UPDATED Oct. 28, 2025
“How do we persevere against the evils we see being perpetrated in the world today?”
Dave Karbasian, of St. Mary of the Lakes Parish, Medford, posed this question to his fellow parishioners on the evening of October 16.
In the next moment, he pulled a pair of Rosary beads from his pocket and held them up for the audience to see. “Our Blessed Lady gave us the answer right here.”
Nearly 200 individuals gathered in the church that night for “Mary, Full of Grace”, 
Parishioners pray before the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Mary of the Lakes Church, Medford.
a prayer service and discussion in honor of Our Lady. The evening featured music from parish choir members, the praying of the Rosary and a homily delivered by Father Daniel Swift, pastor.
Through original essays written by event organizers, attendees’ attention was directed to three Marian apparitions: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady’s involvement in the Battle of Lepanto in Europe, and Our Lady of Champion, Wisconsin.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, in particular, played a special role in the history of the Church, attendees were told. Mary’s request to St. Juan Diego that a church be built in her honor eventually led to the conversion of millions of people around the world – a number that is still rising today.
‘Pilgrims of Faith’
These narratives led into the main feature of the evening: the appearance of one of four traveling Missionary Images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which was loaned to the parish by Dan Lynch Apostolates of St. Albans, Vermont. The nonprofit organization works with local representatives – known as Guardians – to organize the visits of the Images to parishes throughout the country.
“These images are actual color and size replicas of the original Miraculous Image of Our Lady, which she left on St. Juan Diego’s tilma [in 1531],” St. Mary of the Lakes parishioner Christine Walcek explained to the audience, citing information posted to Dan Lynch Apostolates’ website.
Walcek added that all four digitized images were blessed by Msgr. Diego Monroy, former rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City and received an additional blessing from Pope St. John Paul II in 1999. The Pope had requested that the Images travel all across America, so that they might serve as “pilgrims of faith” and draw thousands to Catholicism.
Over the years, the Missionary Images have been displayed at churches and schools, as well as hospitals, prisons, abortion centers and nursing homes. Many have had their faith restored or have witnessed miracles in their own lives after venerating one of the images, the website reports.
Parishes welcome Missionary Image visits
The Miraculous Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has made recent visits to several other parishes in the Diocese, including St. Denis Parish, Manasquan, and St. Rose Parish, Belmar.
“People very much appreciated the fact that we hosted the Image,” Father William Lago, pastor, remarked. “As Catholics, the veneration of the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe helps us to be inspired in our faith.”
Msgr. Ed Arnister, pastor of St. Rose Parish, has also seen a positive response from parishioners to the Image’s visit. He explained that St. Rose Parish has been hosting the Image for the past 10 years, always during October’s Respect Life Month because Our Lady of Guadalupe is often referred to as the “Patroness of the Unborn.”
Catherine Minall, who serves as the one of the local Guardians of the Miraculous Image, has helped to coordinate Image visits at St. Rose.
“I have had the blessing of meeting many of the faithful throughout Monmouth County,” she said, many of whom are eager to share the stories of the “quiet miracles” they experienced through the Journey of the Missionary Image.
These miracles – some of which Minall has witnessed herself – have included feeling Mary’s heartbeat after touching the Image, as well as the scent of roses permeating strongly throughout the room.
According to Minall, the Miraculous Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been credited for bringing about many conversions. “Our Lady has played a role in healing the hearts of many post-abortive women,” she said. “Other women who considered aborting their children changed their minds and decided to bring forth a new life.”
As Father Lago stated, “Our Lady of Guadalupe teaches us so much about God’s specific love for each and every person.”
“Our Lady’s message today is the same as it was 2,000 years ago,” Karbasian told the St. Mary of the Lakes audience. “Repent, do penance and pray, especially the Rosary.”
He ended the evening with a quote from St. Padre Pio: “In times of darkness, holding the Rosary is like holding your Blessed Mother’s hand.”