Dominican Republic bishop visits

By Tanya Connor

 WORCESTER – A bishop from the Dominican Republic encouraged pilgrimages to the birthplace of Catholicism in the Americas, during a visit here Saturday, Aug. 11.
Bishop Santiago Rodríguez, of the Diocese of San Pedro de Macorís, celebrated a Mass Saturday morning at St. Joseph Church. At a meal afterwards, he and others spoke about Senderos de la Fe (Roots of the Faith) pilgrimages. This is a project of the Catholic Church and the government of the Dominican Republic to encourage tourists to visit the country, including places of faith, he said.
The government’s Ministry of Tourism wants to offer pilgrimages to celebrate the anniversary of the evangelization of the New World, according to a talk with a PowerPoint presentation which government representative Kirsis De Los Santos gave Saturday.
Next year marks the 525th anniversary of the celebration of the first Mass in the New World – Jan. 6, 1494 in the Dominican Republic – according to the presentation. It said the Dominican Republic was also the site of the first baptism and church in the Americas and two of the first three dioceses were established there. (The other was in Puerto Rico.)
Bishop Rodríguez said Worcester was the first place where a presentation about this pilgrimage project was made, but there are plans to make it elsewhere in the United States.  
“The bishop came here because we invited him to come – we need a bishop to show that this is something really serious,” said Deacon Israel R. Fernandez, a Dominican native stationed at St. Stephen Parish here. The Church wants pilgrims to learn about the faith, on which the Dominican society is founded, he said.
“The people were very, very tied to the Church from the beginning,” he said.
These Church-state pilgrimages are to be promoted internationally, given in a variety of languages, and might start next January, he said. He said three different tours are to be offered, with Masses, visits to sacred and other sites, and good food and accommodations. Some of the proceeds are to go to the bishops’ conference to use for seminaries.
“We do have separation – state and Church,” said Deacon Fernandez. But, he said, the government knows many people there are practicing Catholics, and it respects the Church.
Deacon Fernandez explained the project to The Catholic Free Press since his brother Luis Fernandez, a retired travel agent who came here recently, doesn’t speak much English. He said Mr. Fernandez owns Fuente de Esperanza (Fount of Hope) Travel here, which is “working only for the pilgrimage.” He too belongs to St. Stephen’s.
Bishop Rodríguez said he knew Luis Fernandez in the Dominican Republic.
Soledad Paulino, who goes to St. Stephen’s and St. Paul Cathedral, said her family members know the bishop. She said his visit here was very important for her; it was a spiritual occasion.
Her sister Maria Paulino-Fernandez said she was proud: the bishop stayed with her and her husband, another of the Fernandez brothers, on this, his first visit to Worcester. Speaking of the need for the pilgrimages she said, “People (are) losing faith in God; we try to get people back to God.” Everybody is looking for something else besides God.
Bishop Rodríguez spoke about his visit being an opportunity to help strengthen people’s faith. He warmly embraced people who came up to him and was surrounded by members of the congregation before he got to the back of the church at the end of Mass.
He actually came last minute in place of Bishop Diómedes Espinal de León from the Dominican Republic, who cancelled due to a death in the family, Deacon Fernandez said.
The deacon said that since he ministers at St. Stephen’s, where there is a new Hispanic community, arrangements were made for Bishop Rodríguez to come here. But it was decided that the facilities of Holy Family Parish – St. Joseph Church and Msgr. Ducharme Social Center across the street – were better suited for the Spanish-language event.
St. Stephen’s and Holy Family share a pastor, Father Steven M. LaBaire, and do some things together. Father LaBaire and Father Andres A. Araque, St. Stephen’s part-time associate pastor, concelebrated the Mass. Musicians were from St. Stephen’s and St. John, Guardian of Our Lady Parish in Clinton, Deacon Fernandez said.
Father LaBaire welcomed Bishop Rodríguez on behalf of Bishop McManus and people of the Diocese of Worcester.
“Today, the distances between our local churches is bridged by your presence and by the welcome of so many overjoyed to be here today,” Father LaBaire said in the English translation of his welcome, which he also read in Spanish. “Today, geography and national boundaries are overcome by our shared Catholic faith, and by our celebration of the Holy Eucharist. In Jesus Christ, we are one!”
After Mass Alcita Medina, a Puerto Rican who has gone to different parishes as she’s moved and now attends St. Stephen’s, said she thought it was wonderful that the bishop came. She spoke of  keeping everyone – from different countries and parishes – together in the faith.

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