By Maricarmen Godoy

STAMFORD–Not even the heavy rains managed to stop hundreds of devotees of the Lord of Miracles at St. Mary of Stamford Parish, accompanied the Mass and procession of the Lord of Miracles through the streets of the neighborhood, on a day marked by faith, prayer, personal promises and devotion to the Patron Saint of Peru.

The celebration on Sunday, October 11, organized by Stamford’s Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles Gang Number One, brought together members of local crews and delegations from Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport and New Rochelle, NY. Men and women carried and walked alongside the platforms, while they spread incense, sang religious songs, prayed the rosary and raised prayers in the rain.

“The procession once again demonstrated that this tradition goes beyond a religious ceremony: It represents an expression of identity, memory and belonging for immigrants who keep their roots alive far from their country of origin,” said the Peruvian consul in Hartford, Elvis Tuesta Cuadros, who attended the feast of the Peruvian patron saint to accompany his fellow nationals.

During Sunday Mass, the giant image of the Lord of Miracles was not placed on the Main Altar; instead, two small images were presented: one, that of the Lord of Miracles and the other of the Virgin of the Cloud, patron saint of Ecuadorian migrants. The Virgin’s presence holds special meaning for the faithful, who share this bond of faith with the convent of the Nazarene nuns of Lima, Peru, guardians of the image of the Lord of Miracles and the image of the Virgin, in honor of an Ecuadorian nun who lived there.

In the weekly bulletin, Father Juan José Colón, parochial vicar, reflected on the need to trust in Divine Providence to meet the high cost of the basic food basket with peace of mind, “just as it gave Paul the strength to endure everything” (Phil 4:19).

Father Juan Gabriel Acosta thanked the Peruvian community in his homily for their faith, devotion, and for sharing their cultural and religious expressions with Stamford. Later, the priest exposed the Blessed Sacrament in procession despite the rain, accompanied by the parish choir’s performance of the hymn of the Lord of Miracles.

This year, the large image of the purple Christ remained sheltered in the garden adjacent to the parish house. From there, it left in procession, carried on a platform by the members of Cuadrilla Number One and accompanied by the devotees who, despite the inclement weather, continued the tour through the streets of the East Side neighborhood.

Devotion to the Lord of Miracles in Stamford dates to February 14, 2004, when Alberto Rochabrún, a Peruvian-born man, promoted the creation of the Brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles in gratitude for a miracle in the life of Isabel Párraga Martínez, his wife.

Alberto Rochabrún, a community leader who is about to turn 80, said that despite the fact that doctors had offered a not very encouraging prognosis, she managed to recover and survive. This experience strengthened her faith and motivated her to promote devotion to the purple Christ in Stamford, bringing from Lima, Peru, the platforms and a copy of the original painting that rests in the Convent of the Nazarenes.

Since then, the annual celebration has continued, thanks to the Brotherhood’s members and the support of a community that finds in this tradition a way to express gratitude, fulfill promises, and keep its cultural identity alive. As seen in the crowd inside the church during the Rosary prayer before Mass, in the streets during the procession, and on the sidewalks, with the consumption of typical Peruvian foods such as picarones, alfajores, salchipapas, and ceviche.

From the Friday before the celebration, the members of the First Cuadrilla prepared for the Mass and the procession under the direction of its president, José Palacios. The day’s organization included preparing the and as, coordinating the flower arrangements, and attending to the invited delegations.

According to Palacios, the Brotherhood’s crews carry the platforms during the journey, a task that requires coordination, physical endurance, discipline and above all, deep devotion. Next to them walk the smokers with incense, dressed in purple habits and white veils. They spread incense while praying and singing in veneration to the Lord of Miracles.

Most sahumadoras are Peruvian, though women of other nationalities, especially Ecuadorians, also participate. This participation reflects the cultural and religious ties that have developed among Latin American families established in the city, as Rira Guillén, a Venezuelan native married to a Peruvian member of the Sisterhood, describes.

According to Palacios, Stamford currently has three men’s groups and one smoking crew. In total, 86 people are registered in the local groups, with an average of 25 members per group. “The Brotherhood has opened the doors of its crews to those who wish to participate, regardless of their nationality. For this celebration, the participation of around 300 porters was contemplated during the day, including the members of the visiting delegations,” said Palacios.

Despite the rain, after the Thanksgiving Mass, the band Armonías del Perú began its participation in the procession by performing the national anthems of the United States and Peru as a gesture of gratitude to the country that welcomes the Peruvian tradition. This practice has been carried out since 2004 during the presidency of Alberto Rochabrún.

During the tour, the band performed religious marches and accompanied the songs dedicated to the Lord of Miracles and the Virgin. The music matched the slow pace of the andas as devotees advanced through the streets, some with rosaries in hand and others carrying flowers to accompany the image.

The celebration also featured expressions of Peruvian popular culture, with sellers of alfajores, traditional cookies filled with dulce de leche. At a safe distance, a police patrol accompanied the activity to help ensure security during the tour.

The tour followed Cove Road, Frederick Road, Soundview Avenue, and Saint Benedict Circle to Saint Benedict Church, where the platforms and images are traditionally kept until next year’s celebration.

Among the testimonies that reflect the personal dimension of this devotion is Hilda Molina’s, who has lived in Stamford for 19 years and is originally from Apurimac, Peru. In her country, she worked as a teacher, but economic difficulties forced her to immigrate to the United States.

Year after year, Hilda came to the celebration of the Lord of Miracles with a request that deeply marked her life: to find a solution to her immigration situation. Her story took a favorable turn when she won the visa lottery, which allowed her to regularize her immigration status. For Hilda, that result was the miracle she had asked for with faith and devotion.

In gratitude, she made a promise: “As long as God grants her life, I will continue to attend the celebration, pray the rosary, and cover her hair with the veil of the group of smokers.”

“Behind the procession there is community work that begins months before October,” explained José Palacios, president of the Brotherhood. Preparing the andas, coordinating crews, securing municipal permits, arranging police security, hiring bands, and feeding invited delegations are part of an organization that demands time, effort, and economic resources.

According to Palacios, carrying out this traditional devotion costs between $12,000 and $14,000. To cover the expenses, each group conducts its own fundraising activities and prepares in advance for the October celebration.

After the festival on Saturday night, some members remain as guardians of the platforms and preparations. “These are tasks that often take place away from the public eye, but that are essential to keep this tradition alive,” said Palacios.

The public presence began on Saturday, October 10, at 7 pm with the recitation of the Rosary, followed by a verbena organized by the First Cuadrilla, which lasted until about 10 pm.

José Palacios highlighted the importance of collective work in maintaining this celebration and the organization’s relationship with the local religious community. He recognized Father Juan Gabriel’s accompaniment, whom he describes as a close, helpful and committed person to the parishioners.

“The procession of the Lord of Miracles once again demonstrated that the traditions of immigrants do not disappear when they cross borders. On the contrary, they become meeting points between generations, families and communities from different countries,” said Guadalupe Galarza, a native of Ecuador, an anthropologist by profession, who led by a friend, attended the feast of the Lord of Miracles.