Our Lady of Zapopan visits Diocese of Salt Lake

Intermountain Catholic

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Father Eleazar Silva, the cathedral's parochial vicar, and Franciscan Friar Rodrigo Tlaxalo, from Guadalajara, México, lead the procession in which two catechists of the cathedral carry the image.

SALT LAKE CITY - Hundreds of people from throughout the state greeted the arrival of the icon of Our Lady of Zapopan in a pilgrimage through different places around the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City.

Our Lady of Zapopan is venerated not only in Zapopan, but throughout México and in the United States. Her statue reposes in the Basilica of Zapopan in Jalisco, México.

She is also referred to as La Generala or the Zapopanita. In 1734, she was proclaimed patroness against storms and lightning. After Mexico became independent in 1821, the Virgin was proclaimed patroness of the State of Jalisco. She was canonically crowned on January 18, 1921, by Archbishop Don Francisco Orozco y Jiménez with the blessing and authorization of Pope Benedict XV.

This is the second year that the icon has been brought to Utah. On May 1, Father Oscar Martin Picos, pastor of Saint George Catholic Church, and Franciscan Friar Rodrigo Tlaxalo, who came from Guadalajara, México with the icon, carried the majestic statue of Our Lady of Zapopan into the church and placed it on the altar. Friar Tlaxalo celebrated the Spanish Mass and explained the significance of the statue, which is celebrating 90 years of being crowned.

After that the pilgrimage continued to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Midvale. The Virgin was received by a large group of parishioners, who celebrated with dances, food and music. Néstor Lozano, a parishioner of St. Therese and member of the ministry of Barrios Unidos, said that they were pleased to have the Virgen visit.

"People are really happy; we have asked her to help us, and for different intercessions, but mainly for her help with the immigration laws that are happening," Lozano said.

The next stop in the pilgrimage was the Madeleine Choir School, where the statue of Our Lady of Zapopan was escorted by Reverend Eleazar Silva, parochial vicar of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Friar Tlaxalo, and students to the school's chapel.

The Virgin then travelled to Saint Felipe Parish in Wendover.

"We are honoured... I don't have words. This is a very good surprise," said Martina García, a St. Felipe parishioner.

Saint Marguerite Parish in Tooele was the next stop, followed by Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City, where the pastor, Father Omar Ontiveros, welcomed the Virgin.

"We welcome Father Rodrigo and we thank him for bringing us the blessing of our Mother in the invocation of the Zapopan Virgin," said Fr. Ontiveros.

"For me, that the Virgin is here with us is a blessing. It means that she never leaves us alone. She is my mother," said Nancy Martinez from Zacatecas, México.

Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Kearns was the next stop.

"For us Catholics, the visit is very important because of our beliefs and our love for the Mother of Jesus. This is the beginning of something very good," said Nadia Bello, from California.

The end of the pilgrimage was at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, where the visit of the Virgin was celebrated on Mother's Day. For the Mass, the cathedral was packed. Aztec dancers framed the entrance to the cathedral, followed by the procession in which the catechists and dozens of children offered flowers to Our Lady of Zapopan.

Fr. Eleazar Silva was in charge of welcoming the image. "We welcome the Virgin, we are very happy to have her here with us," he said.

The congregation was touched by the visit, which was marked with resounding rounds of applause, tear-filled eyes and big smiles.