things about this mission. First, it is the only totally Spanish mission in the diocese. Most of our parishes are Anglos with varying per-centages of Hispanics. Our Lady of Guadalupe is almost 100% Hispanic, except for some Anglos who love the life and spontaneity of the liturgy there. Most of the parishioners of Our Lady of Guadalupe work in the agricultural fields and many live in the camps of eastern Hillsborough county.
Despite their poverty, an energetic Father Lorden in his time as pastor has given the parish a new parish hall/center and he’s not finished building yet. His predecessor, Father Philip Scott built a new Church on the site. Both men appeal(ed) to whomever to raise money to support the construction. Nearby Prince of Peace parish in Sun City Center has over the years beginning with Monsignor Diego Conesa been very generous to what remains their mission.
Although I am awful in Spanish, I love celebrating Mass for these communities and they are most forgiving when I try to preach in Spanish. The children almost all speak English but often their parents and their grandparents speak and understand Spanish only. Mexican Catholics love their children and family is second only to faith for them. Our Lady of Guadalupe is a strong figure of a poor virgin who came to be the Mother of the Lord and that alone is a symbol of strength to these people. They allow their children to have the run of the Church during Mass while they try to concentrate on their prayers and what is being said and sung. The liturgies are fully participative and alive. I had to overcome a good number of defense mechanisms in myself to over time become very comfortable with Hispanic liturgy but I am there now.
Originally there were to be 103 to be confirmed tonight but some always fail to show and there is the ever present fear of the Border Patrol of Homeland Security lurking somewhere (never on Church property so far, which I would resist if they did). These brothers and sisters are amazing at what they tolerate in order to feed their children. And they are equally amazing at what they endure to feed us, to put food on our tables at prices that are reasonable. Catholics need to think twice before condemning immigration, legal and illegal, for the latter keeps food prices down but at what expense to back, knees, arms and legs? It was a great celebration by noble people. The confirmandi were well prepared and genuinely welcoming.
Viva Mexico! Viva Nuestra Senora Virgin de Guadalupe! Viva Padre Demetrio!
+RNL

