THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2007

Our Lady Of Candelaria Pilgrimage Heads To DP

By DENISE FLEISCHER

Lifestyle Editor

St. Mary Church will be honored with a visit from the Pilgrimage from Our Lady of Candelaria Catholic Church in Quitupan, Mexico on Saturday, June 9. Several representatives from the church will bring with them a priceless image in statue form of Mother Mary from the place where she is said to have appeared.

To celebrate this visit, members of St. Mary Parish will participate in a traditional procession in front of St. Mary Community Center, 795 Center St. Parishioners will gather in front of the courtyard at 3:30 p.m. and then process south on Center Street, to Lincoln. East on Lincoln, north on Cora, west on Thacker, and north on Pearson to the front doors of St. Mary Church. A Mass will then be held in the church at 6:45 p.m. and a fiesta will follow in the auditorium.

"The procession of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Candelaria commemorates her appearance to the people of rural Mexico," stated Father Gene Dyer of St. Mary.

The story behind Our Lady of Candelaria dates back to 1392. It originates in Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. Here it has been said that Mother Mary appeared before two Guanche Indians who were tending to their sheep. At the edge of a ravine, they learned that their flock was not moving. After further inspection, the shepherds saw a wooden statue of a woman holding a candle in one hand and a baby in the other. Their attempts to get the statue to move or break it only ended in their own injuries. Frustrated and concerned, the shepherds returned to their king and informed him of their situation. The king ordered that the statue be brought to his home. As they carried it, a miracle occurred, curing them of their illnesses. Recognizing the miracle, the statue was given the name "La Extrangera."

The Spaniards, years later, conquered the island of Lanzarote and planned on taking Tenerife, as well. They abducted a young Guanche boy from the island and taught him the catechism of the Church and then returned him to his people. The boy related all that he had learned and that the statue represented the Blessed Mother. So that all could honor her, the statue was placed in a cave named Achbinico, which was an underground temple. In 1530, the Dominicans took over the responsibility of watching over the precious statue. Nature had other plans. In 1826, a storm struck the island of Tenerife, washing away the statue. The great loss was recognized, every attempt to retrieve it made, but it was never located. The Dominicans commissioned an indentical statue to be created and it was presented and blessed in 1830. It was then named Our Lady of Candelaria and since 1599 it has been the Patron of all the Archipielago Islands. Her miracles and favors continue through pilgrimages.

"The procession is to praise and thank God for the many ways His divine intervention touches our lives. (A celebration of faith) Mary always leads us closer to Christ and intercedes on our behalf," stated Father Dyer. "During a procession, people also offer prayers of petition especially where help is needed in very difficult circumstances. Those who are not familiar with God or His love are always welcome to the procession to experience the power of faith and love within the community. Years ago, religious processions were very common - the people of Mexico still do them today - a more well known procession occurs during the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December."

According to Father Dyer, this is St. Mary's fifth year of welcoming the pilgrimage. Catholics in the Chicago and New York City areas arrange for their friends and relatives from Quitupan to visit the United States in June. They bring a very old and valuable replica of the statue and stay in Des Plaines before traveling to New York City - and then back to Mexico.

"Throughout the centuries, Mary has appeared around the world. - that is why there are different titles for her," stated Father Dyer.

They are Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Candelaria, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.