Misa Criolla was written by Ariel Ramirez, in 1964, after the Second Vatican Council and became one of the first masses not in latin. This artistic achievement combined Spanish language with indigenous instruments and rhythms. The Rev. Noe Mendez included the music into worship at Santa Natividad because the church has a large number of parishioners from Latin America who connect spiritually and emotionally with the piece. “Since I’ve become a pastor for an immigrant community, I’ve watched them try to survive. Misa Criolla is an expression from Christians crying to God for justice. It reminds us that God always listens to us, and that in the comfort of God we are going to be well,” Mendez said.