Missionary image of Our Lady draws hundreds

By Renee Webb, Globe editor
April 6, 2006

When Marge Stanek and other members of the board at Trinity Heights in Sioux City arranged to have the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe brought to the diocese, they had no idea what to expect in the way of response by the people.

"There was an overwhelming reaction," noted Stanek. "I think Our Lady had to be very pleased because so many people came to be close to her."

The digital image of Our Lady was made available for a visit here from a pro-life friend of Stanek's from Council Bluffs, Christine Wilson. The image was in the Council Bluffs area for about 10 days due to the opening of a pro-life pregnancy center there.

The bishops of Mexico had commissioned to make this replica image in 1981 to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe's appearance to Juan Diego. The image was blessed and stored near the original tilma that is housed in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico. In 1991, the bishops of Mexico gave it to the United States to use as an evangelization tool. Since that time, it has made stops in hundreds of locations throughout the country.

Accompanied by four guardians from Council Bluffs, the first public viewing of the image in Sioux City was at Trinity Heights.

The image was brought to the Marian Center in a procession from the chapel at Trinity Heights. Deacon Bill Berger processed with the Blessed Sacrament. An altar that held a monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament was the main center of attention in the hall and the image of Our Lady was set up near the side aisle.

Following a few comments and reflections by two of the guardians, silently, out of respect for the Blessed Sacrament, people formed a line and venerated the image. One of the guardians - Francis Bogdanyi - explained that the Blessed Sacrament was to be adored and the image was to be venerated in order to implore Our Lady to intercede on behalf of the people.

"Our Lady is a message of hope, a message of trust in this world today," noted Bogdanyi. "If we go to her and we ask for her intercession, we can stop all of this useless killing - the slaughter of the innocence, the babies. We can pray that the abortion clinics will close."

He pointed out that there have been more than 20 abortion clinics closed after a visit by the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

At Trinity Heights, a basket was set up so people could place prayer intentions for the intercession of Our Lady.

When venerating the image, people touched it with their hands, kissed it or knelt before it. Rose petals were placed on the floor by the image so that people could take a keepsake. Another of the guardians - Francis' wife, Yolanda - mentioned that people might want to place the rose petal on the image.

Larry Walsh, a board member from Trinity Heights, presented a brief overview of the story of Juan Diego and told about Our Lady of Guadalupe leaving her image on his tilma (cloak).

Prior to starting the rosary, Bishop R. Walker Nickless said he prayed that people might have greater knowledge and openness "to the truth that all life is sacred from natural conception to natural death."

Kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, the bishop led the rosary.

Organizers estimate that more than 400 people came to Trinity Heights to view and venerate the image. Among those present were 21 seminarians from Conception Seminary in Missouri. Hosted by St. Michael Parish of South Sioux City, Neb., they were visiting the area as part of a Hispanic Weekend.

Knowing the strong devotion of Our Lady to Hispanics, especially Mexicans, visiting the Missionary Image became part of the seminarians weekend.

Bryan Amthor, a seminarian from Missouri, said he thought it was a wonderful experience.

"It was nice to see the veneration of Mary and the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament- to see how devout the people were," he said.

Another seminarian from New Mexico, Michael Warren, mentioned that venerating the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was "a very emotional experience for me. Together with the adoration of Jesus - it was something I had never encountered or experienced in my life."

Dr. Paul Wolpert, a board member there, mentioned that this was the first time the image of Our Lady has been in the diocese. He thought it was a "spectacular" event.

"We were so overjoyed to have Bishop R. Walker Nickless assist us in saying the rosary - to emphasis the special role of the Blessed Mother in the mystery of salvation," he noted. "The rosary that the bishop said was the joyful mysteries, but in his reflections he was able to relate all of the various mysteries to the event that took place in Guadalupe. It was stunning."

After leaving Trinity Heights, the image was taken to Planned Parenthood at about 3:30 p.m. where Dr. Peggy McQuinty led about 40 people in the Stations of the Cross and pro-life prayers.

The image was then taken to the Cathedral of the Epiphany where it was present to the English language Mass at 5 p.m.

"When the 5 o'clock Mass was over, at 6 o'clock, the church began to fill with Hispanic people. They just kept coming," noted Marge. "There was a huge turnout of people."

Father Paul Kelly, Hispanic minister at Cathedral, estimated that about 800 people venerated the image that evening.

The image remained at the Cathedral through 7 p.m. Mass and later for veneration. At about 9:15 p.m., the image was taken to St. Michael Parish in South Sioux City, Neb. where it stayed through the night. In addition to venerating the image of Our Lady, people had the opportunity for all-night Eucharistic adoration. The guardians took the image back to Council Bluffs at about 2 p.m.

"I think the image was meant to go to those people," said Stanek, speaking of South Sioux, because originally there were no plans for it to go there. "Someone else had cancelled out for Sunday in Omaha. The word got out in such short notice."

Like the Cathedral, there were hundreds of people that went to St. Michael's to venerate the image but the biggest crowd was at the Cathedral.

"It was packed with one location after another. It was amazing," said Stanek, who estimated that 1,500-plus people venerated the image.