An exact photographic replica of the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe along with Fr. Frank Pavone of New York, National Director of Priests for Life, will visit St. Anthony Catholic Church, 464 S. First Street in Raymondville, on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 11:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The visit is in conjunction with Respect Life Month and with special activities during the Jubilee Year 2000.
Fr. Pavone has spoken on life and family issues around the world, including in India at the request of the late Mother Teresa. After spending the afternoon of Oct. 7 in Raymondville, Fr. Pavone will speak at a Youth Event for Catholic youth and young adults in Willacy and Cameron counties at 4 p.m. Oct. 7 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Harlingen.
The visit to Raymondville is part of an overall 11-day pilgrimage through the entire Valley which began Sept. 30 in Starr County and will end Oct. 10 in Brownsville. In addition to Fr. Pavone, two special guests, Pedro and Lupita Noguez of Puebla, Mexico, will travel with the Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "They will perform dramatic presentations which tell the story of Ou Lady of Guadalupe's appearance to Juan Diego in Mexico in year 1531," said Sister Nancy Boushey, OSB, of the Benedictine Sisters of the Good Shepherd Monastery in Starr County.
"With the coming of the replica Image of Our lady of Guadalupe, the Pro-Life Committee of the Diocese of Brownsville wishes to remind people everywhere that Mary is the mother of Jesus and our mother," said Fr. Matthew Krempel, OFM, Pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Progreso and Pro-Life Coordinator for the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville.
The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was blessed by Pope John Paul II in Rome and by the late Juan Jesus Cardinal Posadas Ocampo, Archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico.