AMERICA/MEXICO - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in parishes and families, the Basilica closed

Wednesday, 25 November 2020 marian devotion   coronavirus   local churches  

Mexico City (Agenzia Fides) - The government of Mexico City, in coordination with the Archdiocese of Mexico, the Bishops' Conference of Mexico (CEM), the National Basilica of Guadalupe and the Mayor's Office, inform that the Basilica of Guadalupe will be closed from December 10 to 13. The faithful are therefore invited to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in their parishes and at home, in compliance with the health measures against the coronavirus, and to follow the celebration r through public radio and television channels and the Basilica's digital platforms.
Every year, according to the note sent to Agenzia Fides, about 10 million pilgrims from all over America gather in the Basilica of Guadalupe on the occasion of this feast and to prevent a further spread of Covid-19 this decision was taken, in full agreement between civil and religious authorities. "Our governments are secular, but we always open the doors to this celebration which belongs to the vast majority of the people of Mexico" said the Mayor of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, adding that a security service will be organized on December 12 in the perimeter near the Basilica of Guadalupe to discourage the arrival of any faithful and provide them with the information necessary to follow the celebration through the media.
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Mexico City, specified that the health conditions that the country is experiencing due to Covid-19 do not allow this year to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe through pilgrimages. Therefore, for the good of all Mexican people, containment measures will be taken to prevent the spread of the virus. The Basilica of Guadalupe has prepared an extensive program of activities which can be viewed on the website www.virgendeguadalupe.org.mx, which can be followed on television and via the Internet, as well as a number of modalities allowing active participation from a distance .
"Our common concern is the health and life of the faithful. Our Lady of Guadalupe is in favor of life. This is why we going to Her. Our Lady will now come to our homes, instead of waiting for us at her home. She will come through the communication technologies which, thank God, we now have", the Cardinal said.
The Archbishop of Monterrey and President of CEM, Mgr. Rogelio Cabrera López, underlined: "We join the pain of all the Mexican people, who have suffered because of this pandemic, for those who are sick, for those who have died. We want to collaborate with our local authorities, with the governments of our cities, to implement, for the good of all of Mexico, these measures which are necessary, and which do not intend to undermine the fervor, devotion and faith of those who celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 25/11/2020)


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