UPDATED Dec. 29, 2024
From early morning, parish groups prepared their “carrosas” – carts adorned with garments, flowers, and images of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Some dressed in traditional costumes. People sang and prayed as hundreds – families and individuals — filled the streets of Lakewood.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2024 Guadalupe Torches Closing Mass
PHOTO GALLERY: 2024 Guadalupe Torches Procession
The celebration of Antorchas Guadalupanas – Torches of Guadalupe – began six weeks earlier. Throughout November, parishes and three schools across four counties hosted the torches with images of Our Lady. Along the way, many believe Our Lady of Guadalupe intervened.
In all, there were 23 torches that traveled around the Diocese to: abortion clinics, Knights of Columbus Councils, 32 parishes, three Catholic schools. In addition, there were Torches that traveled outside the Diocese to St, Francis of Assisi, New Haven, Conn., in the Archdiocese of Hartford; Divine Mercy Parish, Rahway, and St. Peter Parish, Belleville, both in the Archdiocese of Newark, and St. Michael Parish, Minotola, in the Diocese of Camden.
The Dec. 7 procession began at St. Mary of the Lake Church, part of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, and wound through downtown Lakewood. It concluded more than three miles away with a Mass celebrated by Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general, at Holy Family Chapel.
“For the first time, two torches will journey to the Basilica (of Our Lady of Guadalupe) in Mexico,” said Josue Arriola, director of the diocesan Department of Evangelization and Family Life. “Torch captains will carry them along with prayer petitions written by hundreds of faithful from across the Diocese of Trenton over the past several weeks.”
“We have heard of many miracles, and there are even more that we do not hear about,” he added.
Journey to Mexico
Arriola explained that the Torch captains from St. Joseph Parish, Trenton, Esperanza and Luis Ruiza, and the Torch captain from St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Red Bank, Rocío Castilla, traveled to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico in mid-December with two torches that will be sealed with the Basilica’s emblem. In addition, he said that this year, all the petitions that were collected from all parishes that hosted the Torches were delivered to the Basilica on Dec. 9, during the celebration of Saint Juan Diego.
Arriola said that the Basilica’s rector, Msgr. Efrain Hernandez Diaz, expressed a strong desire to establish more collaboration with the Trenton Diocese in the future.
Walking in hope
In his homily, Father RenéPulgarin, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Keyport, explained that Mary brings hope to all.
“The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe goes beyond a cultural meeting because it breaks structures, limits; she brings hope. Like what Pope Francis is calling us to in this new year – to walk in hope.” Father Pulgarin described Mary as the place of encounter between different cultures and groups of people.
Father Pulgarin also asked: “What is hope, my brothers and sisters? Sometimes we misinterpret hope. ‘I am sick, and I hope to recover.’ But what happens if you don’t recover? Does your hope disappear? Sometimes, hope cannot be placed in things that depend only on us. Let’s rise above that.”
The torches tradition began as a way of honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, whose feast is Dec. 12. This was the ninth consecutive year for the celebration in the Trenton Diocese.
This year’s events held special meaning for Ricardo Villalobos, a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. Diagnosed with cancer last year, he shared that just days before last year’s pilgrimage, he had undergone treatments that left him weak and uncertain about attending. Despite the challenges, he decided to join.
‘Don’t forget that I am here’
“I came because I have a lot of faith in (Our Lady of Guadalupe). I did come here with doubts last year, but I still showed up because I had hope even if nothing healed,” Villalobos explained. Over the past few months, his cancer has gone into remission.
“Today, I had to come as an act of thanksgiving to her,” he said. “We are her children; she always takes care of her children.”
Ponciana Gines, also from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, spoke about her strong connection to Mary and emphasized the importance of her presence for everyone: “It’s important to remember this because Mary is the mother of Our Lord Jesus. She tells us, even when we are suffering, ‘My children, don’t forget that I am here, that I am your mother.’ For those who feel abandoned, she reminds us, ‘I am here, I am your mother’—not just the mother of Jesus, but the mother of all of us. We are not orphans; we have our true mother.”
Marina Juarez Marquez from St. Joseph’s Church in Trenton said she had participated in the torch events in Trenton since she was a little girl. “It’s important to celebrate Our Lady, and it’s nice to come together, forming a community.”
Jaime Bautista from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish spoke about the deep emotional and spiritual significance of the celebration.
“What motivates me is everything – the emotion, the faith, and the beliefs we hold as Mexicans or Hispanics. It’s a deep devotion and an example for our children,” he said.
Shown is one of the many floats that traveled in the procession through Lakewood. Angelica Chicaiza photo
Father Rene Pulgarin preaches his homily during the Mass celebrated in Holy Family Chapel. Mike Ehrmann photo