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The
First International Marian Congress on Our Lady of Guadalupe
6
- 8 august 2009 - Phoenix,
United States
Thousands
of people waited hours in 100-degree heat outside Jobing.com
Arena Saturday to attend the Guadalupe Festival, a day for
Catholics to sing, dance and celebrate. While confusion
about tickets and entry gates marred the beginning of the
day, those who made it in said they still planned to have
a good time. "It’s the first time we’ve had anything like
this, and I know everyone is very excited," said Maria Nixen,
who traveled from Yuma for the event.
"It’s a wonderful opportunity for the Catholic community
to come together." Serving as the conclusion of the First
International Marian Congress on Our Lady of Guadalupe held
from Thursday through Saturday, organizers said the festival
was meant to commemorate the apparition of the Virgin Mary
to Juan Diego in 1531 — a pivotal event in the spread of
Christianity in the Americas. "We came a very long way to
be a part of this," said Vitor Ribeiro of New Mexico.
"We are just very thankful we made it inside. From the look
of things, there are a lot of people who will be turned
away." Nixen said she was lucky in that regard, too. "We
only had to wait about two hours," she said. "We worked
out a plan with some friends, so whoever got here first
would save a place for the other. It wasn’t too bad."
The
festival was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, the Diocese
of Phoenix, the Archdiocese of Mexico and the Instituto
Superior de Estudios Guadalupanos.
The
event featured numerous speakers and performers, including:
actor Eduardo Verástegui; singer
Alexander Acha; singer Filippa Giordano; and author Immaculee
Ilibagiza. On hand to represent the event sponsors were:
Carl Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus;
and Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Diocese of Phoenix.
Also in attendance was Monsignor Eduardo Chávez, postulator
for the Cause of the Canonization of Saint Juan Diego.
The event was not just song and dance, however. The only
piece of St. Juan Diego’s cloak in the United States was
given a place of honor at the festival, and the day’s events
were concluded with an International Rosary said in multiple
languages.
"Our Lady of Guadalupe is very special to all of us, and
we are very thankful to the Knights of Columbus for setting
this up," Nixen said. "It is going to be a great day."
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