Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

On December 3, the members of the Fulton Sheen House of Formation began their annual novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe.  A little shrine with a beautiful image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was set up in the Church for veneration. Each night, the seminarians and priests met in the church before the image to recite the rosary and sing traditional Marian hymns to our Lady.  Included in the novena was a special petition for priestly vocations, a new foundation in Mexico, and the personal intentions of the members of the house.

The day of the feast began with mañanitas followed by the solemn celebration of the Mass in which Father Gustavo Domenech, rector of the seminary, was the principal celebrant and homilist.  Since this year's feast coincided with the Third Sunday of Advent, he spoke about the fidelity of St. John the Baptist in proclaiming the good news.

Our order, in particular, cultivates a special devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.  First, because we are missionaries with members predominantly from North, Central and South America and Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the Americas.  Secondly, because of her method of evangelization whereby she used the cultural elements of the indigenous people to lead them to Jesus Christ.  This ties in nicely with our charism which is to inculturate the Gospel wherever we are sent.

We pray through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe for more missionaries to assist us in our effort of Christianizing cultures throughout the world.