St. Agnes Parish in Paterson, N.J., on Feb. 1 welcomed Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, who celebrated a Spanish Mass for the parish’s patroness, St. Agnes, virgin and martyr, whose feast day is Jan. 21. She is the patron saint of girls, chastity, Girl Scouts, engaged couples, and virgins.
Bishop Sweeney celebrated the Mass with Father Milton Camargo, St. Agnes’ pastor, who was concelebrating. They wore red vestments to mark the patron saint’s death as a martyr. Deacon Ambioris Gomez and Deacon Gilberto Vazquez assisted with the liturgy. Bishop Sweeney censed a St. Agnes statue in the church.
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Legend has it that St. Agnes was a girl many young men wanted to marry. Among those she refused, one reported her to authorities for being a Christian. She was arrested, condemned, executed, and buried near Rome in a catacomb that eventually was named after her. The daughter of Constantine, the Roman emperor, built a basilica in her honor.
During the Mass, some pews at St. Agnes were reserved for children preparing for first Holy Communion and Confirmation.
“Their presence was intentional and pastoral. One essential part of preparing for the sacraments is active participation in the Eucharist. If children are prepared for the sacraments without learning to love and participate in the Mass, we often do not see them continue in the life of the Church afterward,” said Father Camargo, adding that, at the same time, the parents of these children are also receiving formation classes. “Our goal is to help them grow as the first catechists of their children. As we often say, ‘No one can give what they do not have,’ so the formation of parents is just as important as the formation of the children,” he said.
