July 5, 2019: Del Rio - Our Lady of Guadalupe * Our Parish Communities * Today's Catholic

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church - Del Rio

This year the Legion of Mary at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, under the Spiritual Direction of Father Martin Alonso Bustos González, M.N.M. (Missionaries of the Nativity of Mary), was filled with joy and gratitude to have sponsored the May Crowning Ceremony of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The ceremony was held on May 25 during the Saturday evening Mass. Pastor and Mass celebrant Father Martin presided at the May Crowning Celebration held after the homily.

The Legion of Mary has been in existence at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church since 1947. It is interesting to note that the founding Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church was from the religious order Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I) and the current Spiritual Director is from the religious order Missionaries of the Nativity of Mary (M.N.M.); both religious orders under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Father Martin has greatly motivated parishioners to participate in the Legion of Mary and thanks to his continued support; presently there are 18 active members in Mary Immaculate Praesidium and 100 auxiliary members.

The month of May is traditionally the month dedicated to honoring Our Blessed Virgin Mary with the custom of consecrating the month of May to Our Holy Mother Mary by special observances.

Throughout the month of May the parishioners prayed the Rosary before every evening Mass, interspersed with the singing of various Marian hymns along with a procession of flowers.

For Mother’s Day the Legion of Mary distributed the parish gifts of a silver necklace with an ornate crucifix.

The May Crowning Celebration is a beautiful Catholic tradition that remains very popular because of the love and devotion to Our Mother Mary by the Priests and parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Members of the Legion of Mary under the artistic direction of Father Martin decorated the church for the May Crowning Ceremony.

This year the Figueroa family: Angel and Claudia and their three children: 15 year old Kristian and 8 year old twins, Alexia and Luis, was selected by the Legion of Mary to crown the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a golden crown to signify her as the Queen of Heaven. Alexia wearing her First Communion dress crowned the Blessed Virgin Mary with her family accompanying her. Alexia and Luis received the Sacrament of their First Holy Communion on May 18 with Father Carlos Oscar Velázquez Lázaro, Vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, presiding at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

The Figueroa family is active in various parish organizations and activities. Mr. and Mrs. Figueroa both expressed joy and gratitude that their family had been selected to crown the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mrs. Figueroa stated, “We are blessed to have three wonderful kids that we are raising in following God’s path. We are just like every other family with many struggles, but we know that since we accepted God in our life, everything is possible.”