By Cathy Blankenau Bender
Editor, Southern Nebraska Register
When Father Bernard Lorenz arrived at St. William Parish in Wellfleet Sept. 3 to celebrate Mass in the Spanish language, the temperature was 96 degrees.
“The parishioners attending that Mass were mostly from Mexico,” he said, “all contracted workers in the vicinity farms and feedlot. We gathered in the cooler basement hall because of the heat.”
Because of the change in location, Father Lorenz said, the faithful all sat in the far back of the hall when entering, but after he invited them to “come up higher,” many did.
Father Lorenz works in Hispanic ministry for the western part of the Catholic Diocese of Lincoln. He resides at St. Patrick Parish in McCook, but he travels to other towns, both to celebrate Mass and visit families, serving whatever needs arise.
During his Sept. 3 homily – abbreviated due to the heat – Father Lorenz pointed out that on Sept. 3, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, bringing the Revolutionary War to its final conclusion and establishing the independence of the United States. He emphasized the perseverance of those colonists, through difficult struggle and pain, to achieve the freedom God offered them.
Because the month of September is dedicated to the Holy Cross and the Mother of Sorrows, he said, it was a fitting theme.
“All attending understood the need to carry one’s cross after Jesus,” he said, referring to Matthew 16:24.
Eleven other priests work in Hispanic ministry in the diocese as well, according to Ricardo Izquierdo, director. While Father Lorenz’s appointment requires “floating” to various communities, for most of the priests, they perform integrated ministry in one parish.
“So in practice it looks quite a bit like regular ministry,” he said, “except with Spanish Masses, and dealing with the specific cultural/linguistic challenges that Hispanics bring.”
He explained that in those cases, the priests have the task of spiritually providing for members of both cultures and unifying them in their Catholicism. Often, the varied cultures have activities in common, as well as the schools, to aid in that goal.
“In parishes with two priests,” Izquierdo said, “the priests divide the work among themselves based on Spanish ability and time availability. For example, assistants still teach in schools just like most others.”
The Diocese also has a Spanish-only parish, Cristo Rey in Lincoln. Passionist Sisters serve at Cristo Rey and at St. Cecilia Parish in Hastings, supporting Hispanic ministry in those parishes. Their tasks include assisting with OCIA, sacramental prep, CCD instruction and lay groups.
Izquierdo said the Spanish-speaking apostolate is important because it is an evangelistic effort to provide for people who already share the Catholic faith.
“Without the language and cultural stretch on our part,” however, “they’d be more likely to fall for non-Catholic denominations or just not practice any faith, which would be a tragedy,” he said. “Further, they often bring their own faith to help strengthen our own, as well as add numbers to our schools and parishes.”
Nancy Schmitz, who Father Lorenz called a “stalwart” member of St. William Parish, occasionally attends the Spanish-language Masses, even though she only speaks English. She was present at the Sept. 3 Mass.
“I enjoy partaking in the Spanish Mass every so often, even though I’ve been to our usual 9:30 Mass earlier in the day,” she said. “It’s not difficult to follow the Mass even though I only recognize the word ‘amen’!”
She said it is nice to get to know the people.
“Also,” she added, “sometimes they have a tasty authentic Mexican supper afterwards!”
Father Lorenz pointed out that the temperature during Mass two weeks earlier was also high – 95 degrees – but the people come, despite the heat.
“The beauty of the Lord through His suffering in His Body, the Church faithful, was celebrated in a triumphant Eucharistic song of joy,” he said, “and all proceeded home with Jesus a little closer to their heart.
“When the Good Lord Jesus comes to take us home, let us be prepared with hearts full of joy and faith,” he said. (John 14:1-6)
Photos courtesy Nancy Schmitz
