Denver, Colo., Dec 8, 2016 / 00:51 am
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Denver, Colorado was named a diocesan shrine by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila last month.
According to the archdiocesan decree, promulgated Nov. 10, the designation was made "because of its service to the Hispanic population and with the purpose of promoting their salvation through the rich liturgical and devotional life that it offers to all the faithful."
From now on, it will be known as the Parish-Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As defined by Canon Law, a shrine is "a church or other sacred place to which numerous members of the faithful make pilgrimage for a special reason of piety," in this case, devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Father Benito Hernández, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, told El Pueblo Catolico that for the faithful of the parish and for the Hispanic community in general, this is a "special gift from Our Lord and from our Archbishop Samuel Aquila, who has been kind enough to honor this place of worship as a shrine. We would like to give him infinite thanks for this."