AMERICA/HONDURAS - “Mary, readily listening to the word”: message for the 262nd anniversary of the discovery of the image of Our Lady of Suyapa, patroness of Honduras

Thursday, 5 February 2009

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Tegucigalpa (Agenzia Fides) – Thousands of pilgrims participated this Tuesday in a Mass in honor of Our Lady of Suyapa, patroness of Honduras, to celebrate the 262nd anniversary of the discovery of her image, a small statue found on a mountain in northeastern Tegucigalpa. The ceremony was presided by the Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Madariaga. Pilgrims from all over the country came to spend 3-days and 3 nights in tents around the exterior of the Shrine of Suyapa, in eastern Tegucigalpa, set up by the army and firemen. According to Church authorities, some 2 million pilgrims from various areas of Honduras and other countries in Central America came to visit the shrine in the last week.
The Mass in honor of the patroness of Honduras was concelebrated by over 160 priests and seminarians and was also attended by the nation's President Manuel Zelaya. Also present was Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez of San Antonio (Texas), as the North American city has for 10 years now maintained an accord of collaboration with the Catholic Church in Honduras. Bishop Neil Teadman of Mandeville, Jamaica was also present.
A crowd of 5,000 was gathered in the church and the homily was given by Archbishop Jose Horacio Gomez, who asked for prayers for peace and an end to violence, as well as for the cultivation of the Catholic faith. On Monday night and Tuesday morning, there was song and prayers with thousands of pilgrims. Fr. Hermer Sorto, parish priest of Suyapa, explained that this year the central message of the event was “Mary, readily listening to the word,” through which the Mother of God calls us to convert and live our faith focused on her Son Jesus. “Each year, pilgrims come to visit their Mother and offer her their gifts or ask her for a miracle,” Fr. Hermer explained.
The “Virgen Morena” or Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Suyapa was declared patroness of Honduras in 1925, by Pope Pius XI and Patroness/“Captain” of the Armed Forces in 1969. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 05/02/2009)