New York, January 8, 2025. At a press conference held this Wednesday in the office of the Honorable Dominican Consul Jesús «Chu» Vázquez Martínez, details were provided about the upcoming mass in honor of Our Lady of Altagracia, scheduled for Sunday, January 12, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.
The event, organized by the Archdiocesan Committee of La Altagracia in New York City, will feature Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat as the principal celebrant. This marks the 53rd edition of this traditional Marian mass in Spanish, which since 1998 has honored the devotion to Our Lady of Altagracia among the Dominican community residing in New York.
Details of the mass were shared by Daisy Cruz, general coordinator of the Archdiocesan Committee of La Altagracia in New York City, an organization comprising more than 52 parishes in this iconic city. Its mission is to spread faith in Jesus Christ and devotion to Our Lady of Altagracia as the mother and protector.
During the press conference, Consul Vázquez Martínez emphasized: «This mass not only celebrates our faith but also pays tribute to our Dominican roots and values. Our Lady of Altagracia symbolizes unity and hope for all of us, especially for those who live far from our beloved homeland.»
About Our Lady of Altagracia
Our Lady of Altagracia is a venerated image of the Virgin Mary, painted around the year 1500, which resides in the Basilica-Cathedral of Higüey, Dominican Republic. Devotion to this Marian figure is a deeply rooted tradition in Dominican culture, celebrated every year on January 21.
The original painting has been crowned twice: first in 1922 and again in 1979 during Pope John Paul II’s visit to Santo Domingo.
A Vibrant Community
New York City is home to the largest concentration of Dominicans outside the Dominican Republic, with an estimated population of 935,759 in the city and over 2.3 million across the United States. These figures highlight the importance of events like this mass, which strengthen the ties between the Dominican diaspora and their homeland.
Event Background
The commemoration of Our Lady of Altagracia in New York began in 1998, during the administration of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and has since become an annual tradition. The celebrations begin on January 21 and culminate on February 27, coinciding with the Dominican Independence Day.
Various members of the Dominican community will join this solemn mass, which promises to be a meaningful event that will strengthen the spirituality and cultural identity of all attendees.
For more information, please contact the Communications Department of the Dominican Consulate in New York at +1 (212) 768-2480.
