In October, many parishes in the diocese welcomed the Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, bringing hundreds of faithful parishioners to ask for the intercession of the Blessed Mother.
Sacred Heart, Rancho Cucamonga:
From October 8-17, Sacred Heart Church in Rancho Cucamonga hosted the Pilgrim Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Image is 3.28 feet by 6.56 feet, the exact size of the original miraculous image of the tilma. It dates to 1999, when a high-resolution digital image was made from the original tilma. Four Missionary Images were made from the digital image and blessed by St. John Paul II.
“The visit of the Pilgrim Image was a meaningful occasion for our parish community,” said Ana Montes, Coordinator of Ministries. “Through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and the daily recitation of the Rosary where parishioners gathered in faith to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, seeking her maternal intercession, and renewing their commitment to following Christ.”
The parish also coordinated the image to visit nearby St. Peter and St. Paul parish in Alta Loma and other communities to promote a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and strengthen the Catholic faith.
The Guadalupanos Ministry was responsible for organizing the visit, including coordinating the presence of the image during morning Masses and the recitation of the Holy Rosary, taking it to other parishes, and home visits. The home visits brought the loving presence of the Blessed Mother into homes through prayer, the Holy Rosary, and fellowship.
“This grace-filled visit strengthened our parish’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and reminded us of her enduring message of love, hope, unity, and trust in her Son, our God,” Montes said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to welcome the Pilgrim Image into our parish and for the blessings received through these days of prayer and reflection.”
Sacred Heart, Palm Desert:
Similarly, the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe visited Sacred Heart parish in Palm Desert from Oct. 5-11.
The celebrations honoring the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe brought together many members of our community for beautiful evenings of prayer and devotion, including a Holy Hour that featured live music. The night was filled with prayer, reflections, and a Eucharistic Procession.
“It was also beautiful to see so many families come together, from young children to older generations, and to see parishioners bringing flowers to honor Our Blessed Mother,” said Kim Arellano, social media manager. “Just as we love and honor our own mothers, we share a special love for Mary, the Mother of Jesus.”
The visit of the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe brought together the faithful community as a reminder of how Jesus is needed in everyone’s lives.
“Through Mary’s intercession, we are drawn closer to Him,” Arellano said. “It was a wonderful reminder of the beauty of our Catholic faith, where we come together not only to celebrate, but also to pray, support one another, and grow in faith.”