Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of Hope

In 1531, Mary appeared to Mexican Aztec peasant Juan Diego (now a Saint) while on his way to Church.
This began the 500-year-old Aboriginal Catholic devotion to our Mother of Guadalupe.

Materials

Videos:

Program Eleven: "Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of Hope”

Documents:

“Directions in Aboriginal Ministry”
Building Bridges Project/ Newman College, Edmonton Alberta

“The Story of Canadian Aboriginal Spirituality”
Chapter 3, World Religions: A Canadian Catholic Perspective
By Sr. Eva Solomon, CSJ
Novalis Publishing Inc. and Nelson Education Ltd. 2011

"Medicine Wheel: A Method of Reading the Bible"
By +Sylvain Lavoie, OMI
Publisher TBA

“Drumming from Within: Tales of Hope and Faith from Canada's North.”
By +Sylvain Lavoie, OMI
Novalis Publishing Inc. 2009

"Faith Moments: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha"
By Anne Neuberger. Novalis 2009

Websites:

Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Click Here

Canadian Bishops on Saint Kateri Click Here

Canadian Bishops on Canadian Indigenous Peoples Click Here

Salt and Light TV video on Saint Kateri Click Here

Jesuits of English Canada on Saint Kateri Click Here

Catholic Missions in Canada Click Here

Saint Kateri Resources
compiled by
Religious Education + Family Life
Renfrew County Catholic School Board Click Here

 

Study Guide

Goal

The goal of Program Eleven is to provide students with a background to the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the devotion to her among North American Aboriginal Catholics. Reflections from Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie, OMI, Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas (2005-2012); Founding Chair, Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops; Sr. Eva Solomon, CSJ, Ojibway First Nation, Sister of St. Joseph of Sault Ste. Marie, Executive Director, Building Bridges Project.

Steps

1. Show the internet TV video - Program Eleven: "Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of Hope"

2. Ask students to form small groups to describe the following impressions from the video:

  • Who was Saint Juan Diego?
  • Summarize the story of the apparition of Our Lady to Juan Diego.
  • Who is the non-Aboriginal speaker in the video and what are his main thoughts?
  • Who is the Aboriginal speaker in the video and what are her main thoughts?
  • What did you know after viewing the video that you didn’t know before?
  • Why do you think this story is so important to Aboriginal Catholics?

3. Option for Take-Home Assignment

  • Via the Internet find more facts about the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
  • Provide facts to the history of Mexico and the Church of Mexico in Juan Diego’s times.
  • In groups, make presentations to the class about any or all of the above. Include suggestions on how students could find out more about the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.