Puebla, Mexico, Oct 29, 2024 / 08:00 am

A group of the faithful gathers every Wednesday of the year in front of an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe located in the garden area of the Andares Shopping Center in the city of Zapopan in Jalisco state, Mexico, to pray the rosary. The initiative began with the purpose of bringing the faith closer to those who no longer attend church.

Adriana Orozco, who started the effort in 2022, shared with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, that at the beginning she only met with a couple of people to pray in October, the month that the Catholic Church dedicates to the rosary. Over time, participation grew and flowers and music were added, attracting more people, and “now we are a group of people who don’t belong to any institution or anything, we simply work at the Andares Shopping Center” and people there join them.

This activity, she said, has allowed them to observe “people’s need for God and how they have forgotten him.” According to Orozco, many people say that when they pass through the place, they find in the prayer of the rosary a moment to get closer to God.

Diana García, communications coordinator for the Andares Shopping Center, told ACI Prensa that it is “fundamental” for the shopping center to support activities that “help us get closer to God’s call and invite us to reflect.”

“As a proudly Guadalajaran shopping center dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, we believe that these experiences strengthen our community and promote values ​​of peace and solidarity among all,” García said.

During October, the month of the rosary, and May, known as the “month of flowers” ​​or the month of Mary, the faithful gather to pray daily.

García pointed out that this devotion is not limited only to the month of October. During the Advent season, they organize the lighting of candles on the Advent wreath every Sunday “to pray, reflect, and prepare to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas, the birth of the baby Jesus.”

In addition, every Dec. 12, in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Andares Shopping Center has a special space in the Virgin’s garden where visitors can leave their petitions and thanks on cards dedicated to the “dear Virgin.”

This coming Oct. 31 at 4:30 p.m. local time an image of Our Lady of Expectation of Zapopan, the patroness of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara, will be brought to the shopping center’s large open area, where the group invites people to join together in a moment of prayer.

“Expectation” refers to the time Our Lady was expecting or pregnant with Our Lord.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Diego López Colín is a graduate of the Carlos Septién García School of Journalism (Mexico). He has been a correspondent for ACI Prensa in Mexico since 2023.