Traveling image of the Virgin of Zapopan brought to Utah for three Masses

Intermountain Catholic

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Each May Franciscan priests bring the image from the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan, in Jalisco, Mexico, to Los Angeles; this year, Barrios Unidos of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish arranged for the traveling image of the Virgin of Zapopan to stop in Midvale for three Masses. Many miracles are attributed to the Virgin, including the conversion to Christianity of the indigenous people in the Tzapopan region of Mexico. People from around the diocese visited St. Therese Parish for the three Masses, said Father Martin Diaz, pastor. "The reason that the parish sponsored the visit is for cultural awareness. Catholics around the world have an image of the Virgin that’s important to them, that comes out of their country or their part of the world, so it makes sense to be culturally aware of images of Our Lady in different parts of the world."