Our Lady of Guadalupe statue to visit Madison
MADISON —Those who want to venerate Our Lady of Guadalupe but don’t have an opportunity to travel internationally will soon get their chance to do so.
A life-size statue depicting the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will make a week-long visit to Madison in April as part of a worldwide tour that has drawn thousands of pilgrims hoping to be renewed in Our Lady’s message of love and hope.
The “Pilgrim Mother” (“Madre Peregrina”) statue will be on display from Tuesday, April 7, to Tuesday, April 14, at St. Joseph Church, 1905 W. Beltline Hwy.
The church is part of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
The visit will start with an opening bilingual Mass celebrated by Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m.
The statue was created by Mexican artist Jorge Ismael Rodríguez to closely resemble the image of Our Lady that was imprinted on St. Juan Diego’s tilma during Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparitions on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico in 1531.
The statue’s primary purpose is to bring the spiritual presence and intercessory power of Our Lady of
Guadalupe to communities worldwide, fostering peace, love, and hope among Catholic pilgrims.
The Pilgrim Mother was commissioned by the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico and has been traveling internationally ahead of the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the apparitions in 2031.
Daily events
Throughout the statue’s residence in Madison, there will be daily programs comprised of presentations in English and Spanish, as well as live music and devotions such as the Rosary.
These programs will each last for about an hour and be followed by Mass.
Fr. Tim Oudenhoven, a priest of the Diocese of La Crosse who is helping coordinate the Pilgrim Mother’s journeys through Wisconsin, will serve as an English-language presenter during these programs.
Spanish-language talks will be given by Fr. José Luis Vazquez, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.
In addition, pilgrims will be invited to participate in a digital retelling of the story and message of Our Lady of Guadalupe through audio, music, and prayers, which leads into a time of prayer and veneration of the statue.
Most days of the statue’s visit will feature multiple opportunities to attend this immersive experience, and most experiences will be followed by food and fellowship in the church hall and an outdoor tent.
Presenting prayers
A key feature of the Pilgrim Mother veneration experience is the presentation of prayer intentions to Our Lady.
During their time of prayer with the statue, pilgrims will receive ribbons, on which they can write any petitions that they wish to bring to Mary.
These ribbons will be left with the statue and later taken to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, where Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob of Milwaukee will offer a special Mass in June for all the intentions of the Wisconsin pilgrims who visited the Pilgrim Mother statue.
The Pilgrim Mother statue began touring Wisconsin late last month, including residences in Milwaukee, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, La Crosse, Chippewa Falls, and Stevens Point.