Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, will preside over the Spanish-language Mass, which commemorates both National Hispanic Heritage Month and the Universal Church’s ongoing Jubilee Year 2025. He will be joined by the Archdiocese’s four auxiliary bishops, including the recently ordained Bishop Pedro Bismarck Chau, the first Nicaraguan-born bishop in the United States. Parishioners from around the Archdiocese will also be present, with many wearing vibrant cultural attire. Liturgical songs will be sung in Spanish throughout the Mass.
In addition to these elements, the Hispanic Heritage Jubilee Mass will feature a procession that highlights the close connection between faith and culture within the Hispanic community. Participants will carry the flags of Spanish-speaking countries in a display of global solidarity. Accompanying processors will carry banners representing each nation’s patronage of the Virgin Mary, honoring her central role in Hispanic worship.
“In the Hispanic community, our Catholic faith is a big part of our identity,” said Deacon Asterio Velasco, director of the Archdiocese of Newark’s Hispanic Ministry. “By celebrating this Mass, we’re honoring our culture, our traditions, and everything that makes us who we are. What better way to commemorate National Hispanic Heritage Month during the Church’s Jubilee Year?”
According to Hispanic Ministry statistics, Hispanics comprise approximately 40% of the Archdiocese’s Catholics. That number is expected to grow, reflecting national trends. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the Hispanic population increased from 50.5 million in 2010 to 62.1 million a decade later, accounting for 51.1% of the country’s total growth. Hispanics are now the second-largest ethnic group in the nation after Caucasians.
To engage this demographic, the Hispanic Ministry partners with archdiocesan offices and parishes to ensure Spanish speakers seeking help from the Church receive the assistance they need. The ministry also offers Spanish-language events, services and educational programs throughout the archdiocese, including monthly lectures led by clergy and Catholic theology experts.
The Hispanic Ministry’s newest initiative is a two-year faith formation program offering a comprehensive curriculum in Bible study, ecclesiology, Church history and other subjects. Launched in 2024, the program is currently at maximum capacity. Many more are expected to apply next year.
“Our Hispanic faithful are some of the most passionate Catholics in the Archdiocese of Newark,” Deacon Velasco said. “Spanish Masses are always well-attended, and there’s strong interest in the Hispanic Ministry’s programs. The community is truly a blessing, which is why we are committed to doing everything we can to accompany them on their faith journey.”
To learn more about the Archdiocese of Newark’s Hispanic Ministry, visit www.rcan.org/ministerio-hispano/.
About the Archdiocese of Newark?
The Archdiocese of Newark serves 1.3 million Catholics across northern New Jersey’s Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. Led by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., the sixth archbishop of Newark the Archdiocese includes 211 parishes, 67 Catholic schools, and numerous missions and ministries committed to faith, education, and social service. For more information, visit www.rcan.org
