Bishop Mulvey calls on the faithful to imitate Mary

A procession and Mass, followed by a banquet, were held in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, her feast day. Through the combined efforts of the Federation of Our Lady of Guadalupe Societies of Corpus Christi, the Knights of Columbus, and Multicultural Ministries, hundreds gathered to celebrate and venerate the image of Our Lady. 

Guadalupana and Federation President Myrna Rodriguez said this feast day has been dear to her heart since childhood. “We [Guadalupanas] are obligated to promote the story of why our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego; to pray and love unceasingly; to be compassionate, forgiving, and merciful to all. These are the virtues of Our Lady —a loving mother, always there for each of us,” she said. 

The faithful, carrying roses to present to Our Lady, prayed the rosary in English and Spanish while making a procession from Sacred Heart Church to Corpus Christi Cathedral behind a large, framed image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which two Knights of Columbus carried. 

As the procession made their way to the cathedral, they waved to the silhouettes framed in the windows of the Nueces County Jail watching them pass.

A troupe of dancers and musicians dressed in the culture of Mexico danced to Our Lady before Mass began. 

Bishop Michael Mulvey brought further insight into the day’s devotion through his homily, as he reflected how to live as people of faith? “We have a powerful mother who walks with us.” He reminded those present that nothing is impossible with God: Our Lady’s historic apparition to St. Juan Diego, though prayerful and motherly, brought about change to the people of Mexico that political forces never could.” 

He called upon the faithful to walk alongside our young people in imitation of Mary, protect the family, be inspired to pray through any situation and be renewed by contemplating Mary’s soft, humble, prayerful face and hands. 

As Mass ended, Bishop Mulvey and other clergy presented their roses to the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and knelt before her.