Mass at Our Lady of Esperanza/ Hispanic Heritage Pilgrimage

Statue of El Cid in the plaza in front of the Hispanic Society.

We are happy to announce that on Saturday, November 16 at 11 AM our society will sponsor the celebration of a Solemn High Mass at the church of Our Lady of Esperanza, 624 W. 156th St., New York,  as part of our second annual Hispanic Heritage Pilgrimage. Music of the Spanish renaissance will be sung by a professional schola. Afterwards, we will visit the magnificent museum of the Hispanic Society of America – the most complete collection of art of the Iberian peninsula in North America.

The Mass. It will be a rare opportunity to participate in the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass in its most ceremonial form – as it would have been experienced in 17th century Spain or at Our Lady of Esperanza upon completion of the church in 1910. It will also be a chance to hear the polyphonic music of the Spanish renaissance in the liturgical setting for which it was intended.

The music promises to be extraordinary. Mr. David Hughes will direct a professional schola.  The music will include:
Missa Sancta et Immaculata Virginitas (Guerrero)

Gregorian Mass of Our Lady: Salve sancta Parens

The Church of Our Lady of Esperanza, the second Spanish-speaking parish in New York City, is a splendid jewel built as part of Audubon Terrace –  the complex of buildings including the Hispanic Society. For a full description of  this historic church see HERE.

Church address:  624 West 156th St., New York (between Broadway and Riverside Drive).

This church features many precious furnishings – such as the sanctuary lamp, the gift of King Alfonso XIII of Spain (above).

Mr. Archer Huntington was the founder of the Hispanic Society Museum. He had the vision of a sanctuary for Iberian culture in the United States – in the wake of the defamatory caricatures generated by the Spanish-American war. He recognized that an essential part of that vision had to be the provision of a church for the Catholic faith – even though he was not Catholic himself.

Miss Maria de Barril was a major early patron. The names of other benefactors include Vanderbilt, JP Morgan and King Alfonso of Spain.

The Museum. After the Mass and lunch we will visit the Museum of the Hispanic Society for a guided tour at 1:30. This extraordinary collection ranges from Roman times to the early twentieth century. The museum’s greatest glory is its collection of paintings: El Greco, Velasquez, Zurbaran and Goya are all represented by masterpieces. But in addition the visitor will encounter a superabundance of works in every kind every kind of medium – sculpture, metalwork,ironwork, textiles, pottery, tiles.

For more information on the Hispanic Society see HERE.

Transportation

The church of Our Lady of Esperanza is located at 624 West 156th Street. The Hispanic Society of America is located on Broadway between West 155th and 156th Streets.

Buses: M4 or M5 to Broadway and 155th Street

Subway: Number 1 to Broadway and 157th Street,
or the C to 155th Street

Parking: (From the Hispanic Society) There is parking garage between Broadway and Riverside Drive at West 153rd Street.