Saturday, May 18, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church of the Stella Maris Pastorate in Monona, also known as the diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of the Green Scapular, the Office of Hispanic Ministry together with Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison offered its first Marian Festival for the entire Hispanic community of the Diocese of Madison. In this great Marian event, around 125 Hispanics attended the Marian Mass in Spanish with the bishop and enjoyed a reception or social with Latin American food.
The Marian Mass celebrated by the bishop was concelebrated by Fr. Agustin de la Vega, LC, with the participation of the Hispanic Parish choir of Holy Family Church in Marshall and readers from the Hispanic community of the diocese. Before the celebration of Holy Mass, the Holy Rosary was prayed led by Thais Acosta, while Fr. Osvaldo Briones, SJS, offered Confessions in Spanish for an hour and a half from the beginning of the Rosary to the end of Mass.
During the Mass, flowers were offered in honor of the Blessed Virgin, families dressed in the traditional clothing of their countries, and Bishop Hying offered a special blessing of all the Marian images and statues that the faithful brought from their homes.
After Holy Mass, more than one hundred people processed towards the social hall in a Marian procession led by the bishop. During the procession everyone sang Marian songs, the “Hail Mary” was prayed, and Mary was honored with the different Marian images and statues that filled the sidewalk. There were images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Coromoto, Divine Providence, the Immaculate Conception, and many more.
Once in the social hall, Bishop Hying said a final prayer and blessing over everyone. Then the community enjoyed Latin American food and desserts while leaders Adriana Castillo and Carlos León shared some stories of Marian devotions from different countries.
The event itself was a great spiritual success for the Hispanic community, rich in culture and faith. This first festival opens the doors to future Marian festivals that the diocese will take into consideration. A Marian festival in honor of the Virgin during her month of May is a symbol of Catholic unity and Hispanic unity. We hope that each May this festival will be offered with even more participation, activities, fervor, and faith.