Every fall we make a spiritual journey to Tepeyac, the hill upon which Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego in December. 

Our spiritual pilgrimage begins on September 8, the Feast of Mary's Birthday, and concludes with a joyous Mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12.

Join us for events celebrating Hispanic-American faith and culture both at St Austin and in our surrounding community. 

Fr. René explains how La Morenita is a model of reconciliation and evangelization. 

Mariachi Relámpago

Mission San José,
The Queen of the Missions

Dear God,
We ask your blessing as we travel today in spirit;
Guide our minds as we learn of those who came before us, traversing the pilgrim way.
Give us a hunger to seek your face
in paths through fields,
along roads trod by many seeking
the blessing of your presence.
Nurture our fellowship
And help us to see each other as a brother or sister
Sharing the journey to your blessed kingdom.
Amen.

By Nineveh Murray

Mission Concepción

Distanced from one another, together, but apart, we made a virtual tour of Mission San José. Over Zoom in pandemic, we visited one of the five San Antonio Missions. We longed for a time when we'd be able to visit these sites together. 

That joyful time arrived when on November 9, 29 pigrims gathered at morning Mass for a pilgrimage to visit an incomparable World Heritage Site a mere 75 miles away. Our motor coach was comfortable and Selwyn, our driver, made the trip effortless for us to enjoy the ride while visiting, forging new friendships, snacking and napping.

Our first stop, Mission San José, allowed some to  stroll, others took photos, others shopped, and others prayed a Rosary in the church. We reconvened in the Visitors' Center where we took in a film that put the San Anotnio missions into context for us - giving our experience greater geo-political, historical, and social understanding - accompanied by lovely music and moving imagery. 

From left to right ~ Linda, Jim, Colleen, Ísa,
Emili, Eloise, Josie, Huddie

We made a joyful noise, forged new friendships, enjoyed fellowship and fun as we gathered in two sessions on Saturday, October 22 and Sunday evening the 23rd.

Colleen's milagro prayers were incorporated onto a block of wood used by her father to craft a bench she treasures. 

Yolanda and Ellie were part of a three-generation
Milagro making party with Stephanie (below).

The imaginative Running Heart milagro below was crafted
by a father-son team Nic & Gio at the GAP event

See, the LORD... has filled him with a divine spirit of skill and understanding and knowledge in every craft: in the production of embroidery, in making things of gold, silver, or bronze, in cutting and mounting precious stones, in carving wood, and in every other craft. He has endowed them with skill to execute all types of work: engraving, embroidering, the making of variegated cloth of violet, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen thread, weaving, and all other arts and crafts.

-Exodus 35:30 - 35

Jennifer and Elisabeth

We created milagros (miracles) - folk-crafted artisanal pieces using small medals or charms representing religious figures, farm animals, flowers, fruits and vegetables, to vehicles, parts of the body, praying people, and more. We prayed a little, learned a little, and snacked more than a little as we painted, nailed, and glued to bring our prayers forth creatively. Milagros represent the prayers of the faithful - prayers of petition and/or prayers of thanksgiving. Many thanks to Julie Lyons, Ann Richburg, Mary Barr, and John Harvey Williams who served as padrinos of the Milagros stop along our Pilgrimage to Tepeyac. 

The cross pictured below was the work of Jessica in collaboration with Alden when GAP translated their prayers into folk art on Sunday. 

St. Austin's was proud to host one of the treasured Silver Roses as it made its way south to Mexico City. On Friday, October 7, for a visit to our parish school,
Knights of Columbus member Charles Vernor and Mitzi Patiño Eastman of the Pilgrimage to Tepeyac team visited all 11 classes from the three-year-olds to the eighth graders.

On Saturday and Sunday, the 8th and 9th, the Rose was at all the Masses, carried in procession by the Knights and placed on the altar during Mass. On Sunday we gathered to pray the Rosary in the Church before the 5:30 Mass. 

Along the way, our Knights shared the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe with you. She wants you to know that ~ 

• God loves all of us

The journey of the silver rose begins each year in March and ends on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. During that time, Silver Roses travel from town to town along eight routes throughout North America. Several of those routes begin in Canada and end in Mexico.

The Silver Rose Program began in 1960, when the first rose – a live one – was blessed by a bishop in Ontario. The rose then traveled to New York and then to Texas where it was taken across the border into Mexico. The rose ended its pilgrimage at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Monterrey on December 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

To better ensure future annual trips, first a bronze then a silver rose was crafted. Today, eight silver roses travel unique routes across North American that include Canada, every U.S. state, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and Mexico. This tradition spreads devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and embodies international solidarity across the continent.
 

Holy Mary
Mystical Rose
Pray for us!