Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego

The National Sanctuary of our Lady of Guadalupe, the Hombre Nuevo radio program hosted by Father Juan Rivas, LC, and the World Association of Mexicans in Foreign Countries (AMME in Spanish) united on August 4th in Sacramento, California (USA) to celebrate the canonization of Juan Diego. The sanctuary was standing room only, with over 2,000 people in attendance, including entire families participating fervently and with great joy, many dressed in the traditional garb of their native Mexico.

The festivities began with Aztec dancers interpreting a number of traditional pieces along with a special Ave Maria sequence dedicated to Our Lady. Father

	Dances were performed in honor of Saint Juan Diego's canonization.

Salvador Gómez, LC, pastor of the National Sanctuary of our Lady of Guadalupe, welcomed all those who were present, especially Bishop William Weigand and Auxiliary Bishop Richard Garcia. He invited participants to be true to their Catholic faith, echoing the Holy Father´s words for Latin America.

Bishop Garcia then encouraged the faithful to follow the example of Saint Juan Diego, a man of great faith and simplicity. Spontaneous cheers of "Long live our Lady of Guadalupe" could be heard throughout. After the bishop´s address, representatives of different parishes each led a decade of the rosary while parish choirs led the assembly in song. A group of children offered flowers to our Blessed Mother.

His Excellency William Weigand led the participants in a special

	His Excellency William Weigand, Bishop of Sacramento, praying the rosary before an image of our Lady of Guadalupe.

consecration to Our Lady of Guadalupe, consecrating their souls, bodies, families, life, children, young people, marriages, the Sanctuary, the Legionaries of Christ and all those who helped organize this wonderful event. He then expressed his great enthusiasm at the opportunity to participate in the celebration, noting the joy we should experience as members of the Mystical Body of Christ upon seeing one of our brothers, Juan Diego, reach the heights of sanctity. "His canonization should encourage us all to reach for those same heights", concluded Bishop Weigand.

Following the Bishop´s address the congregation turned their attention to several large video screens to relive the Holy Father´s canonization Mass of Juan Diego.

Father Gómez concluded the celebration thanking the Bishops and all those present for their joyful participation, while inviting them to join the pilgrimage arriving from Los Angeles (USA) on the 10th of August to the Sanctuary.

Mass media coverage was continuous. All of Sacramento´s local English- and Spanish-speaking television outlets covered the events.

The event produced many spiritual fruits, including the promotion of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a place of spiritual growth where the Hispanic peoples can return to their religious and cultural roots. It also awakened the local media to the wonderful Hispanic influence within the local Church in Sacramento, and increased the mutual appreciation and esteem of the Bishops and the lay faithful people of the Sacramento diocese.