American High Grace

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There will be a celebration and mass on Sunday, January 14, 2018, at 2 PM in honor of Our Lady of Altagracia, patroness of the Dominican Republic. Auxiliary Bishop of Santo Domingo, Ràmon Benito Ángeles Fernández will be the principal celebrant. He will be joined by the Reverend Ambiorix Rodriguez, Chaplain for the Our Lady of Altagracia Committee and Delegate for the Dominican Priests in New York. The First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Càndida Montilla de Medina, will be in attendance representing the Dominican community in New York.

One week early Día de la Altagracia, or Altagracia Day, is a day commemorating "Our Lady of Altagracia", patronal image and protector of the people of the Dominican Republic. It is a feast day and annual public holiday on January 21.

Habrá una celebracion y misa el domingo 14 de enero de 2018 a las 2 PM en honor a Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, patrona de la República Dominicana. El Obispo Auxiliar de Santo Domingo, Ràmon Benito Ángeles Fernández será el celebrante principal. El reverendo Ambiorix Rodríguez, capellán del Comité de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia y delegado de los sacerdotes dominicanos en Nueva York concelebrara la misa. La Primera Dama de la República Dominicana Càndida Montilla de Medina estará presente representando a la comunidad dominicana en Nueva York.

Una semana antes Día de la Altagracia, es un día que conmemora a "Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia", imagen patronal y protectora del pueblo de la República Dominicana. Es un día festivo y festivo anual el 21 de enero.

I recall my very first journey to the Dominican Republic, I was traveling with a US diplomatic passport because I was a manager for USIA TV, and as a GM15/10 I was there to cover the visit of Pope John Paul II. The Pontiff was on a five-day visit planned around the 500th anniversary of Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which is also my birthday.

The 72-year-old Pope likened his visit to the first missionaries. In a seeming allusion to the bitter dispute over Columbus's legacy, he said he had come on the 500th anniversary of Christianity in the New World "without a spirit of triumphalism, or false shame, but giving thanks to God."

Pope Joh Paul II blessed the crowd and retired for a private dinner. It was his first trip abroad since he underwent abdominal surgery in July.

That was the cue I needed to begin celebrating my birthday. That night, I left El Papa and went on to meet and greet Mama Juana in a big way. After all, was said and done, I was christened a Commando and all I can say is that I was most likely being protected by a much greater power than I could have possibly imagined. But, that is a story for another day.