Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! That's all I've been hearing this weekend. At Mass, on the streets, during the pilgrimage...Viva la Virgen, the Mother of the Americas. Today we celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It was this day in 1531 that Mary, the Mother of God, appeared to Juan Diego, a peasant from Mexico. She came in full glory, giving the indigenous people of Mexico a sense of hope and inspiration and showing them that they were worthy of dignity when all others destroyed their identity and sense of being. And that passion and honor to Our Lady is clearly evident today as millions of people come together to celebrate all that she has done and continues to do for us.
The celebrations with Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish started on Saturday morning with a 17 mile pilgrimage to our home parish. It was a beautiful sight to witness. About 200 people walked, rosaries in hand, banners held high, and hymns sung. It was really neat to see why people participated in the pilgrimage. Many people walked with an intention in mind and on their hearts. They walked to give thanks for their blessings, to petition or to promise and my goodness, after walking 17 miles, I feel like I can do anything! (After the pain and stiffness wear off...)
On Sunday for youth group, Lee and I took the kids ice blocking! Ice blocking is basically sledding on grass while sitting on a block of ice. It was fantastic and by far one of the most memorable youth group afternoons. The kids loved it; it was something completely new to them and we just had a blast sliding down the hills screaming, tumbling and laughing. That night, I attended a special Mass where Father Ron gave his final vows as a Jesuit. It was such a neat experience. The church was packed and it was amazing to see the support our community gave to Father Ron. How could you not feel proud of him? Throughout the entire Mass, he stood there, face gleaming and ready to give his vows. He was overjoyed that his parents made it out to San Antonio, and it was just a blessing to share his overall excitement of the evening with him.
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