Faith amid fear
CHARLOTTE — Despite deepening fears throughout Hispanic communities, several thousand Hispanic parishioners across the Diocese of Charlotte turned out to greet the Guadalupe Torch, as the symbol of hope for immigrants made its annual pilgrimage from Mexico City to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
With looming threats of federal immigration actions coming to Charlotte, the Guadalupe Torch Run made fewer stops this year, passing through the diocese from Nov. 8 to Nov. 12 and skipping Charlotte all together. But the reception at the seven churches that welcomed the torch was perhaps more poignant.
Nearly 1,000 people showed up at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point to get a glimpse of the beacon meant to link family members in Mexico with those in the U.S.
The torch evoked tears for parishioners at St. Joseph in Newton, as they reflected on the tense immigration climate and on the idea that family in Mexico had touched the very same torch.
And in Mocksville, at St. Francis of Assisi, the torch brought healing for the Perez family, who recently lost their 14-year-old son to leukemia, driving them away from God.
“It felt like the Fire of the Spirit in that torch,” said Father Patrick O’Connor, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, who held the torch for the first time Nov. 11.
“The community is facing such struggles due to the political climate with the arrests and deportations, and living with a lot of fear. What a beautiful metaphor to have the image of Our Lady come across from Mexico into the United States and join us here in this little town of High Point.”
The torch honors Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of both Americas. In previous years, people have carried the torch – running, walking or driving – from parish to parish, stopping at Catholic churches for Mass and celebrations. While this year’s pilgrimage was less conspicuous, with a number of churches declining participation, it still drew big crowds at smaller churches mostly in less populated areas.
The flame crossed into North Carolina from Simpsonville, South Carolina, a week before U.S. Border Patrol arrived in Charlotte to conduct Operation Charlotte’s Web, rounding up immigrants they said had committed crimes. It headed first for St. Joseph in Newton – bypassing Asheville and Hendersonville – zigzagging its way toward Raleigh with stops at six other churches in the Diocese of Charlotte along the way.
The 70- to 80-day pilgrimage began Aug. 30 when the torch left the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City and is scheduled to reach St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“This torch shows us we are all immigrants on our journey for a better life,” Miguel Morales said in tears at St. Joseph Church. “Our Lady of Guadalupe has always been here on this journey with us to inspire us…The torch handed to us tonight resembles the way we hand this tradition down to our children. Yes, I know it’s more difficult this year, but we are still here!”
Trek of faith
The torch exchanged many hands in the Charlotte diocese, traveling by pickup truck through towns from Newton to Greensboro, stopping at St. Joseph, St. Francis of Assisi, Divine Redeemer, Holy Infant, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Our Lady of the Highways, and St. Mary’s in Greensboro.
It was accompanied by life-sized icons of Our Lady of Guadalupe and her first devotee, St. Juan Diego, blazing a trail of faith and resilience among immigrant communities.
The galvanized metal of the sconce that holds the torch had grown smoother and shinier during its trek from months of heartfelt exchanges among human hands. The flame ultimately will visit about 100 Catholic parishes through nine Mexican states and 14 U.S. states.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Charlotte, which has welcomed the torch for the past two decades, decided against receiving it this year.
The community typically turns out hundreds of people for a torch procession but chose not to focus unnecessary attention on Hispanic parishioners – regardless of their immigration status – during this time of “political tension,” administrators said.
St. Francis of Assisi decided to host the torch again this year but dialed back the celebration: “It’s a question of being realistic…It’s not a question of fear,” said Father Eric Kowalski, pastor.
“We have to be prudent, and that’s what we have done, and we are honored and blessed to have and continue this unbroken chain of tradition for 23 years.”
Tears at St. Joseph
In Newton, children stomped, drummed and rattled their way through the streets, wearing traditional Aztec tunics and headdresses, to celebrate the torch’s arrival Nov. 8.
As the torch followed the crowd, porch lights began to shine along the procession route as townspeople came out to watch.
“The Holy Spirit is in that torch,” said a first-generation Mexican American named Janet. “Our Holy Spirit connection to the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ is what is making the torch so strong.”
Maria Boveda said the torch is “Our Lady’s way of saying, ‘I am here and I’m your mother. Don’t be afraid.’”
She took a moment to hold the torch, weeping and finding solace in the idea that the fingertips of her family in Mexico grazed the same symbol of faith.
“I know that some of my family has touched this,” she said. “I have been here for 35 years without going back to Mexico, without having been able to hold them, (so) this helps.”
Anthony Morales, a Mexican immigrant, expressed sadness over recent immigration tension.
“I prayed…we were going to offer this for all the immigrants who live in fear,” he said. “We migrated here from Mexico out of nothing. Our house was made out of rocks. There are a lot of innocent people getting picked up and taken away, and it’s so sad. For a while, we were just hearing it on the news, but now it’s starting to get closer to home.”
Finding healing and meaning
More than 1,000 people welcomed the torch at St. Francis of Assisi in Mocksville Nov. 9, continuing the tradition that began in 2002. Vibrant Aztec attire and dance were also a part of this celebration.
“All of these dances being performed have meaning,” said Jesús Torres, who has been serving at the parish for over a decade. “It is a way to honor (Mary) and to connect the indigenous past with the Catholic faith.”
One family drove more than four hours from South Carolina to be in the presence of the torch.
“When we saw the posting of the torch coming through this parish, we felt a call to be here, and without doubt, we dropped everything and traveled to see Our Lady’s torch,” said Jose Luis Cervin. “She is a miracle and has always been there for us.”
The Perez family drove over from Lincolnton, desperate to hold the torch. They hoped to gain peace after the recent loss of their 14-year-old son to leukemia.
“We haven’t been to Mass in months due to our anger with God,” the boy’s mother Andrea Moreno said, weeping after holding the torch. “But Our Lady of Guadalupe gives us hope as we search for answers amidst this pain.”
Suffering and Endurance
In High Point, Father O’Connor was pleased his parishioners at Immaculate Heart of Mary were able to experience the torch moment.
“They were waiting for their turn. It was so important for them to all be able to get up there and see it and touch it,” he said. “Everybody wanted to be near it.”
“Our Lady,” he said, “is all about accompanying us in our suffering and giving us strength to endure, bringing us to an awareness of her Son’s love. They need her right now.”
— Brian Segovia and Lisa M. Geraci
