BUSHWICK — Bushwick’s Hispanic Catholic community braved snow flurries and frigid weather to celebrate the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, on Jan. 7. Hundreds streamed into All Saints Catholic Church and Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii to commemorate the visit of the Magi — and in doing so, reinforced a sentiment voiced by Bishop Robert Brennan.
“If you want to see the young people in church, go to a Spanish [Mass]. You guys do not disappoint,” Bishop Brennan told the packed sanctuary. “I’m impressed by all of you out there who make it a priority to adore Christ the Lord.”
Among American Catholics 18 and younger, 60% are of Hispanic origin, according to Boston College’s Church in the 21st Century Center. Despite recent polls showing an increasing number of young Hispanics leaving the faith worldwide, the community in the Diocese of Brooklyn continues to show signs of thriving.
The pews at the Bushwick parishes were filled with older and younger Hispanic Catholics alike, and after celebrating Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii, Bishop Brennan specifically noted the numbers of youth in attendance and the energy that the choir brought to the parish.
“You’re here, you are involved in the serving of the liturgy and providing the music loudly … you have very loud and strong voices,” Bishop Brennan said.
To Jessica Chacha, 16, it was only natural for her to celebrate the Epiphany by singing Spanish-language hymns with the youth choir at All Saints Church. Catholic worship is infused in her family: Her mother is a minister, her father an usher, her brother a lector, and her sister is in the choir alongside her.
“It’s a family thing. Even when I was little, they had me participating in the Mass. I grew up with it,” she said.
It was the family orientation of the Masses at the Bushwick churches that drew fellow choir member Itzamna Marti, 21, to the church. It is “very logical,” she said, for young local Catholics to attend Spanish-language Mass.
Another choir member, Julissa Perez, 37, noted: “I think it is the highest honor for [Bishop Brennan] to see how the youth are participating. I saw it on his face, he felt very proud.”
Traditionally, the Brooklyn Three Kings Day Parade would be held at 3 p.m. following the final celebratory Mass of the day, but it was postponed due to poor weather conditions. That did not prevent the parish community from hosting an event for the children, a toy giveaway in the basement of All Saints Church.
The parade is instead set to be held on Sunday, Jan. 14, starting at 3 p.m., and will run along Graham Avenue. For more information or to confirm the status of the event, call 516-244-8431 or check out the Graham Avenue BID on Facebook.
