New York.- In an atmosphere of faith, tradition, and community, hundreds of Dominicans residing in New York gathered this Wednesday at the Church of Las Mercedes, located in the Bronx, to commemorate the Day of the Virgen de Las Mercedes, patron saint of the Dominican people.
The celebration included a solemn Eucharist officiated by the auxiliary bishop of New York, Monsignor Joseph Espaillat, who led the mass in honor of the Virgin, a symbol of devotion for millions of Dominicans inside and outside the country.
This devotion has transcended borders, especially among the Dominican diaspora in the United States, where religious celebrations have become a key link to their cultural identity.
Many of the attendees expressed to De Último Minuto their joy at being able to keep this tradition alive despite the distance from their homeland. “I have been visiting this church for 30 years, since the 90s. My veneration for the Virgin comes from Santo Domingo. Everything I have asked of her with faith, she has granted me,” affirmed Yaqueline Esther, one of the faithful devotees.
Other parishioners pointed out that, although they were born in the United States, their parents instilled in them the Catholic faith and love for their Dominican roots. “It is important not to forget where we come from and to pass on these customs to the new generations,” commented one of the attendees.
The religious day was not only a moment of spiritual reflection, but also a space for the unity of the Dominican community abroad, which every year reaffirms its faith and identity through these celebrations.
The Day of Our Lady of Las Mercedes is celebrated every September 24th in the Dominican Republic and is considered one of the most important religious days in the country. The Virgin of Las Mercedes was proclaimed national patron saint in 1844, and since then, her feast mobilizes thousands of faithful who give thanks for favors received or raise petitions with deep faith.
