Maria Rosario Peña, the local federation’s president and parishioner of St. Peter the Fisherman in Von Ormy, welcomed everyone and thanked all the committees who helped organize the event. Each day began with the recitation of the rosary and litany of the saints followed by prayer intentions. Prayers for deceased members of the federation were included.
The first speaker, Elda María Estrada, with the RCIA/adult education staff of St. Matthew Parish, emphasized “Love.” Father Miguel Arango-Medina, moderator for the Texas Federation of Guadalupanos, followed on the subject of “Hope.” Father Florencio Rodriguez, TOR, pastor of St. Lawrence, opened the second day with a talk on “Charity.” The concluding speaker was Adelina Morantes, from El Centro de Estudios Guadalupanos, whose topic touched on the significance of Tepeyac, the site where La Virgen appeared to Juan Diego.
Elda Maria Estrada
Estrada kept us in awe as we listened to her theme “Mary — the person, her relation with God and her mission. Her powerful words said, before all and above all, Mary is a profound silence before God. Mary lives constantly in adoration to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. What defects we have! Generally we are constantly in gossip, keeping company with others in gossip. It seems that sometimes we cannot hear the voice of God. Mary is total openness to the mystery of the living God. That means that she was totally and completely receptive — she is open; she is hopeful.
In closing she shared these words: “My dearest brothers and sisters here present at the feet of Our Mother, the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Mother of God, the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, the mother of our church and our mother — let us be Guadalupanos of love and evangelizers of her message.”
Father Miguel Arango-Medina
Father Miguel’s powerful message dealt with the virtue of hope. In his opening comments he said, “Aren’t we in the times of conventions?” It is a convention for all of us, all of us who await and who are hopeful for a new world, a world with more love and more justice. So this is a special convention.”
The themes designated for this convention were faith, hope and charity. These three virtues — faith, hope and charity — are our religion and catechism. Theological virtues are in direct relation with God and as St. Paul tells us, the only one that will remain after we die will be love. By our faith we are believers in that God who never abandons us. We are constantly awaiting that gentle hope. And so St. Paul says — love — that never ends.
The virtue of hope corresponds with desiring happiness, given by God in all our human hearts. A desire signifies something that we do not have; it is a project in our lives. W
e desire then, something that God has given us and by hope we assume it. That which causes us anguish, what does it signify? It is by our hoping that we have the desire to continue struggling in our lives.
Our hope also sustains us in our weakest moments. We feel weak and hope lifts us.
The Blessed Virgin then gives us an example of hope. She lived with faith and hope and with that same example we should live our lives.
Father Florencio Rodriguez, TOR
Father Rodriguez strongly emphasized charity. “Charity must begin with us.” We saw that charity when the angel Gabriel visited the Virgin and he told her: “you have been chosen to be the mother of God.” In her humility, in her simplicity she said, “Let it be done unto me according to his will.” She gave a simple “yes” to her calling. The Virgin, when she appeared to Juan Diego said: “Look, I am the mother of God.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe brought to Tepeyac the love of her son. The humility and the simplicity of her son. We too, are called to the humility, this simplicity and charity. Charity begins with oneself. If I don’t live charitably, how can I be like a person full of charity? It starts from within us — it starts at home. We all experience a crisis in our lives and this is why it is so important that we live that charity and that we have that charity within our lives.”
In closing, Father Rodriguez reminded us, “what mother doesn’t give all for her children? What mother is not at her children’s side? We, as parents, dearly love our children. Imagine how much more our Lady of Guadalupe loves us. Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe!”
Adelina Morantes
Morantes reminded the audience of some thought-provoking questions that affect our everyday life.
“Every human being, at some point in their lives,” she said, has asked these questions: ‘who am I?’ ‘where did I come from?,’ ‘what is my mission in this world?’ This is a natural desire to know oneself and find out what our real mission is in each of our lives.”
She continued, “His holiness, Pope John Paul II, answers some of these questions with many daily messages.
Today, the Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to help us. She, because of her humility and obedience to the commandments of God, reached the highest level of perfection. La Virgen was the chosen one, by Our Lord, to be the mother of His Son, Jesus Christ.”
Morantes added, “The Virgin Mary chose the hill at Tepeyac of Mexico to bring us together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s commit ourselves today to bring everyone, starting with our families, to the beautiful message of love and hope of our Virgin. Today, we all are her Juan Diegos. Let us visit them frequently at our own parishes and the Basilica of Guadalupe in San Antonio.”
To bring the Guadalupanos convention to its final blessing, Mass was celebrated on Sunday afternoon by Auxiliary Bishop Patrick Zurek assisted by Father Rodriguez; Father Miguel Arango-Medina and Deacon Ernest Leal.
The new officers were elected as follows: president, María Elena Cardenas from Christ the King Parish; first vice president, Mary Lou Casares from Our Lady of the Angels Parish; and secretary Dora Vargas from St. Matthew Parish. The remaining officers will be elected in November.
Join the Guadalupanos organization in your parish! You will find it very spiritual and enjoyable. For information about becoming a member call María Rosario Peña at (210) 289-9282.