St. Augustine draws 3,000 Catholics to second ‘Jericho’s Site’

By Janice L. Semmel | April 2, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

Twelve-year-old Yaritza Anaya, dressed in white with silver slippers, knew what her job was as she stood guard over her area of the parking lot.

“My job is to take care of the people, to answer any questions and to make them comfortable, as well as keep this aisle open for Communion and the procession,” she said.

She attended St. Augustine Parish’s second Jericho’s Site — seven days of perpetual adoration — after school each day of the week and helped with the Mass on Tuesday.

Some 3,000 people came to the closing Mass of Jericho’s Site March 14. Babies, grandparents and everyone in between gathered in the parking lot. The church choir and musicians along with the Dominican Sisters of Christian Doctrine from El Paso, Texas, provided music and readings.

The eucharistic procession proceeded from the church to the temporary, raised altar in the parking lot.

“Those who come to the Lord with a contrite heart, the Lord will not reject you,” said Fr. Carlos Gomez, the parish pastor. “Bring to your mind all of your sins. If you want to receive healing, you need to ask the Lord for mercy, for His forgiveness.”

In his homily, Fr. Gomez explained that Jericho was a city the people of Israel found impossible to conquer. But after seven days and seven nights of prayer, the city’s walls came tumbling down.

“That is why we conclude by asking the Lord for healing, to set us free, to deliver us from the evil one,” he said.

Youth with full-size wooden crosses gathered at their stations to prepare for Communion. After Communion, Fr. Gomez led the eucharistic procession through the crowd as the choir sang or the sisters read.

“Jesus wants you to free yourselves from your own slavery,” Sr. Margarita Cortez said as the eucharistic procession wound through the crowd. “He wants you to free yourselves from hate, from discrimination, from jealousy, from envy.”

As the procession returned to the altar, Sr. Margarita proclaimed, “We are now celebrating a new beginning.”

People came forward to light candles from the paschal candle. As the Mass ended, everyone began to shout “Amen,” applaud, cheer, whistle and finally chant “Jesus” in Spanish.

“Glory to God forever!” shouted Fr. Gomez. “Please keep going. The Lord loves you and needs you to keep close.”