By Dorothy K. LaMantia | Correspondent

Our Lady of Guadalupe did a great favor for Father Walter Quiceno and his family this year, and now the parochial vicar in St. Rose Parish, Belmar, wants everyone to know the blessings of having a devotion to the Mother of the Americas.

“I did not know the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” said Father Quiceno, who came from Colombia to serve the Diocese of Trenton in 2008.  “In Colombia, we are devoted to the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Mount Carmel and never hear of Guadalupe.” 

He was introduced to the devotion when he was assigned to St. Jerome Parish, West Long Branch, in 2012. Father Harry Cullen, pastor at the time, asked Father Quiceno to start celebrating a Spanish Mass as a way to reach out to the Latino community living in the area.

Around 70 families eventually joined St. Jerome Parish. One of the first devotions they requested was a celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“I said I would try to do it … but was unfamiliar with the traditions,” he said. “When I heard the story, I became curious. The more I read, the more I wanted to know.”

“The devotion of the Latinos became contagious to me,” he continued. “When I discovered what an amazing intercessor she is, I grew closer to her every day. Most Catholics know about the miracles at Lourdes and Fatima, but we can also experience her love and her presence here in America where there is also healing power.”

Earlier this year, Father Quiceno got to experience Our Lady’s healing power first-hand when he decided to make a personal trip to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City to pray on behalf of his brother, Father Amador Quiceno of Colombia, who required surgery for a brain tumor.

After months of prayer and planning, he flew to Mexico City on July 3, and on July 5, he celebrated Mass for his brother in one the basilica’s private chapels in front of the painting of Our Lady, which he called “the most spiritual experience of my life.”

While in Mexico, Father Quiceno appreciated the hospitality of a family who accompanied and prayed with him for his brother’s recovery. The family is related to St. Rose parishioner Maria Coza, who asked her relatives in Mexico to look after the priest during his stay.

“I got this big, beautiful family to pray for my intention and the intentions of my family and parishioners who wrote them down in a notebook that I took with me,” he said.

In August, his brother underwent surgery, and the tumor was removed successfully. In November, Father Amador was cleared to resume his job in Bogota as chaplain to the National Program of Evangelization for the Military Ordinary of Colombia.

In the days leading up to Dec. 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Father Quiceno pondered his blessings as he planned for the culturally authentic celebration in his parish – the first of its kind in St. Rose. The celebration, which was held Dec. 11, included recitation of the Rosary, Mass and a festive gathering that featured mariachi, dance and poetry.

“I am so blessed to be at St. Rose Parish. It’s such a beautiful community,” he said. “I am so grateful to these people who are so devout and who prayed for my brother. I want to share this treasure, the Patroness of the Americas, with them.  …  My mission, my task is to spread this beautiful devotion here in America.”