by Antonina Zielinska

Colombia continues to work toward peace, the aisles at St. Bartholomew Church, Elmhurst, were packed full of people wanting to hear a message from Cardinal Rubén Salazar Gómez.

The archbishop of Bogota, Colombia, told the mostly Colombian congregation that peace can be obtained through Christ.

“We, in this church, have to ask God to unite the hearts of not only all of us gathered here, but also of all Colombians,” he said in his homily.

Father Rick Beuther, pastor, said the opportunity to invite Cardinal Salazar Gómez to St. Bartholomew was a historic event for the parish that helped nurture a sense of unity.

“He inspired us with his words,” the pastor said. He said the visit shows that the goals of the universal Church are “bigger than Elmhurst and bigger than Colombia.”

Manuel Hernandez, a parishioner and a native of Mexico, said he came to the event to hear a message from a close advisor to the pope, who is also from Latin America.

“We are fundamentally united,” said Cardinal Salazar Gómez during his homily, speaking about all the members of the Church. “We want to create a world of fraternity and peace.”

The Church “is the means through which we can encounter Jesus in our hearts,” he said. “This is the way we can find peace in our hearts. Then we can bring peace to our surroundings.”

In Colombia, Cardinal Salazar Gómez said the Church constantly works to promote the common good, including by getting involved in politics when it is necessary.

“All that the Church does in Colombia is to bring about peace,” he said.

His message resonated with parishioner Consuelo Caicedo, a native of Colombia. She said she took to heart his call to support dialogue between different parties in her native country.

“It’s important to be connected to our home country on a day-to-day basis,” said Maria Ariojare, also a parishioner and a native of Colombia.

Ariojare said she attended the Mass with the hope to receive a blessing from a cardinal from her homeland for herself and her family.

Maria Victoria Riusa said she was honored to attend the Mass with such a dignitary. She added that in the 24 years she lived in Colombia, she never had the chance to meet a Colombian cardinal.

“It was very beautiful,” she said.

Cardinal Salazar Gómez stopped by St. Bartholomew after giving a speech at the American Bible Society in Manhattan. It was Mario J. Paredes, from the society, who suggested the cardinal visit Elmhurst.

“He has a pastoral zeal for Colombians who live outside of Colombia,” Paredes said.

Besides the blessing during the Mass, the cardinal also gave a few people a personal blessing outside the church.