Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose Feast Day we celebrate today, is the Patroness of the America and a symbol of God’s love and acceptance for all.  In the 1500s, Virgin Mary revealed herself in Mexico to an indigenous farmer, speaking his language and appearing as as indigenous herself. Our Lady holds significance for migrants, and her Feast recognized as a prayer and solidarity with forcibly displaced people by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

While we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Feast Day, let us mirror her actions by supporting individuals who have been forced to flee their homes. Just as Mary humbly revealed herself to Juan Diego, so to must we welcome those who have been marginalized in society have important contributions to make. Let us remember and offer prayers for the almost 80 million displaced people world-wide, especially those who have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can celebrate today by doing the following:  

1.) Join Ignation Solidarity Network in a Virtual Posadas a daily experience of music, art, prayer, reflection, and action as we virtually journey with the migrants on the U.S-Mexico border in search of shelter and protection, just as the Holy Family did on Christmas Eve. While this year, many Las Posadas celebrations will be canceled or amended due to the pandemic, ISN invites you to join in Virtual Posadas safely from your own home, school, parish, or workplace. Joan Rosenhauer, Executive Director of JRS/USA will participate giving a reflection during the journey.

2.) Take action in expressing your solidarity with migrants and send a message to the President-Elect and Vice President–Elect urging them to take a number of actions such as allowing asylum seekers in, uniting separated families to adequately restore asylum in the country. Click here to take action.