Our Lady of Guadalupe

So how does a Franciscan friary in the middle of nowhere, Our Lady of Guadalupe, a friar with a computer, and Creole mass all fit in together? Good question... I still can't believe it all happened!

This weekend I went camping with my family on a lake in very rural northeast Connecticut. As we were driving to get there, I was wondering what I was going to do about mass on Sunday because we wouldn't be leaving till later in the afternoon, too late to make it to any of the masses at our home parish. About 15 minutes away from the campsite, we passed a road that on top of the road sign had another sign that said Our Lady of Guadalupe. I sort of did a double take, not really sure if I had read it correctly. But this morning, I drove back to where I remembered it to be and sure enough, there it was. I turned on the road and expected to find a church not too far down it. Almost 10 minutes later, I was still driving. The road kept curving through dense woods, and at one point I hit a fork in the road. I decided to turn off to the right, not really sure where it would lead me. The road kept getting more and more remote, and I kept thinking that I should turn back. There's no way that a church would be all the way out here. I should have taken the other road, I'm sure it's down there. Just as I was about to turn around, I decided to go up one more hill and see what was up there. If it wasn't there, I was turning around. Well, sure enough, as soon as I rounded the corner I saw a sign with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on it. It was a Franciscan friary! Mary is so good to me, she deals with my constant impatience. Thank God she had me keep driving, otherwise I wouldn't have found it!

I pulled in to the driveway and saw a beautiful stone church with the friary attached. There were a few cars, but I didn't see anyone and wasn't sure if I should go in or not. I didn't know if it was a cloistered community and if they had masses open to the public. I was wishing there was someone outside to ask as I was putting the car in reverse, literally about to pull out, when I saw a little boy with blonde hair running around the grass next to the chapel. There was obviously no way that he was one of the friar's kids, so I knew there must be lay people here. I pulled into the parking lot and saw the boy's dad sitting next to a statue of Mary with another child. I asked him if there was mass going on, and he said there was! Mary saved me once again.

The chapel was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. It had tall cathedral ceilings with ornate woodwork everywhere. There was a large portrait of Our Lady of Guadalupe hanging on the wall behind the altar, and the wall was painted the color of her mantle with gold stars. There was a huge Divine Mercy portrait on one side of the chapel, and over the tabernacle on the other side was a big statue of Jesus and His Sacred Heart. He had one hand pulling away His tunic to reveal His heart and the other hand outstretched, as if inviting us all to come into His heart. There was even a spot light on the heart that made it glow with light. Jesus was calling me into His heart, and I was recieving His love. My heart was so peaceful here, so satisfied, so happy. The mass was a beautiful blend of the old and the new, but unfortunately I got there during the Consecration so didn't get to enjoy all of it.

After mass, I went up to one of the friars to introduce myself, and more importantly ask him if he thought I had fulfilled my Sunday requirement by coming so late, or if he thought I should try and find another mass to go to. He was so helpful and so kind, and grabbed his computer for me to help me see if there were any other masses in the area that I could still catch. We looked for about 15 minutes, and found one that would be on my way home, but that I might not have time to make it to. I decided that I had tried my hardest and would rather go sit in Adoration in the chapel for a little bit than try to rush to another mass so far away. I thanked the friar for everything and we both went separate ways. Then, about 15 minutes later, I was in the chapel having a beautiful conversation in my heart with Jesus when I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was the same friar from before, and he had a piece of paper in his hand. He whispered to me that he had found another church about 20 minutes away in Norwich that I would have enough time to get to, but that unfortunately the mass was in Creole.. I looked at him dumbfounded, and very excitedly told him that I did mission work in Haiti and that I know Creole! He laughed to himself with the same look of amazement that I had on my face. I have no clue why he continued to keep searching on the internet after I left, and why he decided to tell me about this mass when he probably thought that I would have no clue what Creole even was. It was Our Lady, I'm sure, saving me for the third time today.

I very quickly left Adoration (even though it was so peaceful and I didn't want to leave!) because I had to run back to the campsite and pack all of my stuff before I headed back down to Norwich. I ended up getting to mass very late again, at about the same point I did for the first one. I quietly snuck into the back pew and listened with joy as the small group of Haitians were praising in their native language, drums and all! I closed my eyes and really felt like I was in Haiti again, except for the fact that I was in a huge church with air conditioning and there were no roosters in the background.

I know that Our Lady of Guadalupe was watching over me today and gave me this wonderful gift of going to a Creole mass. She has interceeded for Mission Haiti so much since the earthquake and has blessed our mission in so many ways. I know that it was no coincidence that the friar decided to tell me about this mass as I was sitting in a chapel dedicated to her. Ave Maria!

P.S. The friars are part of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate... they seem like such an awesome order with a beautiful devotion to Our Lady! Here's their website if you want to find out more about them: http://figuadalupe.wordpress.com/