Awake’s Advent Prayer Service Honors Our Lady of Guadalupe

Members of the Awake community gathered last week for a prayer service that celebrated Mary through the title Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

The prayer team collaborated with Deborah Rodriguez and Vince Perez from Awake’s DEI team to shape the service. In his reflection, Perez remarked that “Mary calls us to justice. Her message at Tepeyac lifted up the poor and challenged oppression. She strengthens our resolve to seek change and protect all who are vulnerable.”

Because she is recognized as both a cultural and religious figure for Mexican and Latino communities, the prayer team intentionally chose English, Spanish, and bilingual prayers and hymns to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe. After the service, prayer team member Mary Robertson reflected, “New images and new languages can help us look at things in a fresh way; it can perhaps break down barriers not only between people, but between us and God.”

The service included a time of quiet personal prayer, accompanied by a gentle instrumental recording of Ave Maria. Participants were invited to bring a candle to light, or to meditate on a picture of Mary. Prayer team member Lynn Charnitz invited participants to “…whisper a hope, offer a prayer for justice, or simply rest in the gentle presence of Mary.”

Volunteer Colin Roskey then led intercessory prayers. Participants offered prayers for survivors, for those who have been sources of compassion and solace in their own lives, and for those whose voices have gone unheard because of their name, culture, or language. 

A recording of the service is available below, and ideal for personal prayer, especially in the days leading up to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

Awake’s next prayer service will be our annual Way of the Cross with Survivors in March. Please watch our website for further details, coming soon.

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