ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES TO HOST INTERNATIONAL DEBUT OF NEW VENERATION EXPERIENCE WITH OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE 2024
—The event will feature a new blessed, multidimensional image of the Virgin of Guadalupe from Mexico City–
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is honored to be the first stop of the U.S. and international tour of a new Veneration Experience with Our Lady of Guadalupe, from December 2 through December 8, at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, 428 S Mission Drive San Gabriel, CA 91776. The sculpture along with two digital reproductions of the original miraculous image and one of St. Juan Diego, gifts for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, were blessed at the Basilica of Our Lady in Mexico City by the Rector Monsignor Efrain Hernandez Diaz. They are now on route to Los Angeles and registration for free admittance to the experience opened today at Guadalupe500project.com.
“We are filled with joy and are looking forward to the arrival of this unique sculpture, and the other blessed images, which bring Our Lady’s message of hope, uniting our communities of faith around the world as we prepare for the coming Jubilee year,” said Archbishop Gomez. “These wonderful gifts are an extraordinary blessing to our Archdiocese and will serve as a profound source of spiritual strength and unity for our diverse Catholic community. On behalf of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I thank Monsignor Efrain and everyone at the Basilica and the Archdiocese of Mexico City for their kindness, generosity and friendship.”
In a video message to the faithful in California, Mons. Hernandez Diaz, expressed his hopes for the special experience and invited the faithful in California to join him as the experience begins its journey in Los Angeles. “This experience of spiritual veneration will awaken a renewed sense of devotion and will strengthen ties among our nations,” said Mons. Hernandez Diaz. “We hope it will ignite new generations to experience the deep meaning of being Guadalupanos. We hope everyone will take part in this unique and special moment in Los Angeles. From Tepeyac to California, we look forward to seeing you soon.”
The new sculpture was created in Mexico City by renowned artist Jorge Ismael Rodríguez López de Lara. The faithful and all who are devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe will be able to take part in the prayerful experience, featuring specially composed music, which recounts the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe and her message of hope that resonates to this day. All who attend will be able to venerate the unique one-of-kind, multidimensional reproduction of the iconic image, which has been a symbol of unity, peace, compassion, and hope for people around the world.
The mission of the international tour is to share Our Lady’s message of peace and hope leading up to the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego. The veneration experience comes at a moment of spiritual preparation in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles for the special Jubilee Year for Catholics worldwide in 2025, themed “Pilgrims of Hope.” The 2025 Jubilee year is intended to be a time of hope for the world. Pope Francis has invited Catholics to renew their hope in Jesus Christ.
The experience is provided by in-kind donations and will be free for those wishing to attend. Visitors will be able to register for an entry free of cost. For more information including photos and video of the blessing of the images, to receive updates, register or donate to this special project visit, Guadalupe500project.com.
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