From the Pastor’s desk— January 14, 2024

Today a part of our world continues to start the new year with our Blessed Mother.  Under the title of the Divine/ Good Shepherdess, Mary is venerated, in parts of Venezuela, Columbia, Trinidad and the Philippines (and wherever her devotees live.)  This year the Venezuelan community in Springfield is going to introduce their beloved devotion to our parish at Sacred Heart and as such, I would like to share some of the amazing story and lessons she brings us.

In 1736 a parish priest in the town of Santa Rosa Venezuela commissioned a sculptor to create an image of the Immaculate Conception. To his surprise, he received what was depicted as the Divine or Good Shepherdess.  The priest did not want the statue and said to have it sent to another country, but when they tried to move the crate, they were unable to do so even with the force of innumerable men.  They took this as a sign that the statue of the Blessed Mother wanted to stay with them.

The faithful began to pay more attention to the sculpture in 1812 when an earthquake hit Barquisimeto destroying the church and surrounding buildings, but this statue remained completely untouched.  The devotion strengthened even more in 1855 when Barquisimeto was suffering horrendously from the world pandemic of cholera decimating the local population.  A priest, Fr Jose Macario Yepez, contracted the deadly disease and offered himself to the virgin if she would intercede to end the pandemic.  Tradition says his was the last death from this disease and it has not returned since. 

Presently, on the 14^th of each January, the largest procession for Mary in the world occurs in Barquisimeto with an estimated 2 million participating in the 7.5 km procession.  In 2016 the pilgrims numbered over 4 million.  Even with this following, this is not the patroness of Venezuela, that honor is to Our Lady of Coromoto.  Nonetheless, all devotion to Mary is to the mother of us all and all devotion is veneration, never worship nor adoration, these belong by right to God alone.

What has this Mary to teach us?  Mary is always a reflection of her Son the Good Shepherd who in His tender love is often shown healing the sick, and the Divina Pastora is no different. Mary is known worldwide in places like Guadalupe and Lourdes as well for the healing miracles that come through her intercession, never by her power.

As we begin this new year, we are again invited to walk with Mary perhaps in a new relationship as a mother who shepherds us, her children in physical and spiritual health trusting us to her Son.   One of the most beautiful things about my life in a multicultural community like Sacred Heart, is to see Mary through someone else’s eyes because whenever I do, I see Jesus more clearly too. 

 

   

 

 

 

                     

 

With a heart for Mission,
Fr. Ray