Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Diocese of Paterson led a pilgrimage to Mexico to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Sisters of Mary Girlstown in Chalco, Sept. 18 to 21. World Villages for Children organized the pilgrimage, which had 80 travelers from the diocese and around the country. Also leading the pilgrimage was Father Davis Wells, pastor of St. Martin of Tours in Gaithersburg, Md.; Father Ian Winterling, chaplain and Theology teacher at Seton Catholic Preparatory High School in Chandler, Ariz., and Kevin Wells, author of “Priest and Beggar,” a biography about Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, founder of the Sisters of Mary and World Villages for Children.
Social media dispatches from Bishop Sweeney:
Day 1
I was blessed to travel to Mexico last night to be with a group of 80 pilgrims, many from our Diocese (and from 19 states), organized by “World Villages for Children.” We celebrated an opening Mass last night and will be heading to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe this morning.
“Stay tuned” for updates and photos. We’ll be praying for you and your intentions. Please pray for us.
Day 2
We had a beautiful and prayerful day at “La Basilica” of Guadalupe, seeing the “Tilma,” the original image, and the Tilma (poncho) of St. Juan Diego. We climbed “Tepeyac” hill, where the apparitions took place, and celebrated Mass at the Chapel of the “Pocito,” the “little well.” We remembered your intentions at Mass.
Tomorrow, we head for “Village of the Children” (Girlstown) in Chalco. Please keep us in your prayers. We’ll be praying for you and your intentions.
Day 3
Father Aloysius Schwartz began his priestly ministry as a missionary in Korea, where he would establish the first of his “Girlstowns” and “Boystowns.” It was also in Korea where he founded the Sisters of Mary. It was providential that we were able to visit Girlstown in Chalco, Mexico on Sept. 20, the Feast Day of the Korean Martyrs.
It was a tremendous blessing and privilege to be able to celebrate Mass with the Girlstown community of 3,300 girls (between the ages of 12 – 17) and 37 Sisters of Mary, with the staff, volunteers and our group of 80 pilgrims. It was also a blessing to spend the day with the community.
I asked the community at Mass to pray especially for the intentions of the pilgrims in our group, which included the intentions of all of you who have been following us and united with us in prayer during these days. Please pray that we will have a safe and smooth trip home tomorrow, as we will continue praying for you. ¡Muchísimas Gracias! God Bless you!
Cecile Pagliarulo contributed to this article and edited the accompanying video. Special thanks to the Diocese of Paterson staff who provided the photographs and video. Also see our social media channels.
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