St. Martin de Porres celebration brings diverse Church together

Father Arturo Miguel Ocampo, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Indianapolis, was the principal celebrant for the fifth annual archdiocesan celebration of the feast of St. Martin de Porres on Nov. 3 at St. Patrick Church in Indianapolis. Concelebrants from Indianapolis parishes were Father Kenneth Taylor, pastor of Holy Angels Parish; Father Steven Schwab, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish; and Franciscan Father Thomas Fox, Hispanic ministry assistant for the archdiocese, who is in residence at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish. Deacon Emilio Ferrer-Soto, left, and Deacon Oscar Morales, right, assisted with the multicultural liturgy. Rev. Samuel Ruiz, a Lutheran minister standing behind Father Ocampo, was a special guest at the liturgy. (Photo by Mary Ann Wyand)

By Mary Ann Wyand

Eva Morales smiled as she graciously welcomed guests and efficiently arranged ethnic dishes on the food table at the start of the convivencia, a social gathering after the fifth annual archdiocesan celebration of the feast of St. Martin de Porres.

The coordinator of religious education at St. Patrick Parish in Indianapolis was happy to see more than 200 Latino, African-American and Anglo-American Catholics worship God and celebrate the humble life of St. Martin de Porres in sacrament and song on Nov. 3 at the historic Indianapolis South Deanery church. (See a photo gallery from this event)

“It means that it is possible for us to be together,” Morales said. “We are one Church. We have one God, and we all worship in our [own] ways, but at the same time we can be celebrating together. The music was like angels, … music from drums and different instruments, and people playing them and singing. … It was like a piece of heaven here.”

The readings for the feast day Mass were joyful and inspirational as Father Arturo Miguel Ocampo, St. Patrick’s pastor and the principal celebrant, led the gathering of Catholics from Indianapolis-area parishes in worship.

A passage from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians encouraged people to place their trust in God and rejoice because “the Lord is near” (Phil 4:4-9).

The Gospel reading from Matthew emphasized the greatest commandment—Christ’s call to love God—and then to love your neighbor (Mt 22:34-40).

The multicultural assembly took that Scripture advice to heart as they recalled the devotion of St. Martin de Porres, who dedicated his life to serving God despite being mistreated because he was biracial.

The son of a Spanish gentleman and freed black slave from Panama who immigrated to Lima, Peru, Martin was born in 1579 and became a lay brother of the Dominican Friary in Lima at age 15. He wanted to become a priest, but was denied his dream because of the color of his skin.

“We feel very happy for being able to share the Good News of the Gospel with African-Americans and Anglo-Americans and our brothers and sisters in the Hispanic community as well,” Deacon Emilio Ferrer-Soto said in his homily.

“One of the songs familiar to the African-American community begins with the words ‘Come and go with me to my Father’s house, where there is joy,’ ” he explained. “Those words come to mind today as we gather in this celebration. Indeed, there is joy in this house today. In spite of all the challenges and burdens of life, we still find a great joy. … You, dear brothers and sisters, are a joyful people, and the whole Church needs that joy today.”

Deacon Ferrer-Soto reminded the people that, “Certainly, at this holy Mass, we have so many reasons to praise our Lord, Jesus Christ, our Savior. … Tonight we have come together as brothers and sisters in one multicultural community—or better, one multicultural family—to listen to God’s word and receive the Eucharist. … The Lord speaks to us in many special ways, and calls us to worship together regardless of the color of our skin and our culture.”

On this feast, Catholics celebrate the holiness of Jesus realized in St. Martin de Porres, he said, as well as the power and the wisdom of the Gospel demonstrated in the life of Martin, who was canonized by Pope John XXIII—now Blessed John XXIII—46 years ago.

“We know that our Peruvian brothers and sisters are very happy to celebrate with us,” Deacon Ferrer-Soto said. “The Lord of the Miracles continues doing miracles in and out of Peru, and all of this thanks to the intercession of St. Martin de Porres. … The example of Martin’s life is ample evidence that we can strive for holiness and salvation as Christ Jesus has shown us, first, by loving God … and, second, by loving your neighbor as yourself.”

The Church rises up men and women outstanding in holiness, he said, people like St. Martin de Porres, to inspire us and help us grow in holiness.

“We cannot say that we love God with our being and not strive to love each other,” the deacon said. “This is what it truly means to be a Christian. … We must act like Jesus.

“Recently, we have seen and heard of so many acts of violence in our city, but also in our surrounding communities and indeed throughout the world,” Deacon Ferrer-Soto said. “These incidents sadden us, and we often ask what we can do to promote peace and end violence. … Peace and love begin by the way we think, speak and act toward our family, co-workers and neighbors. …We must follow the lesson of love given by St. Martin de Porres.

“There should be tears in our eyes whenever we see young people dying … from problems related to drugs, gangs, domestic violence, child abuse and many other problems that we know exist in our communities,” he said. “… We have one Father. … All of us belong to the family of God, in which there is only one color, and that is the color of the human race. We are all the children of God, and Jesus is our big brother. … Because God has loved us so perfectly, so powerfully, in Christ Jesus, we must, in turn, love each other.” †