Archbishop of Lima leads celebration of Peruvian devotion in New York

Oct 19, 2004 / 22:00 pm

The Archbishop of Lima, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, celebrated the traditional Peruvian October devotion of Our Lord of the Miracles in New York, presiding at a Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and a procession through the streets of the Big Apple.

Some five thousand people crowded the streets around St. Patrick’s to process with a replica of the famous image of Christ.  A very emotional Cardinal Cipriani told reporters, “This has been an opportunity to build up the hope and optimism that sometimes is lacking in Peru but which abounds in our fellow countrymen here in New York.”

“There is no explication, no marketing analysis, as to why millions upon millions follow after this image, with so much faith,” Cardinal Cipriani said.

He also thanked God, “because it is like a ray of hope and faith which our people bring to these developed countries, where people see with their own eyes how thousands take to the streets in prayer and carry the image about, singing their Peruvian songs.”