A Truly Inspiring Healing Mass in honour of Our Lady of Guadalupe

St. Thomas Church – A Day of Grace, Healing, and Renewed Hope

Today, our community at Lower North Shore parish was blessed with one of the most moving and grace-filled celebrations we have experienced in recent memory. In honour of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, parishioners from our LNS churches and community, and many visitors from beyond, gathered for a Healing Mass that touched hearts, renewed spirits, and reminded us of the gentle yet powerful presence of Mary in our lives. The celebration, led by Fr. Justin Torres, assisted by Fr. Roger Delmonte, and beautifully accompanied by the music of Paul, Sarah, and their daughter Martha Quiap, became an unforgettable encounter with faith, healing, and the tender maternal love of our Blessed Mother.

A Homily Rooted in Humility, History, and Personal Experience

The Mass began with a beautiful liturgy honouring La Morenita, the Mother who appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531 on Tepeyac Hill. Fr. Justin offered a homily that was both deeply personal and theologically rich. He began by sharing his first encounter with Our Lady of Guadalupe’s image, one that would shape his priestly ministry for years to come.

As a young seminarian, Fr. Justin received a replica of the famous tilma from a doctor friend who had visited Mexico. At the time, he did not fully understand the depth of devotion surrounding Our Lady of Guadalupe, nor the remarkable story behind the miraculous image. But he cherished the gift and kept it close. Over time, especially as he began serving in hospitals, the tilma became his silent companion in countless pastoral visits. He would bring it with him as he prayed over the sick and the dying, entrusting each person to the maternal care of the Virgin.

With great humility, Fr. Justin recounted how, on several occasions, he later received phone calls from families and patients themselves, sharing unexpected recoveries, moments they believed were connected to the intercession of Our Lady. These stories, he emphasized, were not about him, but about Mary’s desire to accompany her children, just as she accompanied Juan Diego nearly 500 years ago.

A Journey Back to Tepeyac Hill

To deepen the congregation’s understanding, Fr. Justin retold the story of the apparitions in Mexico, rich in faith, history, and meaning for all who seek healing today.

He recalled how, on December 9, 1531, an Indigenous Chichimeca convert named Juan Diego heard heavenly music and saw a radiant woman on Tepeyac Hill. She identified herself as: “Mary, Mother of the true God for whom we live.”

She asked him to visit the bishop, Fray Juan de Zumárraga, and request the construction of a shrine where she could show love, tenderness, and compassion to her people.

But the bishop hesitated. He asked for proof.

Juan Diego, obedient yet unsure, returned to Mary. She promised a sign. When he missed their meeting due to his uncle’s illness, Mary appeared again on December 11–12, assuring him of his uncle’s healing and instructing him to gather flowers on the hilltop. Though it was winter and the ground barren, he found Castilian roses blooming, flowers foreign to Mexico. Mary arranged them carefully in his tilma and sent him to the bishop.

When Juan Diego unfurled the cloak, the roses spilled out, and the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on the fabric. The bishop fell to his knees. A shrine was built immediately on Tepeyac Hill, marking the beginning of one of the most beloved devotions in the Catholic world. Within a year, millions embraced the Christian faith, moved by Mary’s message of hope, unity, and divine love.

A Message That Still Heals Today

Fr. Justin emphasized that the message given to Juan Diego is as essential today as it was nearly five centuries ago. Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to be a mother of healing, a symbol of dignity and love for the marginalized, a beacon of hope in times of suffering, and a call to mission for all believers.

She tells each of us, as she told Juan Diego: “Am I not here who am your Mother?”

A Powerful Experience of Healing

After the final blessing of the Mass, the church remained wrapped in a sacred reverence as people formed a long, quiet line for the healing prayers and blessed oil offered by Fr. Justin. Soft, heavenly music, reminiscent of the celestial sounds Juan Diego heard on Tepeyac, played gently in the background, creating an atmosphere of peace.

One by one, people went forward, many with tears in their eyes. Some carried heavy burdens. Others brought sacramentals purchased or brought from home. Still others requested personal blessings even after receiving the anointing, longing for just one more moment of grace.

The expressions of gratitude were abundant. Some whispered prayers. Others embraced one another. Many simply closed their eyes and allowed God’s love to wash over them. It was a moment when heaven felt incredibly close.

A Community Renewed

Following the healing rite, parishioners and visitors shared in gracious hospitality. Conversations, smiles, and heartfelt gratitude filled the hall. People left not only with blessed oil or sacramentals, but with renewed faith and a sense of deep peace, gifts far more precious.

Today’s celebration at St. Thomas Church was a powerful reminder that Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to walk with us, intercede for us, and bring us closer to her Son. Through the gentle ministry of Fr. Justin Torres and the warm faith of our community, we experienced a glimpse of the same tender love she once showed on Tepeyac Hill.

May we carry this grace forward, and may Our Lady of Guadalupe continue to guide, heal, and protect us all.