Latino Community Welcomes Bishop Cistone
With songs, music, folkloric dances, antojitos and much anticipation, approximately 90 invited Hispanic guests welcomed Bishop Joseph R. Cistone, the new bishop of the Saginaw Catholic Diocese.
MC Oscar Mendoza, Vicar Maria Cepeda and Gerardo Gonzales, Chair of the Bishop’s Hispanic Advisory Board, led the bienvenida for the new bishop who previously served as auxiliary bishop in Philadelphia. The reception was the beginning of his getting to know the area’s Hispanics and a brief overview of the history of the Hispanic community. The majority of them are Catholic, who will now be under his spiritual leadership.
Different generations of the community were represented by three youths, a young professional and a senior citizen.
Anthony Flores, senior at Nouvel Catholic High School; Hannah Ramos, 9th grader at Nouvel; and Emily Ramos, an 8th grader at St. Peter & Paul School, gave the bishop a framed montage photo of all of the churches in the 11-county diocese. The gift was designed by Gerardo Gonzalez and presented on behalf of the Hispanic community.
“We’re here for you 100 percent,” Flores told Bishop Cistone, as he presented the photo.
Miranda Garcia, assistant director of admissions at Saginaw Valley State University, described to the bishop how young adults want to give back to the community by getting involved in professional associations like the Mid-Michigan Hispanic Business Association (MMHBA). She also told Cistone that he will be learning more about other civic organizations like the American G.I. Forum, la Unión Cívica Mexicana and the Great Lakes Bay Region Hispanic Leadership Institute.
“The networking is amazing, we are like family---I think you’ll see that in our Hispanic community,” Garcia said. She’s a member of St. Helen’s Parish and also mentioned she had just completed her sacraments of initiation last year.
Ruth Gomez, retired SVSU secretary, told the story of how many folks of her generation came to Saginaw. “We are the first generation of (our) parents who migrated here to work in the fields, with goals and dreams, constant reminders of what we could become,” she said.
“We are here for you. If there is anything we can do for you, let us know. We welcome you to our community,” Gomez said to Bishop Cistone.
Sixto Orozco, who is famous for his singing talents as a charro, serenaded Bishop Cistone with two ballads honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe “Mi Virgin Bella” and “Hermoso Cariño.” A small ensemble of dancers from the Ballet Xochiquetzal Folklorico, led by founder/director Carmen Menchaca, perfomed “El Tranchete” and “El Jarabe Tapatio.”
As the rousing applause by the attendees for the dancers’ Jarabe Tapatio finale died down, the bishop stood up and told the crowd that, watching the dancers, he was pretty sure “I can do that, ” poking fun at himself in his long black, scarlet-trimmed cassock and red silk zuccheto.
He thanked everyone for the reception and the gift, “It’s a beautiful collage”. Reflecting on the afternoon of welcoming greetings from the young and old who turned out, Bishop Cistone acknowledged the universality of celebration across all cultures.
“In welcoming me, you’re celebrating yourselves--who you are--you’re celebrating God.”
The Office of Hispanic Ministry, under the direction of Vicar Maria Cepeda, and the Hispanic Advisory Committee Board sponsored the reception, which was held at the Diocesan Center, 5800 Weiss Street, Saginaw.
