Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Huesca (Agencia Fides) - The Shrine of Torreciudad welcomed some 3,000 Latin America residents living in Spain, during the celebration of the 8th Marian Encounter of American Peoples. The event that takes place every first Sunday in May, is the most important and most attended for those families that live there, who come dressed in their traditional outfits, to celebrate a colorful blend of customs, folklore, and devotions.
Since eight years ago, all these families make the pilgrimage to Torreciudad, every first Sunday of May, in order to pray to the Virgin Mary with the over 20 Marian titles of Latin American origin (such as Our Lady of Urkupiña of Bolivia, Reina de la Paz (Queen of Peace) of El Salvador, La Virgen de la Valvanera of Colombia, La Virgen del Quinche of Ecuador, and Our Lady of Guadalupe from Mexico) and as a sign of their devotion. One of the most impressive moments of the Encounter is when the participants bring offerings to the Virgin Mary, placing symbolic objects from all the different countries near the altar. For example, there are flowers offered from Peru, fruit and other products typical of Bolivia, and works of art from the Dominican Republic.
The event was presided by Bishop Jesús Catalá of Alcalá de Henares, President of the Bishops’ Pastoral Committee, who in the homily urged the faithful “to yearn not only to be in their earthly homeland, but to truly aspire to the heavenly homeland.” “Our true homeland,” he continued, “is not here. Our true homeland is Heaven, where Christ has prepared us a place so we can be with Him.” And he told them that each one had to truly live his faith in his own environment and situation, “letting it become a part of all the aspects of our life.” “Our religious devotion cannot be reduced to a mere celebration once in a while, our devotion has to permeate every aspect of our life.”
After the celebration of the Mass, there was a picnic held near the pilgrims’ center, which was followed by what is known as the “Festival of Nations.” It is a Latin music festival in which the various dance associations and groups offer a bit of folkloric flavor with traditional songs and dances from Nicaragua, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, and more.
The Rector of the Shrine of Torreciudad, Fr. Javier Mora-Figueroa, observed that the encounter “arose with the purpose of reinforcing the cultural bonds between Spain and Latin America, in order to appreciate the cultural wealth and diversity that both continents hold.” And he added, “With this celebration, the common bonds we share are strengthened, even in the diversity of cultural manifestations and the manifold creativity present in their native countries.” According to one of its organizers, Colombian Germán López, “it is a very special day on which as Latin American immigrants, we have the opportunity to relive our traditions, in the company of our compatriots and other fellow Latin Americans.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 5/5/2008; righe 39, parole 493)
