Thirty-five catechists who serve the Hispanic communities in the Diocese of Cleveland participated in a 10-day pilgrimage recently to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico. The pilgrimage was a Marian retreat.
Accompanying the catechists were Father Steve Vellenga, director of the diocesan Mission Office and pastor of St. Mary Parish in Painesville, and Hortensia De Jesús Rodríguez, new director of Hispanic Ministry in the diocese.
Throughout the pilgrimage the group attended daily Mass, prayed and dedicated themselves to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The pilgrimage took place May 9-18. Rodriguez said the timing was intentional since May is a Marian month, one of the months dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Msgr. Eduardo Chavez, professor of the Institute Superior of Guadalupe Studies, offered a formation day for the pilgrims. The session consisted of deepening their understanding of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego.
The pilgrims also visited some of the beautiful, historic churches in the cities of Guanajuato, Guadalajara, Patzcuaro, Xochimilco, Queretaro, San Miguel de Allende, Silao and Cerro del Cubilete, where they saw the enormous statue of Christ the King.
Rodriguez said the pilgrimage was an opportunity for participants to strengthen their spiritual relationship as well as to help the catechists form deeper relationships among themselves and to learn from other Hispanic/Latin countries such as Peru, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Argentina, El Salvador and Cuba, in addition to natives from the United States.
“The journey was an immersive experience for all to dive into Mexican culture and traditions,” Rodriguez said.
The Office of Hispanic Ministry will have its annual Faith and Culture event at 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Cleveland. Bishop Edward Malesic will celebrate Mass.