Guadalupan Torch Run 2002 Mexico-New York 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, And 2002 For the first time an Historic Event, the run will Bring the Torch from the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.

by
Miroslava Flores
La Voz de Aztlan

Tepeyac, Tenochtitlan - November 6, 2002 - (ACN) A great symbol of Mexico will be carried across the US/Mexico border tonight by hundreds of runners who started their journey at the sacred ground of Tepeyac, Tenochtitlan on October 29. Their ultimate destination is New York City where they will arrive on December 12, the day commemorated by millions of Mexicans as the day when the Virgen de Guadalupe miraculously appeared to St. Juan Diego at Tepeyac in 1531 A.D.

In a historic international pilgrimage and relay named "Carrera Antorcha Guadalupana 2002" by its sponsor "Asociacion Tepeyac de Nueva York," runners numbering in the hundreds will cross the Matamoros/Brownsville Gateway International Bridge tonight at 9:30 p.m. The runners will carry across the border a "torch of hope and peace" that was lit at Tepeyac as well as a framed "tilma" with the beautiful image of the Blessed Virgen de Guadalupe Reina de Mexico. In addition, the runners will carry the flag of Mexico, a gift from the Mayor of Mexico City, Manuel Lopez Obrador, to the Mexican immigrant community of New York City.

The historic relay and pilgrimage started at the very spot where La Virgen appeared to St. Juan Diego and where later a cathedral was built. The Basilica de Guadalupe is also the cathedral where the miraculous "tilma" is displayed on its altar. "La Tilma Guadalupana" is Mexico's "Shroud of Turin" in that the image of La Virgen was mysteriously imprinted on Juan Diego's indigenous mantle that he was wearing on December 12, 1531. Like as in the "Shroud of Turin", the best scientific minds have been analysing the mantle for decades but have been unable to explain the miracle.

The lighting of the "torch" was done during a mass officiated by the Cardinal of Mexico City Norberto Rivera and by Bishop Josu Iriordo of the Archdioceses of New York. The first runner to carry the torch was Ana Gabriela Guevara, Mexico's Olympic Gold Medalist in the 400 meters and who, this year, almost broke the world record by clocking at 49.16, a mere 1.56 second off the world record set by Marita Koch of East Germany in 1985.

The relay and pilgrimage has already transgressed 9 Mexican cities and will continue another 3,300 miles to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City to arrive on December 12, the day that marks the anniversary of the apparition of La Virgen de Guadalupe . Immediately after crossing the border, the runners will proceed to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in downtown Brownsville. Here they will be received by Texans conducting a candlelight vigil in honor of the thousands of undocumented workers who have died attempting to cross into United States.

The relay and pilgrimage originates from the ancestral Mexican religious tradition of bringing a torch from Tepeyac ( The Sanctuary of Mother Tonatzin), to the places where her daughters and sons live. There is now a significant number of Mexicans residing in New York City. Also, the torch will arrive in 36 U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population and who are new immigrants in the US.

The fire is a symbol of faith and hope for all believers of La Virgen de Guadalupe. According to La Asociacion Tepeyac de Nueva York, the organizer of the event, La Virgen will provide "Love, Compassion, Help, and Defense" for all oppressed people who struggle for a better society. They say this was the message that was given to St. Juan Diego, the indigenous peasant, during the Spanish conquest, and who was recently canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. Today, it is not the Spanish conquerors who are exploiting the sons and daughters of Tonatzin, but employers who pay them meager wages for their labor, a U.S government which ignores the situation and the merciless racist vigilantes "hunting" them down as they cross the border to work.

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Ana Guevara

Ana Gabriela Guevara  (www.latinmex.com), athlete from Sonora State, Mexico, major athletic promoter and a proud representative of Mexico, shows her solidarity with Mexicans and other Latino immigrants to the United States by confirming that on October 29, 20002, she will be at the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico City, at 9:00 AM, to launch the International Guadalupan Torch Run. Her participation will promote the message of dignity for a people divided by the border, a message that will be brought on foot by relay runners, all the way to New York City on December 12, 2002, via 45 cities (9 in Mexico and 36 on the East Cost of the United States) where hundreds of thousands of Mexicans have migrated.

Alex Lora

Likewise, Alex Lora of  Mexican urban rock band, “El Tri”, (www.rockska.com/eltri.html), and devout follower of the Virgin of Guadalupe, has confirmed he will take his turn at the Basilica of Guadalupe on October 29, the launch of the torch run, and that he will sing to the Virgin of Guadalupe so she might give strength to the messengers who will run relays to promote the message of dignity for the millions of undocumented Mexicans who live in the United States.Alex lora the singer of one of the best Mexican Rock Band " El Tri" will be in the Basilica of Guadalupe on October 29 at 9:00 Am.