What a wonderful feeling to return to Guadalupe Church for Saturday evening Mass not once, but twice on the same day! How truly heartwarming to be among those we met the previous week— Eddie Nieto, the sacristan; and Henry Reyna, the greeter— and to discover smiling faces in Olga Tapia and Jessica at the later charismatic Mass! And, oh, the beautiful bulletin cover (yet again) with its bilingual message related to Sunday’s readings!
Prayer
Dedication of a child… Dear Mary, your message of love and care on Tepeyac Hill floated like a lilting lullaby into the fresh, golden dawn. Softly you called to Juan Diego, “least of your sons,” a man of middle years, but guileless and childlike in spirit.
Through him you invited all your children to come to you, the ever-virgin Mother of God, to look to you as a mother who wanted only to show a mother’s love. You would give them whatever they needed, help and protection, strength and comfort. As a lasting proof you left us your own marvelous picture, unpainted by any human hand.
Today we bring to you our child [name] as yet unborn. May this little one always know and love you as holy Mary, Mother of the true God in whom we live and have our being. May this new soul, freshly breathed forth from the creator, be like the soul of Juan Diego….
Dear Lady of Guadalupe, touch this petal of our hearts with the wintry roses of Tepeyac so that a fragrant joy and peace may spread along the child’s path in life. Let your love remind men of you and sweetly draw them to your waiting heart.
Take this child as your own, lovely Lady. Enfold the child in the mantle of your care until the day when… all your children join with you, their merciful mother, endlessly praising and thanking God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Catholic.org).
February 27, 2015
“Fathers and mothers owe four things to their children: maintenance, instruction, correction, and good example” (St. John Baptist de la Salle).
May 11, 2015
“When a child is given to his parents, a crown is made for that child in heaven, and woe to the parents who raise a child without consciousness of that eternal crown! (Ven. Fulton Sheen, 1999).
Pdf file… Fr. Acosta’s homily / prayer…
Links of interest… Churches: Austin (video) – Brownsville (fb)… Is “Guadalupe” a Mexican name… Our Lady of Guadalupe: abbey / empress of the Americas / feast / patroness of the Americas / prayers / queen’s guild / shrine / unqualified, uncomplicated consolation / videos / warrior… Ten “M’s” on the highway to heaven… Venerable Fulton Sheen: about / Life is worth living (about) / prayers / quotes… Why church pews were invented…
WP posts… Christ’s sacred heart… God’s lovely gifts… Our Lady… Our Lady’s church… Repeated prayers… San Juan Diego
Filed under: churches, Our Lady, prayer, spiritual gifts, thanksgiving and praise | Tagged: building community, God's master plan, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church-Brownsville TX, overcoming adversity |
Shared thoughts... 
Awesome collection of beautiful glass paintings. I do love them all. Thank you for presenting them.
As always, dear Matti, you’re so complimentary. Here’s wishing you and your precious Anja a heart-filled week ahead.
The spirit of fellowship in the church is palpable— but not one that we can reach for. It comes to us, touches the heart and soul, enfolds us like the Virgin’s arms did her child.
As evening approaches, the stained glass windows lose their brilliant fire, fade to softly luminous, delight the eyes with their now-muted hues. At the same time, the lighting in the church takes command, changes the walls from golden to immaculate whiteness. You can see the transformation in the photos Deli has posted. It changes, but it does not diminish. The songs of the worshippers rise in harmony with the light, and one cannot help but be swept up by the Holy Spirit present there.
Do not turn away from the Saturday evening Mass if you do not understand Spanish. If you understand love and the awesome wonder of God’s gift of life, you will receive blessings far greater than you imagine— and you will be welcomed with open arms. I did not know whether to laugh or cry with the emotions that flooded over me. So I did both. And I was not alone.
Steven
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Reading what you wrote made me feel like I was at there over again.
Soon, eh?