October 28, 2016 Edition of Today's Catholic Newspaper: Del Rio Marian Pilgrimage to the Holy Doors of Mercy
Del Rio
Marian Pilgrimage to the Holy Doors of Mercy
On October
9, fifty-two pilgrims made the journey from Del Rio to Brackettville and then
to San Antonio to visit four of the sixteen designated Holy Doors of Mercy in
the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
The Legion
of Mary of the Del Rio Catholic Faith Community and Spiritual Director Father
Antonio O. Moreno, retired military chaplain assigned to assist at the three
parishes in Del Rio, sponsored the Marian Pilgrimage to the Holy Doors of Mercy.
Before the start
of the pilgrimage the pilgrims gathered inside St. Joseph Church in Del Rio to
begin with prayer and a blessing from Father Moreno.
The pilgrims
each received a gift bag filled with various prayer cards including Pope
Francis’s Prayer for the Jubilee of Mercy and an assortment of holy sacramental’s,
among them the Rosary and the Miraculous Medal, which hold special significance
for the Legion of Mary and which the pilgrims utilized for their spiritual
journey throughout the day.
The first
Holy Door of Mercy was St. Mary Magdalene Church in Brackettville.
The pilgrims were greeted by the choir
singing “Ave de Lourdes – Del Cielo Ha Bajado” and Father James Ikeatuegwu,
Pastor of St. Mary Magdalene bestowed a blessing upon the pilgrims. As the bus
departed Brackettville the pilgrims prayed the Rosary and the Divine Mercy
Chaplet.
The second
Holy Door of Mercy was Mission San José where the pilgrims disembarked at the
Visitor Center and viewed the video presentation.
Then the pilgrims entered
through the Holy Doors of Mercy and Father Rogelio Martinez Ruteaga, Pastor of
Mission San José y San Miguel de Aguayo imparted a blessing upon the pilgrims.
The third
Holy Door of Mercy was the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little
Flower, which is celebrating 90 years as a parish, 1926-2016.
After entering
the Holy Doors of Mercy the pilgrims were greeted by tour guide Homer
Guitan.
He presented a very entertaining
and informative historical overview of the Basilica.
The highlight of the tour was the special
surprise that Mr. Guitan had been hinting at throughout the tour.
The pilgrims
knelt at the marble communion rail and were blessed by Father Moreno with the
first class relic of St. Therese the Little Flower.
Diane
Garcia, parishioner from Sacred Heart Church in Del Rio commented about the
pilgrimage, “It was a beautiful experience. I was looking forward to it since I
first signed up. I felt moved and touched when we went to the Little Flower
Basilica. It brought tears to my eyes.”
The fourth
and final Holy Door of Mercy on the emotionally exhilarating and spiritually
invigorating pilgrimage was at San Fernando Cathedral, where the Archdiocese of
San Antonio Jubilee Year of Mercy Mass for all Marian Devotional Groups was
celebrated by Father Lawrence Christian, Vicar General for the Archdiocese of
San Antonio.
The congregation was invited to step outside into the courtyard
were everyone gathered and then was led through the Holy Doors of Mercy.
Two
Legion of Mary members, Maria Berny and Carmen Tijerina took up the Offertory
Gifts.
After the Mass concluded, Father Christian led the congregation in
praying along with cards that had been distributed: the Litany of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, Sub Tuum Praesidium and the Memorare.
Eddie
Amezcua, Jr., parishioner from St. Joseph Church in Del Rio summed up his
experience, “It was an awesome trip. It was something my wife and I wanted to
do together. It just brought us closer.”
All the
pilgrims exited the bus filled with many wonderful memories and overjoyed with
all the special blessings they had received throughout their spiritual journey
with Mary, Our Mother of Mercy leading them to enter into the loving embrace of
Our Merciful Father.
Gloria
Hernandez, parishioner from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church stated, “My experience
going with Father Moreno and all my Catholic friends to the Holy Doors has been
an inspiration. This is the Jubilee Year of Mercy and we all need to change our
hearts and our life to have God’s Mercy and Love in everything we say and do.”
Next year
the Legion of Mary will be celebrating the 70th Anniversary,
1947-2017, of its founding in Del Rio at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
The
Legion of Mary began with six members and presently there are a total of 25
members from the three Parishes in Del Rio: Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Joseph
and Sacred Heart.
The Marian Pilgrimage to the Holy Doors of Mercy was the
first event planned leading up to this milestone in the history of the Legion
of Mary in Del Rio.
Photos:
Pilgrims at
Mission San Jose,
Basilica of the National Shrine of The Little Flower
and San
Fernando Cathedral
Submitted by
Marian
Casillas, Ed.D. and Araceli Faz
