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.

Pilgrimage through N.C. ends in NYC on sacred Mexican holiday
CRISTINA C. BREEN
Staff Writer

A torch that started its journey in Mexico's most hallowed cathedral one month ago will arrive in Charlotte Saturday, spreading a message of basic rights for undocumented immigrants.

Runners from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border have accompanied the torch since it left the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City Oct. 29.

It is scheduled to arrive in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral Dec. 12, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe -- one of the most sacred holidays in Mexico.

The torch will begin Saturday in Greenville, S.C., and dozens of runners, including about 30 from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Charlotte, will carry it to the Mecklenburg County line.

Once it reaches the county line, runners will hop in vehicles and form a caravan with the torch, because police say it's too dangerous to run it into town on foot.

The caravan will make its way into Charlotte on Wilkinson Boulevard, ending at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on Tuckaseegee Road, where a Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m.

About 30 members of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church are expected to run the torch to Winston-Salem on Sunday.

The torch run is organized by the Asociación Tepeyac de New York, a nonprofit Latino rights organization that seeks legal status for undocumented immigrants and better working conditions and wages for immigrants.

The Rev. Vincent Finnerty, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, said the torch's pilgrimage "calls attention to the plight of the immigrant in this country."

"Love of neighbor is a criteria of our Christian commitment, including how we treat the foreigner in our land," Finnerty said. "It calls attention to the plight of immigrants, to remind us all that in this country we're almost all sons and grandsons of immigrants."

The torch run, or Antorcha Guadalupana, is a tradition in Mexican cities, where people make pilgrimages to the Basilica in Mexico City or within their hometowns during the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Last year, Cardinal Edward Egan challenged runners to carry a torch from Mexico City to New York. Brother Joel Magellan, director of the Association Tepeyac, said the torch's message is similar to what the Virgin of Guadalupe is said to have conveyed to Juan Diego at the Basilica in Mexico City.

"Her message was that she wanted a church with more compassion and help for indigenous people," Magellan said. "This is more or less the same situation. (Immigrants) need to have more support, compassion and help and defense for their human rights and labor issues."

Cristina Breen: (704) 358-5697; [email protected]

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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.