President Danilo Medina and cabinet ministers including Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo and Culture Minister Eduardo Selman and Puerto Plata governor Ivan Rivera were in Luperón, Puerto Plata for a mass to commemorate the 525th anniversary of the first mass in Villa La Isabela in Puerto Plata, the first European settlement in the New World.
The mass was given on Saturday, 5 January 2019 at the Santuario de las Americas, commemorating that first mass on 6 January 1494 by Fray Bernardo Boyl, who arrived with the second voyage of Christopher Columbus. The mass was presided over by Cardinal of El Salvador, Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chavez, special envoy of Pope Francisco, who read a message sent by the Pope in which he called to proclaim the Catholic faith with bravery and to live this with love and good habits.
The bishop for the Diocese of Puerto Plata, Monsignor Julio Cesar Corniel Amaro also spoke of the reaffirming of the faith of the Dominican Republic. He highlighted the relevance of the historic anniversary not only for the Dominican Republic but for all of Latin America.
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Presidencia
7 January 2019
