Torches honoring Mary begin their journey in Diocese's four counties
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Rose O’Connor and EmmaLee Italia, Correspondents
With prayers and processions, churches in each county of the Diocese kicked off celebrations for Las Antorchas Guadalupanas – a series of traveling torch lightings that will lead up to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and pilgrimage in Trenton come December.
“The light of the torch … leads us to our true reality: We are citizens of Heaven, building the Kingdom of God on Earth,” Father Cesar A. Rubiano, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, said during the evening celebrations held Oct. 29 in one of the parish’s two worship sites, St. Joachim Church.
“I advise [everyone] not to be a spectator, but to let yourself be touched by the light and the warmth. Jesus needs you. The Church opens its arms to you. And Mary is always ready to pray with you,” he said.
Photo Gallery: Our Lady of Guadalupe Torch Lighting
The parish’s other worship site, Immaculate Conception Church, welcomed the torch Oct. 30. The parish was one of four to take part in the start of Las Antorchas Guadalupanas the weekend of Oct. 29-30. The others included St. Anthony Claret Parish, Lakewood; St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, and St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton.
The torch lightings are being held in anticipation of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12. On Dec. 3, the torch lightings will come to a crescendo when those from around the Diocese will take part in a pilgrimage through the streets of Trenton. Starting at Immaculate Conception Church, groups from Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean Counties will carry their torches to St. Joseph Church, where they will be met by those from Mercer County. Together, the throngs of faithful will continue to St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral on North Warren Street for Mass. During the pilgrimage, there will be fellowship, recitation of the Rosary and music provided from choirs of all ages.
Procession of Faith
Prior to Saturday evening Mass in St. Joachim Church, members of the parish’s Grupo Guadalupanos recited portions of the Rosary. Parishioners listened to their pastor explain the symbolism of the torch in honor of the Blessed Mother before being invited to participate in the torch lighting and procession into the church.
Msgr. John Dermond, weekend assistant, began in the church vestibule with a prayer and blessing of the torch. The torch was lit, a blue ribbon bearing the parish name was added to the crossbeam below the flame, and the procession into the church began – led by torch bearers, the altar servers and Msgr. Dermond, and the choir, singing a song of devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe as parishioners filed in behind them. The torch was placed before a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where it burned throughout the Mass.
As one of the Diocese of Trenton’s many parishes with a significant Hispanic population, Our Lady of the Angels Parish was selected as the starting point for Mercer County’s traveling torch. The torch, and others like it in all four counties of the Diocese, will make its way to other parishes in the county throughout November, picking up a new parish ribbon with each visit, before the final procession Dec. 3.
“The motivation [for the celebration] came as an idea that was planned around the time the Olympic Games were taking place in Rio de Janeiro,” Father Rubiano said. “The idea behind the Olympic torch is to bring sports to the people, and the people to the sports.”
He explained that the Church is trying to do the same with faith. By using the symbolism of bringing the torch out into the community, traveling from site to site, “We are bringing faith to the people, and people to the faith.”
However, in this instance, “There is no competition with Christ,” Father Rubiano said, “but an invitation to be better.”
Nancy Redrovan and Ernestina Huitz, members of Grupo Guadalupanos, dressed in red blouses with their fellow members for the celebration. The group has maintained a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe for more than 10 years. Both are looking forward to walking in the Cathedral procession Dec. 3.
“I liked that we were all able to gather together to share something important like this,” said Natalie Linton, Our Lady of the Angels choir member.
Building Community
That call of togetherness was certainly heard in St. Anthony Claret Church, Lakewood, where the parish community was the first to host Ocean County’s torch.
At the beginning of Mass, the torch was lit and blessed by Divine Word Father Pedro Bou, pastor. Attached to the torch was a red banner with the name of the parish.
Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas, is strong among the parishioners of St. Anthony Claret, and a beautiful portrait depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe hangs in the back of the church.
Marta Ruvalcaba, who has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, was thrilled to be part of the celebration and to host the torch.
“We are all children of Mary; she is the Mother of Jesus, and she brings all her children together in one place,” she shared. “This is my faith, my love,” she said, gesturing to her parish community.
Miguel Pedraza, a parishioner in St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, brought his daughter Conchieta to the Mass to see the torch and how St. Anthony Claret Parish celebrated its arrival. St. Mary Parish is scheduled to host the torch Nov. 6.
Pedraza’s parish plans to welcome the torch at the Mass and will share the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe via a documentary. “We are excited and very happy to share the story of Our Lady and bring her story to the people,” he said. “She unites all the parishes together; we are all her children.”
An Oasis in a Desert
That is an important message for Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Father Rubiano said as he described the Trenton neighborhood around St. Joachim Church as a desert, with the church functioning as an oasis.
“We all deserve to see the Light of Christ,” he explained. And the torch is a way of projecting that light into the community.
“The torch has social implications,” Father Rubiano continued. “The light dispels the dark, brightness overcomes the shadows, and fire breaks the cold. In the middle of this political season, the torch brings hope: hope that is not found in lies, empty promises, political affiliations, or ideologies – but in Jesus.”
For more information, including a map of parishes hosting the torch, visit dioceseoftrenton.org/Guadalupe2016. Check back to the Guadalupe Facebook site as well as facebook.com/catolicosdetrenton or facebook.com/dotfamilylife throughout the entire celebration for updated photos, comments, stories and more.
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By Rose O’Connor and EmmaLee Italia, Correspondents
With prayers and processions, churches in each county of the Diocese kicked off celebrations for Las Antorchas Guadalupanas – a series of traveling torch lightings that will lead up to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe and pilgrimage in Trenton come December.
“The light of the torch … leads us to our true reality: We are citizens of Heaven, building the Kingdom of God on Earth,” Father Cesar A. Rubiano, pastor of Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Trenton, said during the evening celebrations held Oct. 29 in one of the parish’s two worship sites, St. Joachim Church.
“I advise [everyone] not to be a spectator, but to let yourself be touched by the light and the warmth. Jesus needs you. The Church opens its arms to you. And Mary is always ready to pray with you,” he said.
Photo Gallery: Our Lady of Guadalupe Torch Lighting
The parish’s other worship site, Immaculate Conception Church, welcomed the torch Oct. 30. The parish was one of four to take part in the start of Las Antorchas Guadalupanas the weekend of Oct. 29-30. The others included St. Anthony Claret Parish, Lakewood; St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, and St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton.
The torch lightings are being held in anticipation of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12. On Dec. 3, the torch lightings will come to a crescendo when those from around the Diocese will take part in a pilgrimage through the streets of Trenton. Starting at Immaculate Conception Church, groups from Burlington, Monmouth and Ocean Counties will carry their torches to St. Joseph Church, where they will be met by those from Mercer County. Together, the throngs of faithful will continue to St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral on North Warren Street for Mass. During the pilgrimage, there will be fellowship, recitation of the Rosary and music provided from choirs of all ages.
Procession of Faith
Prior to Saturday evening Mass in St. Joachim Church, members of the parish’s Grupo Guadalupanos recited portions of the Rosary. Parishioners listened to their pastor explain the symbolism of the torch in honor of the Blessed Mother before being invited to participate in the torch lighting and procession into the church.
Msgr. John Dermond, weekend assistant, began in the church vestibule with a prayer and blessing of the torch. The torch was lit, a blue ribbon bearing the parish name was added to the crossbeam below the flame, and the procession into the church began – led by torch bearers, the altar servers and Msgr. Dermond, and the choir, singing a song of devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe as parishioners filed in behind them. The torch was placed before a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where it burned throughout the Mass.
As one of the Diocese of Trenton’s many parishes with a significant Hispanic population, Our Lady of the Angels Parish was selected as the starting point for Mercer County’s traveling torch. The torch, and others like it in all four counties of the Diocese, will make its way to other parishes in the county throughout November, picking up a new parish ribbon with each visit, before the final procession Dec. 3.
“The motivation [for the celebration] came as an idea that was planned around the time the Olympic Games were taking place in Rio de Janeiro,” Father Rubiano said. “The idea behind the Olympic torch is to bring sports to the people, and the people to the sports.”
He explained that the Church is trying to do the same with faith. By using the symbolism of bringing the torch out into the community, traveling from site to site, “We are bringing faith to the people, and people to the faith.”
However, in this instance, “There is no competition with Christ,” Father Rubiano said, “but an invitation to be better.”
Nancy Redrovan and Ernestina Huitz, members of Grupo Guadalupanos, dressed in red blouses with their fellow members for the celebration. The group has maintained a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe for more than 10 years. Both are looking forward to walking in the Cathedral procession Dec. 3.
“I liked that we were all able to gather together to share something important like this,” said Natalie Linton, Our Lady of the Angels choir member.
Building Community
That call of togetherness was certainly heard in St. Anthony Claret Church, Lakewood, where the parish community was the first to host Ocean County’s torch.
At the beginning of Mass, the torch was lit and blessed by Divine Word Father Pedro Bou, pastor. Attached to the torch was a red banner with the name of the parish.
Devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas, is strong among the parishioners of St. Anthony Claret, and a beautiful portrait depicting Our Lady of Guadalupe hangs in the back of the church.
Marta Ruvalcaba, who has a strong devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, was thrilled to be part of the celebration and to host the torch.
“We are all children of Mary; she is the Mother of Jesus, and she brings all her children together in one place,” she shared. “This is my faith, my love,” she said, gesturing to her parish community.
Miguel Pedraza, a parishioner in St. Mary Parish, Barnegat, brought his daughter Conchieta to the Mass to see the torch and how St. Anthony Claret Parish celebrated its arrival. St. Mary Parish is scheduled to host the torch Nov. 6.
Pedraza’s parish plans to welcome the torch at the Mass and will share the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe via a documentary. “We are excited and very happy to share the story of Our Lady and bring her story to the people,” he said. “She unites all the parishes together; we are all her children.”
An Oasis in a Desert
That is an important message for Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Father Rubiano said as he described the Trenton neighborhood around St. Joachim Church as a desert, with the church functioning as an oasis.
“We all deserve to see the Light of Christ,” he explained. And the torch is a way of projecting that light into the community.
“The torch has social implications,” Father Rubiano continued. “The light dispels the dark, brightness overcomes the shadows, and fire breaks the cold. In the middle of this political season, the torch brings hope: hope that is not found in lies, empty promises, political affiliations, or ideologies – but in Jesus.”
For more information, including a map of parishes hosting the torch, visit dioceseoftrenton.org/Guadalupe2016. Check back to the Guadalupe Facebook site as well as facebook.com/catolicosdetrenton or facebook.com/dotfamilylife throughout the entire celebration for updated photos, comments, stories and more.
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