Pope Gives Special Gift to Hispanic Priest

By Alfonso Aguilar
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 12/13/01)

More than 1,000 parishioners of Our Lady, Queen of the Americas Parish in Washington gathered last Saturday to say goodbye to their pastor, Father José Somoza.

Father Somoza, a native of Cuba, came to Washington 32 years ago after his ordination in Spain and religious studies in Belgium and France. He served 15 years at St. Thomas the Apostle Church and then turned a small chapel into a large thriving church, Our Lady, Queen of the Americas, where he has been serving for the last 17 years.

"It’s time to go," said Father Somoza. "God has called me to serve our brothers and sisters in Miami. I am really happy that you understand the need for priests to move to new places and I encourage you to continue the work we began so many years ago," he said during the Mass, concelebrated by Fathers Juan Garcia, Francisco Gonzalez and Jesus Gomez Medina.

Washington Cardinal Theodore McCarrick made a brief appearance to express his gratitude to Father Somoza for his many years of dedicated service. In addition to his presence the cardinal brought Father Somoza a surprise.

"I recently had the honor to join the pope for dinner. I told the pope about our church in Washington and I mentioned that we have a wonderful priest who has helped his Latino community for 32 years and that he was moving to a new parish," the cardinal said in Spanish.

McCarrick added that the pope was moved by the story of Father Somoza and asked him to present a gift to the pastor, "The Crucis Insigne Pro Ecclesiae et Pontifice".

Additionally, Fall River Bishop Sean O’Malley sent a letter of appreciation which reads "Father Jose Somoza is truly a priest of his people […] and a wonderful friend."

An ex-parishioner of the church, Imelda Pierson, returned from her native Nicaragua to attend the farewell. "It would be shameful not to be present in this moment of sadness and celebration," she said.

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