By Armando Machado and Dubravka Kolumbic-Cortese | Correspondents
The special spiritual significance of Las Antorchas Guadalupanas is that of unity through the Light of Christ and the love from the Blessed Virgin Mary, Divine Word Father Miguel Virella said to the more than 400 people gathered for Mass and the traveling torch that visited the area in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Father Virella, pastor in Mother of Mercy Parish, Asbury Park, welcomed the worshippers Nov. 6 to Holy Spirit Church, a worship site of the parish, for Las Antorchas Guadalupanas – a diocesan-wide series of traveling torch lightings that will lead up to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 12 and a preceding pilgrimage Dec. 3 in Trenton.
Related: Torches honoring Mary begin their journey in Diocese’s four counties
Photo Gallery: Our Lady of Guadalupe torch in Asbury Park
In his homily, Father Virella spoke of Church martyrs past and present – including priests killed by Islamic terrorists in the Middle East in recent years, and Jose Sanchez del Rio, the 14-year-old Mexican boy killed in 1928 during a Mexican government crackdown on Catholics who was canonized by Pope Francis last month. Despite these tragic incidents, the pastor said, it is important that Christians remain united and strong with help from the Light of Christ and the prayers of the Blessed Mother.
“The Mother of the Americas unites us all,” Father Virella said in reference to the Virgin Mary’s appearance in Mexico known as Our Lady of Guadalupe. “She connects all of us, and the lighting of the torch is a symbol of that. … We are united as parish communities, as people of God – we are united always in prayer.”
It’s exactly that goal to unite parish communities in prayer that the Diocese had in mind for Las Antorchas Guadalupanas, which kicked off the last weekend in October with a torch lighting in each of the Diocese’s four corners. Through the end of November, a torch will pass among selected parishes within each county of the Diocese – Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean. The traveling torches will come together Dec. 3 as parishioners journey through the streets of Trenton in fellowship, prayer and song to St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral on North Warren Street for Mass.
Many Names, One Mother
Just as Father Virella celebrated Monmouth County’s torch, parishioners of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Riverside, displayed their devotion to the Blessed Mother on Nov. 5 when their parish became the second in Burlington County to receive Las Antorchas Guadalupanas.
The torch was passed to the parish on a sunny afternoon by Msgr. Richard LaVerghetta, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton – the first Burlington County parish to host the flame.
Msgr. LaVerghetta, joined by St. Joan of Arc School principal Sister Patricia Pycik (Sister of St. Joseph), offered a prayer to the receiving parish, followed by a Spanish prayer led by Enedia Perez, Jesus, the Good Shepherd parishioner and religious education secretary.
The faithful also joined together to sing Marian hymns. The celebration was held in St. Joseph’s Church, Beverly, one of the parish’s two worship sites.
“It’s beautiful,” Father Rafael Esquen, Jesus, the Good Shepherd Parish parochial vicar, said of the celebration. “It helps us to understand more the role of the Blessed Mother Mary and the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. As Latinos, as one family in the universal Church, it unites us.”
“It’s a beautiful event that the Diocese is doing,” said Father Esquen, a native of Peru. “It helps us to grow in our faith.”
Parishioner Maria Yanez celebrated the torch’s passing along with her children, Kimberly, 14, Brucelee, 11, and Hiroshi, 5, and niece, Janeth Yunga, 27.
“We love the [Blessed] Mother,” Kimberly said. “Our parents told us about her. She is everyone’s mother.”
Dolores Castro celebrated the torch’s arrival with her friend and fellow parishioner Alicia McDowell. “We believe in the Mother,” Castro said. “She gave her son to us.”
Perez, who is also director of the parish’s Spanish choir, was one of four parishioners who spearheaded the torch celebration. Although the torch reception ceremony was held during the afternoon, Perez explained that in order to accommodate the majority of the Latino parishioners who have to work on Saturdays, the parish planned a larger celebration that evening, beginning with a recitation of the Rosary and followed by a community dinner with food donated by parishioners.
Perez said the majority of the parish’s Latino population hails from Ecuador, and as a result, the parish participates in a devotion to that country’s Marian figure, Our Lady of El Cisne, every year. Thus, the parishioners were overjoyed to participate in the Diocese’s celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“It continues our tradition and devotion to Holy Mary, Mother of God,” Perez said. “Everyone gives her a different name, but we know there is only one.
“It’s important we continue our devotion together, sharing our prayers,” she added. “It’s beautiful.”
Bringing Families Together
It was that drive to share prayers that brought the faithful together before Mass in Asbury Park, participating in an around-the-block procession that culminated in the torch lighting inside Holy Spirit Church, at the rear of the sanctuary.
The procession featured prayer and music, including the hymn “La Guadalupana,” and participants carried a statue and a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which were later displayed near the sanctuary during Mass. During the Mass, Father Virella also spoke of the importance of adhering to the messages of Christ, and following the examples of the saints and Mary the Mother of God.
Among those at Mass was Rosa Limardo, an active volunteer with Mother of Mercy Parish for nearly 10 years who was born and raised in the Dominican Republic.
“I love and respect Mother Mary, no matter what name is used from her apparitions in different countries,” Limardo said, adding that her Catholic faith is the center of her family life.
Jazmin Jimenez, a longtime parishioner who was born in Mexico, attended the Mass with her husband and young son.
“This is very special for me, because I do not have the opportunity to go visit the shrine in Mexico [Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe],” Jimenez said. “This is something special to have this event nearby – all this is very beautiful.”
She added that her family relies on the wisdom of Scripture and that she is always thankful to the Lord and Mother Mary. “Our Catholic faith helps maintain many families together, and that is very important,” Jimenez said. “We are grateful for the many blessings we’ve received.”