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Homilies
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Announcement 1. From the first inspiration of the building of a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe here, the goal has been to build a beautiful church dedicated to Our Lord Jesus and His Mother and our Mother, our Lady of Guadalupe. The goal has been to build a church in which the Mother of God will be venerated and will draw all to her Divine Son, the mercy of God Incarnate, above all, in the Holy Eucharist and Confession. Other buildings of the Shrine have necessarily preceded the construction of the Church but, thanks be to God, the construction of Our Lady’s church is well on the way. 2. With deepest joy, I announce to you tonight the date of the dedication of the Shrine Church and its altar, in order that appropriate preparations can be made for the most solemn occasion and you can mark your calendars. The dedication of the Shrine Church and its altar of sacrifice will take place, God willing, on July 31, 2008, the sixth anniversary of the canonization of Saint Juan Diego by our late and most beloved Pope John Paul II at our Lady’s Shrine, under her maternal gaze, in Mexico City. 3. The work of the shrine is a spiritual work. It is in the hands of God. All of us who labor to carry it forward are deeply conscious that we, like St. Juan Diego, are messengers of Our Lady and, therefore, humble and trusting servants of God, our all-merciful and all-loving Father. Please pray, through the intercession of our Lady of Guadalupe, for God’s continued blessing upon the Shrine. Please pray also for the continued generosity of the devoted sons and daughters of Our Lady of Guadalupe who, by their sacrificial contributions, have made and continue to make possible the development of this important work. I beg for your continued prayers and sacrifices so that Our Lady of Guadalupe may show God’s mercy and love to all who will visit her here. 4. Thank you for your presence this evening. My special thanks to the members of the Queen of the Americas Guild and to the Guild’s President Frank Smoczynski, the Board of Directors, and, in a particular way, the Guild’s Spiritual Advisor, Bishop Joseph Madera; to the Board of Directors of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe; and to Sister Christa Marie and the staff of the Shrine. Let us make an appointment tonight to be here on July 31, 2008, in praise and worship of almighty God Who has blessed us so abundantly here. God bless you. May Our Lady hold you always in the crossing of her arms.
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