During the month of October, the rosary is recited daily.
Newsroom (30/10/2024 15:04, Gaudium Press) A group of faithful gather to pray the rosary every Wednesday of the year in front of an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the garden of the Andares Shopping Center in the city of Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. This initiative was born to strengthen faith among devotees, especially during October, which is dedicated to the rosary.
Adriana Orozco, who promoted this practice in 2022, told ACI Prensa that, at first, she only prayed with a few people in October (the month the Church dedicates to the Rosary).
Over time, the activity grew, and flowers and music were added, which attracted more people. Now, we are a group of people who don’t belong to any institution, nothing; we simply work in the [Andares Shopping Center]” and are joined by visitors to the place.
The need for God
This activity, Orozco emphasized, allowed her to observe “the need for God and how people have forgotten Him”. According to her, many people comment that when they pass by the place, they find in reciting the rosary an opportunity to get closer to God.
There are people who don’t pray the whole rosary, who only pray one Hail Mary, and who only put one intention, but I think it all counts. “
Diana García, the communications coordinator for the Andares shopping center, stressed that it is “fundamental” for the shopping center to support activities that “help us to get closer to God’s call and invite us to reflect”.
“As a shopping center proudly entrusted to the protection of the Virgin of Guadalupe, we believe that these experiences strengthen our community and promote values of peace and solidarity among all,” García said.
In October, the month of the Rosary, and in May, known as the “month of flowers” or the month of Mary, the faithful gather daily to pray the rosary.
Garcia pointed out that this devotion is not limited to October. During Advent, the candles of the Advent wreath are lit every Sunday, “to say a prayer, reflect and prepare ourselves to celebrate the true spirit of Christmas, which is the birth of the Child God”.
In addition, every December 12, in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Andares Shopping Center provides a special space in the Virgin’s garden, where visitors can leave their requests and thanks on cards dedicated to the “Virgencita”.
On October 31st, at 4:30 pm (local time), the mall will receive a visit from Our Lady of Expectation of Zapopan, known as “La Generala” and patron saint of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara. Visitors are invited to take part in a moment of prayer.
Compiled by Dominic Joseph