Mexico – Visit of the Councillor for the Missions |
Mexico – Assembly of the Prelature of the Mixes |
(ANS – Mexico City) – On 9 October thousands of the faithful from various deaneries, parishes and missionary groups in the Mixe Prelature went on pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico. The pilgrimage was led by representatives of all religious communities and the diocesan clergy who are working in the Prelature.
The pilgrims with the Salesian Bishop Hector Guerrero Córdova at their head, began their journey towards the Cathedral in the early hours of the morning, alternating hymns, traditional music and the recital of the rosary. The Solemn Mass at which Bishop Guerrero Córdova presided was concelebrated by about 50 priests including the Salesian Provincial of Mexico-México (MEM) Fr Miguel Agustín Aguilar Medina. Music was provided by a Mixe Band conducted by Fr Leopoldo Ballesteros Rico.
In his homily, the Salesian Bishop referring to the gospel of the day and the parable of those invited to the wedding feast said: “Jesus is inviting us to the banquet of the Kingdom, but we are not going because we are afraid, or because we lack the will. We lack humilty”. Then recalling the story of the young Indian Juan Diego, he presented him as a model for all. “Juan Diego was able to respond to the call of the Madonna and was the most humble servant.” At the end he invited all the pilgrims to remain firm in their faith and to proclaim the gospel with fidelity knowing that God is always at the side of his children.
Before the final blessing the Provincial thanked Bishop Guerrero Córdova for his presence and introduced the Salesian missionaries Fr Joseph Nguyen Nguyen and Juan Bautista Vu Hoai Phong; the two are working in the boarding schools in Rio Manso and Matagallinas, in the State of Oaxaca, and they received the applause of the faithful as a sign of their gratitude for their missionary work.
When the Mass was finished the pilgrims danced and performed regional music, shared a meal in the “mission house” and visited some other religious sites before setting off back to their homes.
Published 17/10/2011