Our Lady of Guadalupe

St.Juan Diego meets Virgin Mary

Juan Diego quickly climbed the hill, and a very beautiful, young woman with garments shining like the sun revealed herself to Juan Diego. The “woman clothed with the sun” of the Book of Revelation, pregnant with the Child Jesus, asked, “Juanito, my son, where are you going?” Juan Diego responded, “Noble Lady, my Queen, I am going to the Mass in Mexico City to hear the divine things that the priest teaches us there.”

The Virgin of Guadalupe continued, “I want you to know for certain, my dear son, that I am the perfect and always Virgin MARY, Mother of the True God from Whom all life comes, the Lord of all things, Creator of Heaven and Earth. I greatly desire that a church be built in my honor, in which I will show my love, compassion, and protection. I am your Mother full of mercy and love for you and all those who love Me, trust in Me, and have recourse to Me. I will hear their complaints and I will comfort their affliction and their sufferings. So that I might show all My love, go now to the bishop in Mexico City and tell him that I am sending you to make known to him the great desire I have to see a church dedicated to me built here.” 

Obediently, Juan Diego went to the Bishop’s house, where he was warmly received. The Bishop attentively listened to Juan Diego, but there was hesitation with regards to his story and the instructions from the Woman of Apocalypse. The Bishop requested time to consider the matter.

In the evening, while returning home, The Queen of Heaven appeared to Juan Diego for the second time. Disappointed that he had not accomplished his mission, Juan Diego requested Mother Mary to send a more esteemed person whom the Bishop would believe. Mother Mary’s response was “My dearest son, you must understand that there are many more noble men to whom I could have entrusted my message and yet, it is because of you that my plan will succeed. Return to the bishop tomorrow. Tell him that it is I myself, the Blessed Virgin MARY, Mother of God, who am sending you.”

The next day, on Sunday, 10th December, after the morning Mass, Juan Diego went to the Bishop’s house for the second time. This time, the Bishop asked for a truly acceptable, miraculous sign to prove Blessed Virgin Mary’s identity. He discreetly sent two servants to follow Juan Diego on his way home, but when Juan Diego reached Tepeyac Bridge, he disappeared from the servants’ sight. The servants could not find Juan Diego despite searching the hill and the surrounding area. They went back and told the Bishop that Juan Diego was an imposter. 

However, during this time when the servants were searching in vain for Juan Diego, the humble peasant was having his 3rd encounter with “The Lady from Heaven”. Juan Diego told Mother Mary that the Bishop wanted a sign, and Our Lady of Guadalupe promised a sign for the Bishop when Juan Diego would return to her the next day.

On 11th December, Juan Diego missed the appointment with Our Lady, as he was looking after his sick uncle. On 12th December, Juan Bernardino’s health deteriorated further, therefore, Juan Diego went to Tlatelolco to seek a priest to administer the sacraments to his dying uncle. He took a different route around Tepeyac Hill to avoid encountering Blessed Mother Mary because he was embarrassed that he had missed the previous day’s appointment with Her, and he also did not want Her to delay him.

Still, Our Lady intercepted Saint Juan Diego, asking him where he was going. After his explanations, Blessed Mother Mary asked Juan Diego,”Am I not here, I who am your mother” (¿No estoy yo aquí que soy tu madre?), and then assured him that his uncle was already cured. She instructed him to gather flowers on the top of the Hill, and bring them to Her. 

Trusting our Blessed Mother, Juan Diego found the most beautiful and sweet-smelling Castilian roses, not native to Mexico, blooming at the top of the frozen and barren hill. He collected the flowers and arranged them in his cloak/tilma, returned to the Virgin Mary and rushed to the Bishop’s house

Juan Diego patiently waited for hours before he was shown to the Bishop. He told the Bishop what had happened and unfolded his tilma. The flowers, still shining with dew, scattered to the floor, and the Bishop fell to his knees and admired these roses from his country. Suddenly, the Bishop realized on the fabric the very beautiful and full of gentleness supernatural image of the Virgin of Guadalupe. 

Immediately, the Bishop comprehended the truth of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s message through Juan Diego. He took the Castilian roses and the tilma, and respectfully put them in his private oratory. On 13th December, the bishop went with Juan Diego to the hill where the apparitions took place, examined the sites and allowed Juan Diego to return to his uncle’s house.

Juan Diego went and found his uncle fully recovered, as assured by the Queen of Heaven. Our Lady of Guadalupe’s fifth apparition had taken place at the little home where Juan Diego was living with his uncle. After Praying at his bedside, the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Bernardino, and healed his deadly sickness. She instructed Juan Bernardino to tell the Archbishop about the apparition and miraculous healing, and instructed him to inform the Archbishop that Mother Mary’s portrait was to be called “Saint MARY of Guadalupe”.

Bishop Zumárraga obeyed Our Lady of Guadalupe, and built the chapel on Tepeyac Hill. Juan Diego died on December 9, 1548, seventeen years after the first apparition. Over the years, millions have been converted to Christianity and many miracles have been witnessed through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on 12th December. 

About the Missionaries of Guadalupe

The Missionaries of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Guadalupe Fathers) are a Catholic missionary congregation founded in Mexico in 1949 with the primary mission of spreading the Gospel and serving communities in need worldwide. Rooted in the spirit of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas, the missionaries are dedicated to evangelization, pastoral care, and social transformation, particularly in regions facing poverty, conflict, and marginalization.

Guided by the principles of faith, service, and intercultural dialogue, the Guadalupe Fathers have established missions in various countries in Africa (Angola, Kenya, Mozambique), Asia (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong), and Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Peru). Their work includes building and supporting parishes, promoting education, fostering interfaith dialogue, and advocating for social justice.

OLG Kenya

On 30^th December 1968, Guadalupe Fathers arrived in Nairobi Kenya through a special invitation by the Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga (+). As fate would have it, though, they were assigned with a responsibility of missionary work of evangelization in Teso land, Ambale, Shamakanga, Buyangu and part of luo land. They opened parishes in all these areas and later moved in Nairobi. 

The Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga (+) who had succeeded Archbishop McCarthy, offered them a house in Adams area along Ngong Road and asked them to construct a Sanctuary in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe.  

During the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 12^th December, 1970, Servant of God Maurice Michael Cardinal Otunga (+), did the official ground-breaking of the Sanctuary. During his speech, Servant of God Cardinal Otunga said, “Today, we are happy to celebrate our Blessed Mother Mary for accepting us to build for her Son a house where, as a Kenyan family we will be able to celebrate His redemption. I urge the Guadalupe Fathers to dedicate this place as a Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Kenya”.  That is how the name Our Lady of Guadalupe began and was assigned to this parish, and the church’s foundation stone was blessed and laid on 29th September 1973. 

In Kenya, the Guadalupe Fathers have been instrumental in founding Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Adams, Turkana, Namanga Kenya, Lenkesem, and Mashuru, where they continue to serve the spiritual and social needs of the people. Inspired by the compassionate presence of Mary, they remain committed to their missionary calling, bringing the light of Christ to diverse communities across the world.