PALA — Native American Catholics from Southern California converged on Mission San Antonio de Pala to participate in the Indigenous People Mass.
Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano presided over the Sept. 27 Mass, which the San Diego Diocese held to celebrate Native American diversity within the Catholic Church. He was accompanied by about a dozen priests, including Fathers Herman Manuel, SVD, and Reynaldo Manahan, who serve the Indigenous community; Father Gerardo Fernández, pastor at Mission San Antonio de Pala; and Deacon Andy Orosco, from the Diocese of San Bernardino.
The Catholic liturgy incorporated native language, traditions and prayers. The opening procession included a group of women from the City of Los Angeles Kateri Circle, a group of faithful who share a devotion to St. Kateri Tekakwitha. Then a community member from the Kateri Circle, Francis Morales, conducted the “Four Directions” blessing.
The Mass-goers included older generations and a few young families with children. Many wore traditional ribbon skirts and shirts, colorful shawls and beautiful beads.
Faithful came from mission churches across the diocese located at Barona, Pala, Rincon, Santa Ysabel, Sycuan, and Viejas reservations and from surrounding areas. They also came from communities in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Diocese of San Bernardino.
Afterward, they held a reception, where they warmly reconnected with each other. The diocese plans to make this Mass an annual event.
See photo gallery of the event at thesoutherncross.org/indigenous.
