MADISON — An extraordinary visit from Our Lady recently took place at St. Joseph Church in Madison.

From April 7 to 14, a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe — commissioned by the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City — was at that church to be venerated. St. Joseph Church is part of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

Known as the Madre Peregrina, or “Pilgrim Mother,” the statue is a replica of the image found on St. Juan Diego’s tilma, but rendered in 3D.

It is traveling around the United States and internationally in anticipation of the 500th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady, which took place in AD 1531.

History and faith

The Wisconsin portion of the statue’s tour was arranged by Fr. Tim Oudenhoven, a priest of the Diocese of La Crosse and the only U.S.-born theologian who is part of the Guadalupen College of Scholars in Mexico City.

He gave talks throughout the week speaking about the many beautiful aspects of Our Lady of Guadalupe — the history of Mexico, the symbolism of the image, how it connects to the Scriptural images in Revelation 12, and more.

God worked wonders through Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Over the 17 years following the apparitions, nine million people converted to Catholicism, the largest mass conversion in Church history.

Speaking about the miracles and care Our Lady gave through this apparition, Father Oudenhoven encouraged people to have great faith.

“We have this filter: ‘It’s too good to be true.’ But if it’s not good enough, it ain’t the truth. And we need to go beyond our expectations, beyond our safety metrics, to really realize the amazing, profound things that God wants to do in our lives,” he said.

Opening Mass

On April 7, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison celebrated the opening Mass for the week. The statue — which had been enclosed by curtains as people gathered — was unveiled as he processed in. He was joined by several priests of the diocese, including Fr. Drew Olson, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

The Mass was bilingual, with the majority of the Mass in Spanish, but many parts, such as the readings, also said in English.

As Mass began, the church was rapidly filled to capacity, but the parish was well prepared, and an overflow room allowed all who wanted to attend to do so.

After Mass, Father Oudenhoven spoke again to the congregation, taking pilgrims through the story of the apparitions, reminding them that Our Lady wants to love them and care for them as her children.

A video guided pilgrims through the words Mary spoke at the apparition, and then into a decade of the Rosary.

The Rosary marked the transition into the time of veneration. Pilgrims walked toward the statue and knelt in prayer.

As they waited their turn to venerate, they had a chance to examine two other extraordinary images: A replica of an image of St. Juan Diego and a replica image of the tilma.

This image is unique as it is made from quality close-up photographs, which the basilica in Mexico City allows to be taken only very rarely.

Father Oudenhoven is one of six people in 80 years who have been allowed to photograph the tilma up close.

The replicas were also touched to the actual image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, making them relics.

Pilgrims reverently prayed before the images before coming to pray before the statue itself. Some brought bouquets of flowers for Our Lady, and the space before the statue soon began to look bright and colorful with blooms.

As part of their prayer, pilgrims were invited to write down their petitions on white ribbons.

The ribbons will be taken to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob of Milwaukee and Father Oudenhoven will offer them to Our Lady.

Providing music during the time of veneration was a mariachi band.

Volunteers welcome pilgrims

Many people assisted in making the visit of the statue to Madison a reality. In addition to Father Oudenhoven; his apostolate, the Marian Messengers; Archbishop Grob; and those involved from the Basilica in Mexico City, there was generous local assistance.

An abundance of volunteers from the parish — dressed in red vests — guided the faithful to various locations, assisted with parking, kept things running smoothly, and welcomed the faithful in both English and Spanish.

Volunteers were also busy in the kitchen, preparing the food that was offered at the close of the event.

Overall, the event ran like cheerful clockwork, welcoming both English and Spanish speakers with warm hospitality.

Throughout the week after the opening event, similar times of veneration were offered, along with Masses and talks on the apparitions.

A Silver Rose prayer service was offered by the Knights of Columbus on April 8.

The statue’s tour through Wisconsin has already welcomed more than 30,000 pilgrims, including around 10,000 at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Champion.

Father Oudenhoven was hopeful to see a similar number in Madison, and the opening evening started off strong, with an estimated more than 700 pilgrims.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is truly a mother to all on the continent of North America and around the world.

The word Guadalupe itself is not the location in Mexico, as one might assume based on other apparition titles. Guadalupe is actually an Arabic word meaning “the rocks under the riverbed.”

Mary is the bearer of the Living Water, Christ Himself.

Mary came to Mexico and brought about the conversion of nine million people to the Faith that their oppressors lived so poorly.

Her intercession can bring peace and miracles in our own day as well, provided we go to her with trust.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!