Overview of Casa Guadalupe Education Center, Inc. Faith Based
Casa Guadalupe: In the foreigner a Christian sees not simply a neighbor, but the face of Christ Himself, who was born in a manger and fled into Egypt, where he was a foreigner, summing up and repeating in His own life the basic experience of His people (cf. Mt 2:13ff). Born away from home and coming from another land (cf. Lk 2:4-7), “he came to dwell among us” (cf. Jn 1:11,14) and spent His public life on the move, going through towns and villages (cf. Lk 13:22; Mt 9:35). After His resurrection, still a foreigner and unknown, He appeared on the way to Emmaus to two of His disciples, who only recognized Him at the breaking of the bread (cf. Lk 24:35). So Christians are followers of a man on the move “who has nowhere to lay his head (Mt 8:20; Lk 9:58)”. In the same way Mary, the Mother of Jesus, can be equally well contemplated as a living symbol of the woman emigrant. She gave birth to her Son away from home (cf. Lk 2:1-7) and was compelled to flee to Egypt (cf. Mt 2:13-14). Popular devotion is right to consider Mary as the Madonna of the Way.
[1]
Source:
Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of
Hope.
A Common History Casa
Guadalupe: The history of the continent shared by Mexico and the United States is filled with the experience of immigration. The encounter between Spaniards and the indigenous peoples of Mexico and the reception of immigrants from around the world in the United States both show different aspects of a history that has both struggled with and flourished because of interactions attempting to reconcile diversity and build new lives together with others. In addition to a common history, the peoples of America share a common faith in Jesus Christ, which the bishops affirm with the Pope has “shaped [our] religious profile, marked by moral values which, though they are not always consistently practiced and at times are cast into doubt, are in a sense the heritage of all Americans, even of those who do not explicitly recognize this fact” (cf. EA, no. 14). As “a faith that transcends borders and bids us to overcome all forms of discrimination and violence” (E.A. no. 19) , the Christian heritage of America is already a common ground on which to strengthen solidarity. In the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the American continent has a visible manifestation of the concern the People of God are called to have for the powerless and vulnerable. The bishops also remind the faithful that, “It was St. Juan Diego whom our Mother asked to build a temple so in it she could show her love, compassion, aid, and defense to all her children, especially the least among them”, which has led to a celebration of all the peoples of America, gathered in her Basilica, “at the table of the Lord, where all his children may partake of and enjoy the unity of the continent in the diversity of its peoples, languages, and cultures” (cf. EA, no. 11) . Casa, whishing to interpret and carry on the mission assigned to St. Juan Diego, has adopted the name of Mary in the advocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
[1]
Source:
Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of
Hope.
[1]
Pope John Paul II,
Ecclesia in
Catholic Church Casa
Guadalupe: General objectives of
the Pastoral de Conjunto: The National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry, NCCB November, 1987. This plan (Pastoral de Conjunto) focuses on the pastoral needs of the Hispanic Catholic, but it challenges ALL Catholics as members of the Body of Christ. The love of Christ towards migrants urges us (cf. 2 Co 5:14) to look afresh at their problems, which are to be met with today all over the world. The challenge confronting us in today’s migrations is not an easy one because many different spheres are involved: economics, sociology, politics, health, culture and security. All Christians must respond to this challenge; it is not just a matter of good will or the personal charisma of a few.
PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF
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