A traveling statue of Our Lady of Zapopan from Jalisco, Mexico, will be coming to Arkansas for the first time for a special pilgrimage.
In Zapopan (pronounced sa-PO-pan), near Guadalajara, Mexico, there is a highly revered image of the Blessed Mother, who is the patroness of the city and whose miraculous protection is invoked in times of epidemics, storms and lightning. Every year, since 1734, there are processions of the statue around the state from June to October.
Msgr. Scott Friend, vicar general and vocations director, visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan in February and approached the Franciscan friars there about allowing one of their traveling statues to come to Arkansas. The original statue only leaves the shrine in the summer and fall to travel around Guadalajara, Msgr. Friend said.
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor had to write a letter to Guadalajara Cardinal Jose Francisco Robles Ortega before the request was granted.
“I thought it would be great for the image to come here and the seminarians could take it around the diocese and evangelize and promote vocations,” Msgr. Friend said.
Msgr. Friend said the traveling image goes to larger cities like Los Angeles and Chicago each year, but it was the first time it would be coming to Arkansas.
“It is very revered by the people,” he said. “In our Catholic faith, the image of the Immaculate Conception has helped people grow in their faith. … It is a wonderful gift to the diocese (for the statue to travel the state.)”
Rosaries, confessions and Masses will be celebrated from Saturday, July 19 to Sunday, Aug. 3 at 16 churches where Spanish Masses are celebrated. Two Franciscan friars from Mexico and diocesan seminarians will travel with the statue to each location.
