“Turning my worries over to Mary, I felt peace returned to me”

As a Cuban-American Catholic girl, my childhood was shaped by two Marys: La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre and Madonna of the Street, my mother’s favorite. It wasn’t until I moved to Los Angeles in the late 1990s that I encountered Our Lady of Guadalupe. Over time, she became my go-to Mary — a spiritual anchor when I faced challenges and uncertainties.

My first introduction to her was through the murals of East LA. Her image adorned walls, storefronts, and community spaces, radiating protection and hope. A miracle worker in her story, she appeared to the indigenous Juan Diego in 1531, asking him to convince the bishop to build a basilica in her honor on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico. With Mary’s support, Juan Diego persisted despite multiple rejections. The gift of roses blooming out of season and her image imprinted on Juan Diego’s tilma finally touched the bishop’s heart. Her story captivated me; it resonated deeply with the struggles and resilience I saw in my own life and in the community.

One day, a friend and I attended an art show at Self Help Graphics & Art in East Los Angeles. Outside, a grand mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe welcomed visitors. Inside, as I meandered through the rooms looking at student art, I suddenly saw her – a simple, yet beautiful pastel depiction of Mary of Guadalupe with soft blues and pinks, her brown skin and black hair evoking peace and strength. I brought that image home with me (pictured up top of our newsletter today). 

A few years later, I attended a women’s conference offered by Dolores Mission Church and Proyecto Pastoral. This annual event honored immigrant women — mothers, grandmothers, tias, and madrinas — who gave so much to their families, to the parish and to the neighborhood. 

Inspired by the conference which focused on the health and well-being of women, I partnered with parish leader Rita Chairez to start a 10-week support group for women. We hoped to create a space for healing, active listening, and mutual support. Before our first meeting, doubt crept in — was I capable of this? I turned to Our Lady of Guadalupe in prayer: “If this is from you, please help me.” Turning my worries over to Mary, I felt peace returned to me, and I brought my Guadalupe image to the meeting, inviting her presence to guide us.

Women shared their stories, listened to one another with compassion, and reported positive changes in their family relationships. Over time, we facilitated several more groups, each one fostering healing and connection in a community marked by loss and resilience.

One of our greatest challenges came when violence struck close. A woman from the first group lost her grandson to violence; another lost a young man in her extended family. Together, Rita and I discerned the need for a new support group for families grieving loved ones lost to violence. We called it Sobrevivientes — Survivors of Violence — and this time we held the meetings inside the church sanctuary, so that we could be surrounded by sacred images: Jesus, Our Lady of Sorrows, Santa Maria del Camino, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Oscar Romero. These icons of faith bore witness to our collective pain and desires for healing, centered in Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

Mary’s presence assured us we were not alone, even when carrying great suffering. A mother to us all, she accompanied us, as she has done for centuries, showing up and helping to guide the way. 

Fast forward to 2021 – soon after we started Discerning Deacons, we discovered that many of us in our DD community had a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 2022, together with women in ministry from the Amazon, DD organized an intercontinental, synodal pilgrimage to the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The synodal report from that encounter (in English, Spanish and Portuguese) continues to inspire our ministry and our hope. 

Reflecting on Our Lady of Guadalupe’s enduring message, she calls us to persevere, to trust in her guidance, and to embrace the mission she places before us. As we approach the 500th anniversary of her apparition on December 12, 2031, I invite you to consider: How has Our Lady of Guadalupe shown up in your life? What mission is she calling you to, and how might she help you carry it out?

Through her, we find not only hope but the courage to create spaces of healing, love, and transformation in a world that desperately needs our Mother’s guiding love.

P.S. Listen to a beautiful reflection about Our Lady of Guadalupe by Dermis de Jesús, recorded for Catholic Women Preach. You’ll be moved to hear the unique way Mary showed up in Dermis’ life during a time of family health challenges. Click here.

P.P.S. There’s still time to participate in our Advent Appeal and contribute to the good work of Discerning Deacons. Click here to make your contribution.