Despite wind, rain and flash flooding, Monday Nov. 30, the Carrera Antorcha Guadalupana arrived at St. Agnes Church in Stockton, N.J., a stop on the 3,000-mile relay race of the torch and the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego.
The parish community infused the church with an aura of prayer, faith and joyful songs and a recital of the rosary throughout the day and evening. The tradition is an effort to create unity and friendship between Mexican and American communities.
A Mass in Mexico City’s Basilica de Guadalupe kicked off the relay, which will end the pilgrimage in New York City on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. On Tuesday, Dec. 1, torch bearers for the next community to receive the procession arrived at St. Agnes for a prayer service, scripture reading and song to bless their journey.
St. Agnes is a satellite church of St. John the Evangelist Parish of Lambertville, N.J.
According to Saintsresource.com: “People in Mexico and in the United States celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. Mary is the Patron Saint of Mexico and Patroness of the Americas. Every year, thousands of people from all over the country make a pilgrimage to the Basilica in Mexico City.
“The day commemorates her apparition to Saint Juan Diego in the hills of Tepeyac in 1531. She asked him to go to the bishop and tell him that the Ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, sent him to ask for a church to be built atop Tepeyac hill.”
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