“Antorchistas” will not be received at the Guadalupano Sanctuary of San Cristóbal this year.
Mérida, Yucatán, (December 06, 2021).- The festivities are approaching the Virgin of Guadalupe and although celebrating the Morenita del Tepeyac is a characteristic of Mexicans, the Archdiocese of Yucatán urged believers to avoid mass celebrations and although the Church of San Cristóbal will open its doors, the capacity it will remain at 50 percent, the mass will be broadcast by different spaces and the arrival of the group of people known as the “Antorchistas” (torch carriers) will not be allowed.
“We must remember that it is important to maintain faith and the values of love for Our Lady, it is part of our life, but we continue in the context of the pandemic and we must continue to take care of ourselves. There will be more flexible measures than the previous year, we are already on the green in the Epidemiological Traffic Light, although we must continue with the recommendations “, said Father Jorge Martínez Ruz, spokesman for the Archdiocese.
The Priest stressed that there are many ways to express the Guadalupano fervor without the need to put people’s integrity at risk and thus protect themselves from possible Covid-19 infections.
“There are people who no longer use their face masks, who are not vaccinated if they plan to organize something, it must be is as familiar as possible, the important thing is prayer and devotion, that express love for our Virgin in another way, she does not want more infections and deaths, ” he said.
According to the Archdiocese, for the celebrations to the Virgin and even for Christmas, the Eucharistic celebrations will remain in the temples, keeping the sanitary measures and with 50 percent capacity.
From the Shrine of Guadalupe, in San Cristóbal, Holy Mass will be offered for all the devotees and for their loved ones, which will be broadcast on December 12, through various media and social networks.
Likewise, this year the races with the Guadalupe torch and the other pilgrimages will also be suspended. The groups that wish to visit the sites dedicated to the “Morenita del Tepeyac”, may do so by arriving directly at the temple, entering through the designated entrances, and following the health controls provided.
“What we ask the most is that everyone is vaccinated. In fact, getting vaccinated nowadays is still a work of charity, it is an act of responsibility, I take care of myself and my family and others, especially the most vulnerable, it is essential to get ahead, ” he asserted.
“In addition to the celebrations to the Virgin, Christmas is approaching and these are beautiful dates to spend with family and friends, but with an order, as reduced as possible, that no one gets infected, without risks, we do not want to return in January to as we were before. Celebrating the God of life is not exposing ourselves to death, we have to create awareness, it is up to us to overcome all this, with greater irresponsibility the spread of the virus will continue ”, he concluded.
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