GUADALUPAN TORCH RUN MEXICO-NEW YOR2002

The Asociacion Tepeyac de New York celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12^th, with “Mañanitas”, Masses, and Festivals in many Churches; two Masses at St. Patrick Cathedral, the Mass for Mexican young people at 10:00 AM, and the solemn Mass at 7:00 PM celebrated for Cardinal Egan. The Guadalupan Torch (Antorcha Guadalupana) is the special religious activity that Mexican Young People like to be involved to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

The Antorcha Guadalupana is a religious pilgrimage to be conducted running on the streets of New York City. Each Community Based Organization, members of the network of Asociacion Tepeyac, gets a team of runners. Around 2,000 runners come from the five boroughs of New York, and bring a torch to symbolize the faith of the Mexican people, which is alive wherever they live. Runners take turns to carry their torches, according to an ancient Mexican religious tradition. They get the blessing and take the torches from the Mother Church to their own church.

On December 12^th, 2001 Cardinal Edward Egan encouraged Mexican people, at St. Patrick Cathedral, to bring on 2002 the torches from their Mother Church, in Mexico City, and take the torches to all Churches in New York City. Hundreds of Young people are taking this challenge to run from Mexico City since November, and arrive to New York City on December 12^th, 2002. They will take turns to run, and cross the border. The border between Mexico and U.S. is the symbol of families divided, thousands of people who have died because the Gate Keeper Program, women and men who have suffered different types of abuses, and the nightmare of making all migrants illegal. 

The teams of pilgrims are scheduled to gather around St. Patrick Cathedral, after a Mass to be celebrated at 10:00 am. All the representatives of each congregation get together, carrying the torches, outside of the Cathedral, beside the Altar in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on 50^th Street, at 12:00 o'clock. Torches and runners will be blessed for the Vicars General of the Archdiocese of New York, Bishops Patrick J. Sheridan and Robert A. Brucato. Runners will be sent in mission to their own churches to empower their people's identity, the heritage and faith of their ancestors, and announcing publicly their faith to the City of New York.

The congregations of pilgrims are scheduled to gather around St. Patrick Cathedral, after a Mass to be celebrated at 10:30 am. All the representatives of each congregation get together, carrying the torches, outside of the Cathedral, beside the Altar in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on 50^th Street, at 12:00 o'clock. Torches and runners will be blessed for the Vicars General of the Archdiocese of New York, Bishops Patrick J. Sheridan and Robert A. Brucato. Runners will be sent in mission to their own churches to empower their people's identity, the heritage and faith of their ancestors, and announcing publicly this faith to the City of New York.

The December 12th celebration has been reproduced not only in Mexico, but in many places of the United States. Mexicans have historically offered their hard labor to this country, and New York is no exception. Mexicans presently represent more than 70% of all restaurant and deli workers in the city, and work diligently without benefits and without a common holiday of rest. Aside from their labor and strong work ethic, Mexicans bring with them many cultural values and traditions grounded in religious faith.

For these reasons, New York City recognizes December 12^th as the Day of the Mexican People for their contemporary contributions to this city and in honor of their cultural and religious practices. Tepeyac Association, is encouraging Mexicans in New York to skip work on December 12^th, and to use the right that we all have, based on Title VII of the Civil Rights of the United States.  In effect since 1964, this Title prohibits employers from discriminating against workers based on their religious practices.