Winning the hearts of Rhode Island’s Hispanic faithful

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It was November 2022, when Rhode Islanders received the news that Pope Francis had appointed Bishop Richard G. Henning as the coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Providence to replace Bishop Tomas J. Tobin who was approaching his 75th birthday.
The Hispanic community had been praying for God to send them a bishop who speaks Spanish to work a little more closely with the Spanish-speaking community of the diocese.
In the past, the diocese had been very blessed with three bishops who always supported the Hispanic Ministry Office, from Bishop Louis E. Gelineau, Bishop Robert E. Mulvee, and Bishop Thomas J. Tobin; but the possibility of having a bishop who spoke Spanish was something that the Hispanic Catholic community had been longing for.
From the beginning, when Archbishop Henning asked that his first Mass after his installation be with the Hispanic community, he showed his closeness and his desire to accompany the Hispanic faithful closely. On that occasion, Bishop Henning ended his homily before a packed cathedral, with the lyrics of a popular song, “I have no money or anything to give, all I have is love to give.” His words were met with a spontaneous, emotional applause of the faithful.
Even before his holy Mass of Reception, Bishop Henning had already visited most of the churches with Masses in Spanish.
Celso Vera, coordinator of the Hispanic Ministry Office for the Diocese of Providence, explained that the bishop saw the fruits of the many Hispanic programs and devotions.
“The fact that the bishop can speak Spanish was something that made people feel connected to him, he also made a great effort to closely accompany the Hispanic community in their popular devotions, visiting different parishes for nine days during the diocesan novena to the Virgin of Guadalupe,” said Vera. “The bishop also saw the fruits that the retreats were bearing and created a special fund to offer scholarships to help the participants of the Cursillo, Cámbiame a mi Señor, Emaús and Family retreats, covering part of the costs. He also visited some of the retreats celebrating the closing Mass of the Cámbiame a mi Señor men’s retreat.”
Father Jaime A. Garcia, pastor of the parishes of St. Charles Borromeo and St. Michael the Archangel in Providence, said, “Archbishop Henning has left an incomparable mark on the community as a true pastor dedicated to the service of the Lord and his people. He is truly an instrument chosen by God for the salvation of souls because of his pastoral work that knows no limits.”
Irma I. Rodriguez, director of the Office of the Apostolate with People with Disabilities, shared that Archbishop Henning graciously celebrated Mass for the diocesan Special Religious Education program (SPRED) at St. Patrick Church, Providence.
“Archbishop Henning engaged each of our friends with disabilities with lots of interest and compassion. He gave me the sense of him truly being present with each one of us,” said Rodriguez. “It was a blessed evening.”
Father Jairon Olmos, who was recently ordained by Archbishop Henning, said that he has been a true spiritual father and lover of the Hispanic community of Rhode Island.
“In a short time, he won the affection, respect and admiration of the entire Hispanic community, and in all the churches people have not stopped talking and making beautiful comments about the bishop with a Hispanic heart and the smell of a sheep,” he said.
“The bishop loves Hispanic culture, he loves to speak Spanish, and he is fascinated by Hispanic food. The Spanish-speaking community of Boston will be receiving the best.”
“I thank God for having received the diaconal and priestly ordination from Bishop Henning, this has been a great honor for me and our entire Hispanic family of Rhode Island,” he added.
Father Nolasco Tamayo, director of Multicultural Ministry and Pastor of Santa Ana, Providence, shared his impressions.
“In Bishop Henning we discovered a figure close to his flock, fraternal, who cared incredibly for the promotion and growth of the Hispanic community,” he said.
“He certainly took the growth of our community very seriously, reaching out, visiting, learning about its challenges firsthand, and the bishop has been a great gift to us during this year and a half in which he has been pastoring the Diocese of Providence.”
“As priests, we discovered in him a very close figure, very fraternal, paternal; open to dialogue, and consensus in order to work as a team in a style of pastoral collaboration and at the same time, looking at the true needs of our diocese. He will certainly be missed incredibly, and we wish him the best in Boston, and we are sure that he will do there a wonderful job,” Father Tamayo said.