A PUBLIC ATION OF THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Transcription

1 A PUBLIC ATION OF THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE FA L L W I N T E R

2 FA2013 / WI2014 Volume 2, Number 4 A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E S H R I NE OF OUR L ADY OF GUADALUPE FA L L WINTER 2014 ON THE COVER: The image shows the tabernacle in the Shrine Church. Together with the altar of sacrifice, it is the focal point for pilgrims. The location of the tabernacle, in which Our Lord is present in the Most Blessed Sacrament, points to the importance of the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of our Faith. In imitation of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the mission of the Shrine is to lead all to her Son, to make Him known and manifest to all pilgrims traveling here. The tabernacle is made of several kinds of Italian marble. The iconography on the door, crafted in bronze, depicts Jesus and the Chalice of His Sacrifice, surrounded by angels. It is an historic representation of the mystery of His Real Presence. The inner side of the door bears the Latin inscription Dominus Meus et Deus Meus, My Lord and my God!, the exclamation of St. Thomas upon encountering the Risen Lord. The floral pattern on the wall behind the tabernacle has the same pattern as that of Our Lady of Guadalupe s dress. Tepeyac is a publication for pilgrims, benefactors and friends of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a place of religious pilgrimage that serves the spiritual needs of all pilgrims, especially those who are suffering poverty in body or soul. If you or someone you know would like to receive this publication, please notify the editor using the contact information below. We make every effort to ensure the information in Tepeyac is accurate. If we have made an error in this publication, please notify the editor. TEPEYAC Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe 5250 Justin Road La Crosse, Wisconsin USA T E L E P H O N E (877) E - M A I L srmancilla@guadalupeshrine.org W E B S I T E E D I T O R Sister M. Ancilla Matter, F.S.G.M., M.A. A S S I S T A N T E D I T O R Gregory Marco L A Y O U T / D E S I G N Des Sikowski-Nelson from the Executive Director P H OTO BY B O B M E TC A L F CO V E R P H OTO BY B O B M E TC A L F. A Word G reetings from the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe! This year, on July 31st, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Dedication of the Shrine Church. More than 300,000 pilgrims have visited the Shrine since the dedication, and the number of pilgrims continues to grow. After a record-setting year in 2012, 2013 looks to be even better. With the increased numbers of pilgrims visiting the Shrine, more and more people are receiving the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist. In the month of July, leading up to the celebration of the anniversary, our dedicated Friars of the Immaculate heard more than 1,000 confessions! During Holy Mass, it is wonderful to observe how pilgrims, as they approach to receive Holy Communion, process up toward the mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe and, as she draws them to herself, she draws them to the altar and to the Holy Eucharist. DEVELOPMENT NEWS For the past ten months I have been blessed to work for the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In that short time, I have witnessed first-hand lives that have been profoundly impacted by Christ s Thomas Thimons graces working through the Shrine. Development Director Because the Shrine depends solely on the generosity of donors, we are always in need of supporters to help continue our mission and keep our doors open to the tens of thousands of visitors each year. 2 FA L L / W I N T E R I believe that this is what Our Lady desired when she asked for a church to be built. A church is a privileged place of sacramental encounter with God. In asking that a church be built, Our Lady knew that it was there that people would receive forgiveness of their sins, receive the Holy Eucharist, and receive innumerable additional graces and blessings. It is beautiful to observe how Our Lady brings people closer to her Son at the Shrine, particularly at the Shrine Church. We give thanks to God for the gift of the magnificent Shrine Church. And we thank all of you for your assistance in building up and sustaining this beautiful place of prayer. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us and lead us ever closer to your Son. May God bless you abundantly! In the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mr. Leif E. Arvidson Executive Director larvidson@guadalupeshrine.org THE 2013 ANNUAL APPEAL FOR THE SHRINE IS NOW UNDERWAY! If the Shrine has touched your life in any way, please consider helping by making a donation today. WAYS TO MAKE A GIFT/DONATION TO THE SHRINE: WEBSITE CALL IN PERSON MORE INFO Tom Thimons at Ask the information desk for a Gift Card or Donation Envelope For other ideas on how to support the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, please contact Thomas Thimons at tthimons@guadalupeshrine.org or call God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

3 BLESSED JOHN XXIII After his election to the See of Peter in October 1958, Pope John XXIII placed all the works of the Episcopal Commission of Latin America under the patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He also gave his special blessing to the Empress of America Apostolate, which was dedicated to the propagation of devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe in North America. Pope John XXIII proclaimed a Marian Year from December 12, 1960 to December 12, 1961, in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. At the solemn closing of the Marian Year, he addressed her as Mother of the Americas, because her apparitions occurred at the geographical mid-point of the American Continent. She is the Mother of all who live united in this land. At the conclusion of the Marian Year, Pope John XXIII dedicated a church in Rome to Our Lady of Guadalupe, on which occasion he prayed: From the sanctuary of Tepeyac you have been for more than four centuries the Mother and Teacher of the Faith to the peoples of the Americas. Be also our protection and save us, O Immaculate Mary. Aid our rulers. Stir up a new zeal in our prelates. Increase the virtues of our clergy, and preserve forever our Faith. In every home may the holiness of the family flourish, and in the shelter of the home may Catholic education, favored by your own benign glance, achieve a wholesome growth. Amen. BLESSED JOHN PAUL II { CONNECTIONS TO } Our Lady BLESSED JOHN PAUL II Pope John Paul II was the first pope to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico! In Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way, he relates how his devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe was rooted in his pilgrimages to Poland s Jasna Góra. Just as Guadalupe (Tepeyac Hill) is identified with Mexico, Jasna Góra (Bright Mountain) is identified with Poland. Jasna Góra refers to the light that dispels darkness the source of this light is the presence of Our Lady in her miraculous image. From the time of the Swedish Deluge through the Communist era, Jasna Góra has been an unconquerable fortress. Aware of what Jasna Góra and the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa meant to the Poles, Communist authorities had the image arrested during a national pilgrimage! The pilgrimage continued with the empty frame a silent sign of the lack of religious freedom in Poland. The pilgrimages John Paul II made to Jasna Góra fostered his desire to visit another Marian shrine during his first Papal journey. He traveled to Mexico in January Visiting the miraculous image not only inspired and shaped his pontificate, but also opened the doors to being able to travel to Poland, a Communist country at that time, later that year. During the first visit of a pope to a Communist country, he said to the authorities: Allow me to continue to consider Poland s interest as my own, and to participate in it as profoundly as if I still lived in this country and were a citizen of this nation. Ten years later, the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain fell. Three more visits to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico followed: In 1990, he beatified Juan Diego; in January 1999, he consecrated the entire continent to Our Lady of Guadalupe, entrusted the cause of life to her loving protection, and placed under her motherly care the innocent lives of children, especially those in danger of not being born; and, in 2002 he canonized Juan Diego. In his homily on the occasion of the Canonization of Saint Juan Diego, Pope John Paul II said: Juan Diego, having embraced Christianity without surrendering his indigenous identity, discovered the profound truth about the new humanity in which all are called to be children of God in Christ. In this mystery, Mary had a very particular role. BLESSED JOHN XXIII For no other nation has He done this! So exclaimed Pope Benedict XIV in 1754 at the sight of a painting of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Over 20 popes have officially honored Our Lady of Guadalupe. As we anticipate the canonization of two popes, we are grateful for the way in which each of them furthered devotion to her. Compiled by Sister M. Ancilla Matter, F.S.G.M., M.A. Sources include: Pope John Paul II, Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way (Grand Central Publishing, September 28, 2004) and Dan Lynch, Our Lady of Guadalupe: Hope for the World (JMKI Press, January 1, 2004). BLESSED JOHN XXIII On the 50th anniversary of the Patronage of the Virgin of Guadalupe over Latin America: The always Virgin Saint Mary, Mother of the True God, for Whom one lives, pours out Her tenderness and maternal delicateness on the hill of Tepeyac, trusting to the Indigenous Juan Diego Her message with some roses that fell from his tilma, while upon it Her sweetest portrait, that no human hands painted, remains. Thus, Our Lady wanted to continue demonstrating Her calling as Mother: She with her mestiza face, between the indigneous Juan Diego and the Bishop Zumárraga, as if to symbolize a kiss of two races. the historical sense of Her message was acquiring its fullness, while She opened Her arms to all horizons in a universal desire of love. BLESSED JOHN PAUL II Mary, Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of America, help us to be faithful stewards of the great mysteries of God. Help us to: m teach the truth your Son proclaimed, m spread love, m confirm our brothers and sisters in the faith, m spread hope in eternal life, m guard the spiritual treasures of the members of God s people who are entrusted to us. Listen to us, morenita Virgin, Mother of Hope, Our Lady of Guadalupe! Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe 3

4 Celebrating 5t PHOTO BY THOMAS THIMONS LEFT: Procession at the Fifth Anniversary Dedication Mass, on July 31, ABOVE: His Eminence Ray W. Bruskewitz, retired Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska, brought the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepul HISTORICAL TIMELINE From the day he was named Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke reflected upon and prayed about the pastoral needs of the entire diocese. In November, 1995, then-bishop Raymond Leo Burke met with a small group of people to discuss his ideas for a Marian shrine. A beautiful site of approximately 70 acres was given by the Robert Swing family for the proposed Marian Shrine. It was the desire of the late Mr. and Mrs. Swing that the tract of land which they had cared for so well might one day become a place that would draw people closer to God. PHOTO BY THOMAS THIMONS ABOVE: Recessional at the Anniversary M Rev. Alan Guanella flanked by the Knigh 1999 JULY Bishop Raymond L. Burke announces plans for the construction and establishment of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe to be located in La Crosse DECEMBER 12 Dedication of the Pilgrim Center and the Mother of Good Counsel Votive Candle Chapel FEBRUARY 25 The Shrine purchases 30 acres of land adjacent to Tepeyac Road. The Shrine grounds total approximately 100 acres. The site is part of the rich history of the Coulee region. MAY 19 Cornerstone laid for the Shrine Church. Pilgrims submit petitions to be buried inside the cornerstone FEBRUARY 22 Bishop Raymond L. Burke is installed as the eighth bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse JUNE 17 Official ground breaking for the Shrine complex MAY 13 Official ground breaking for the Shrine Church. DECEMBER 9 Dedication of the outdoor Stations of the Cross { continued } JUNE 14 The Saint Benedict medal is buried in the crypt level of the Shrine Church in the area under the proposed main altar. Father Paul Czerwonka and Father William Blazewicz, priests of the Diocese of La Crosse, officiate at the ceremony. 4 FALL 2013 / WINTER 2014

5 h Anniversary OF THE SHRINE CHURCH Hidden Story OF THE SHRINE There are many stories about the construction of the Shrine Church that will not make it into history books. In fact, every pilgrim who walks across the plaza is actually touching one such hidden story! Before the tiles that make up the church plaza could be placed, it was necessary to even out and smooth the ground beneath them. Otherwise, the tiles would buckle and crack over the years due to seasonal changes in climate. mond Leo Cardinal Burke greets the crowd after the anniversary Mass. The Most Rev. Fabian chre. BOTTOM LEFT: Cardinal Burke inducts a young girl into the Saint Juan Diego Guild. PHOTO BY ERIK DAILY, L A C R O S S E T R I B U N E Therefore, the decision was made to set down a series of interlocking pavers, uniformly flat composite slabs made of cement. These pavers became unique tablets upon which early pilgrims (who came to the Shrine before the church was built) were invited to leave something private and lasting underneath the plaza s surface. Before the pavers were laid in the ground, these early pilgrims adults and children used permanent markers to write and draw on them. Likened to the current Prayer Intention Book in the Shrine Church, these hidden tablets bear countless messages of hope, thanksgiving and prayer, giving expression to the healing ministry of Christ and His Church. Today, the pavers lie beneath the tiles as pilgrims walk across the plaza to enter the Shrine Church forever one of the hidden treasures of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Text and Photographs by Jack Socha PHOTO BY THOMAS THIMONS ass. RIGHT: Rev. Ignatius, F.I., and ts of Columbus JULY 30 Dedication of the devotional area to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. DECEMBER 12 Dedication of the Memorial to the Unborn NOVEMBER 20 Pope Benedict XVI elevates Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke to the College of Cardinals DECEMBER 12 Dedication of the statue of Blessed John Duns Scotus in the exterior alcove of the Blessed John Duns Scotus Friary SEPTEMBER 21 Dedication of the devotional area to St. Joseph the Workman. DECEMBER 8 Dedication of the Rosary Walk { continued } JULY 31 Dedication of the Shrine Church. St. Louis Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, founder of the Shrine, was the main celebrant at the Mass of Dedication. Cardinals Justin Rigali (Philadelphia) and Francis George (Chicago), and over 20 bishops/archbishops and more than 100 priests, joined the hundreds of faithful inside the new church. Over 60 Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre and over 25 Knights of Columbus Honor Guard were also present SEPTEMBER 23 The Marian Catechist Apostolate officially establishes its international headquarters at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe 5

6 OCTOBER: Month of the Rosary T he Rosary is one of the most popular nonliturgical Catholic devotions, aiding the faithful in meditating upon and contemplating the joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious aspects of the lives of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Mother, the Ever Virgin Mary. The daily praying of the Rosary leads individuals and families closer to Our Lord. For this reason, it has been recommended by Our Lady through her approved apparitions, by many of the saints, and by the Church. As we pray the Rosary we journey, in a certain sense, through the life of Our Lord with Our Lady. In this regard, the praying of the Rosary is connected to pilgrimage a devotional journey with the goal of drawing closer to Christ. Many pilgrims coming to the Shrine can be seen praying the Rosary on the meditation trail leading to the church. Many also take advantage of the Rosary Walk, one of the Shrine s many outdoor devotional areas. The Rosary Walk was dedicated on December 8, 2007, by then-archbishop Raymond L. Burke. Michael Swinghammer, of River Architects, was the designer of the archway and handbuilt alcoves of indigenous stone on which the beautiful depictions of the Mysteries of the Rosary are displayed. Very simply, where there is the Rosary, there is always hope. The Shrine commissioned artist Anthony Visco, of Atelier of the Sacred Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to create the twenty images of the Mysteries, along with symbols in the corners of the tiles. At the suggestion of Cardinal Burke, the images were completed in the azulejos or blue and white ceramic style of Lisbon, Portugal, to reflect the Marian message. Further enriching the experience of the pilgrims, descriptions of the Mysteries taken from Blessed Pope John Paul II s Apostolic Letter on the Rosary, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, and the Hail Mary written in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Nahuatl, can be found on the flanks of each alcove. Referring to the Rosary Walk, Visco said, I wanted an immediacy to them, so that they can be recognized by people from far away. Each mystery had to have its own distinct character, its own distinct composition, and its own distinct light source, something that was almost supernatural. I wanted to show the variety of light in our lives as it comes through Christ. Let us strive to make the daily praying of the Rosary a habit, so that we can draw ever closer to Our Lord through Our Lady. Written by Gregory Marco, Pilgrimage Coordinator PHOTOS BY DES SIKOWSKI-NELSON PHOTO BY JACK SOCHA 2013 P G ILGRIMAGE ROUPS RIGHT: Most Rev. Joseph F. Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, with seminarians from the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. BELOW: Seminarians from the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, with Msgr. Brian Brownsey, Vocations Director, and Msgr. Stanley Deptula, Rector of St. Mary Cathedral, Peoria, on pilgrimage to the Shrine with (center, left to right) Most Rev. Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C., Bishop of Peoria, Illinois, and His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke. BOTTOM RIGHT: Pilgrims visit the Memorial to the Unborn during the Marian Day of Reflection in May. Over 400 people made a pilgrimage to the Shrine that day. PHOTO BY LEIF ARVIDSON PHOTO BY GREGORY MARCO 6 FALL 2013 / WINTER 2014

7 Christopher receiving a blessing from the Most Rev. William P. Callahan, Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse, before his journey. Pilgrims welcome Christopher as he finishes his Bike to Mary trek. Christopher posing with Bishop Callahan in the Shrine Church plaza. PHOTOS BY SR. M. ANCILLA MAT TER AND JACK SOCHA BIKE TO Mary C hristopher Pundzak refuses to let his cerebral palsy hold him back from two of his favorite pursuits: working with computers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe and riding his three-wheel recumbent bicycle. This past spring, he felt inspired to make a bicycle pilgrimage from the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians (Holy Hill) in Hubertus, Wisconsin, to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe -- a two hundred mile journey! I always wanted to ride a bike for a good cause, Christopher said. He hoped to raise funds for the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and to raise awareness of the Shrine s presence in the Midwest. Christopher began volunteering at the Shrine in 2012 in maintenance, but soon found that the staff was in need of assistance with computerrelated issues on a daily basis. I saw they were having some problems, and I wanted to get to the root of those problems, he said. I like to think as a programmer, so if something isn t working, I like to make it right. Earlier in his life, working with computers and bicycling seemed unlikely after he was born during an emergency Caesarean section at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska, where his father, Matt Pundzak, was stationed. The neurosurgeon told his father and me that he had almost no dense gray matter, recalls his mother, Cecile Gregory. Basically, he would not be able to do anything. Even though the doctor later hedged on his diagnosis, Christopher developed slowly, Cecile said. Nothing was normal. He couldn t crawl, he couldn t roll over. It s your greatest fear as a parent. They figured it was because he lost oxygen at birth. Despite extensive tests, his cerebral palsy a brain abnormality that affects muscle movement and motor skills was not detected until he was nearly 5 years old. About that same time, Christopher began showing an interest in computers, often playing Pacman, an early indication of his future interests in the Information Technology field. His skills were also cultivated and inspired by his father, now retired from the military and working for a technology firm in Virginia. Christopher fine-tuned his computer skills by taking classes at Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and by teaching himself. After graduating with an Associate s Degree, he moved to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, to live with his mother. Christopher s accomplishments are a testament to his faith, to the support of his family and friends, and to the grace of God at work in his life. Christopher poses with His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke. PHOTO BY WILLIAM GOODMAN In May 2012, a job offer from a business in Viroqua, Wisconsin, brought Christopher back to the La Crosse area. Unfortunately, the job did not work out for him. Upon hearing the bad news, Mark Cummings, Director of Buildings and Grounds at the Shrine, and Christopher s uncle, invited him to volunteer for a time in maintenance until he could find another job. Because of his easy going personality and his wonderful sense of humor, Christopher instantly became a part of the Shrine family. He has been volunteering at the Shrine ever since. Bike to Mary, the name of Christopher s bicycle pilgrimage, began on June 18. Christopher completed his journey of 200 miles in just six days! He arrived safely at the Shrine in time for Holy Mass on Sunday, June 23. Christopher s accomplishments are a testament to his faith, to the support of his family and friends, and to the grace of God at work in his life. He was able to surpass his financial goal, and the pilgrimage received coverage from a number of news outlets, thus raising awareness of the Shrine. In recognition of his dedicated work as a volunteer and his inspiring journey, Cardinal Burke presented Christopher with a plaque in his honor. For more information on this year s inaugural journey and a link to the second annual Bike to Mary pilgrimage, please see the link on the Shrine s NEWS page: w w w.guadalupeshrine.org Sections of this article were adapted and reprinted with permission from the La Crosse Tribune. Volunteer rises above handicap to raise money for Guadalupe Shrine, May 7, Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe 7

8 Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Post Office Box 1237 La Crosse, Wisconsin USA NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID EAU CLAIRE, WI PERMIT #1557 See more PILGRIMAGE GROUP photos on page 6. PHOTOS BY JACK SOCHA HISPANIC PILGRIMAGE. Over 1,000 pilgrims visited the Shrine on September 7th, during the annual Diocesan Hispanic Pilgrimage, led by Rev. Timothy Oudenhoven, priest of the Diocese of La Crosse. PHOTO BY REV. KEITH KITZHABER I N S I D E 2 Executive Director Message 2 Development News 3 Connection to Our Lady 4 Celebrating Fifth Anniversary 6 October: Month of the Rosary 7 Bike to Mary EVENTS S H R I N E O F O U R L A D Y O F G U A D A L U P E FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTIONS November 2 December 7 ALL SOULS DAY November 2 BLESSED JOHN DUNS SCOTUS November 8 BLESSED MIGUEL PRO November 23 SAINT JOHN DAMASCENE December 4 SAINT NICHOLAS OF MYRA: A CELEBRATION FOR CHILDREN December 7 SAINT AMBROSE December 7 SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION (SAINT JUAN DIEGO) December 9 SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE December 12 FOR ALL EVENTS VISIT: BACKGROUND PHOTO BY BOB METCALF W E E K LY S PA N I S H M A S S The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate celebrate Holy Mass in Spanish each Sunday, at 11:00 a.m., in the Shrine Church. All are welcome! Find us at: