ODESSA — They come from thousands of miles away, far removed from their communities and loved ones.
However, efforts are growing in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions to ensure that migrant farmworkers and their families aren’t separated from their Catholic faith as well.
For the past several months, a Spanish Mass has been offered at St. Benedict Church in Schuyler County. The liturgies are celebrated every second Sunday at 7:30 p.m., and worshippers largely comprise people from foreign lands.
Spiritual care for these Catholics should rank just as high as for local parishioners, asserted Father Brendan Buckley, OFM Cap.
“It’s the church. We go to the margins, like Pope Francis says,” said Father Buckley, who regularly celebrates the Sunday-evening Masses at St. Benedict — the next one is set for Aug. 11 — as well as other area Spanish liturgies.
“We need to reach everybody,” agreed Father Jeffrey Tunnicliff, parochial administrator of Schuyler Catholic Community, the cluster of St. Benedict and St. Mary of the Lake in Watkins Glen.
“When you’re all alone and far away from home, you need God,” added Maria Chedzoy, a Schuyler parishioner who volunteers at the St. Benedict liturgies.
Ministry to area Hispanic Catholics is growing
If a recent event is any indication, the Spanish Masses in Odessa are being well-received. Approximately 30 people, mostly young adults, attended the May 12 liturgy. After Communion, several women came forward to receive a Mother’s Day blessing from Father Buckley; a few minutes later when Mass concluded, nearly all of the congregation headed to the basement hall for a taquito dinner punctuated by lively conversation in Spanish.
The Masses now being held at St. Benedict originated at area farms in the fall of 2023, and they became rooted at the church beginning in January 2024 due to its accessibility to Hispanic worshipers in nearby villages and towns. According to Father Buckley, most of the area’s migrant residents are originally from Mexico and Guatemala. Many labor on area dairy farms year-round, and others come to upstate New York for such seasonal agricultural work as grape harvesting.
Masses in Odessa are part of a growing outreach effort to Spanish-speaking people in the Diocese of Rochester’s southeastern region. Father Buckley, who resides at St. Fidelis Friary in Interlaken, Seneca County, ministers full time to the migrant community. He also celebrates Spanish Mass every first Sunday at St. Mary Church in Auburn, Cayuga County; every third Saturday at Our Lady of the Lake in King Ferry, Cayuga County; and every fourth Saturday at St. Anthony in Groton, Tioga County. All those Masses begin at 7:30 p.m. and take place throughout the year.
Priest describes farmworkers as ‘very warm people’
Maria Elena Paz, a native of Guatemala, routinely visits area farms and migrant camps, encouraging fellow Hispanics to attend the Spanish Masses and arranging transportation for the many who don’t have vehicles. Following the May 12 Mass at St. Benedict, Paz — a resident of Montour Falls, Schuyler County — said she’s “very, very happy” at how interest is growing in the liturgies.
“I say, ‘Thank you God, thank you God,’” she remarked.
Father Tunnicliff noted that St. Benedict, being relatively small, provides a nice sense of intimacy for those attending the Spanish liturgies. Masses at that church are further enhanced by the efforts of several Schuyler parishioners who volunteer. For instance, Chedzoy — who is originally from Argentina — served as cantor and lector at the May 12 liturgy, while Warren Klick and his wife, Anne Dziuba, provided music.
Meanwhile, Father Buckley said he’s “delighted” to work with the migrant farmworker community, not only celebrating Masses but also offering catechesis and sacramental preparation. In addition, he noted, St. Fidelis Friary hosted an afternoon of fun, relaxation and a meal July 21 for approximately 25 farmworkers from the Auburn/Scipio Center area. Many of that day’s guests belong to a musical group that leads their fellow farmworkers at Masses and holy hours.
“The Latinos are very warm people. They fall in love with you because they know you care,” Father Buckley said.
A New York City native, Father Buckley learned Spanish in 1978 in Guatemala while preparing to become a Capuchin Franciscan priest; he was ordained in 1981. He first served migrant farmworkers in the Rochester Diocese from 2015 to 2017 before being reassigned by his religious order to the Diocese of Brooklyn. However, wishing to return to migrant ministry, Father Buckley petitioned and received permission to resume duties in upstate New York beginning in September 2023.
“To me, it’s so peaceful here — the vistas, hills and farms. So different from Brooklyn,” he said.
