The image of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos was brought from the city of San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico, to be placed in a new shrine bearing the same name in Corpus Christi. The shrine will be dedicated with a 12 noon Mass on Feb. 7 at 3049 County Rd. 37 at the site that was formerly known as My Father's House.

In the midst of many announcements, including the retirement of Bishop Edmond Carmody and the appointment of Bishop-elect Michael Mulvey, Father Henry Artunduaga, was named the rector of the new shrine, which will be dedicated to Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos on February 7.

Bishop Edmond Carmody will preside at the liturgy and will be joined by Father Luis Aceves Gonzalez, rector of the original Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos in Mexico.

The event will begin with a 10 a.m. procession that will start at Most Precious Blood Church and continue by car to the site of the shrine, which is located at what was formerly "My Father's House" located at 3049 County Rd. 37. Mass will be celebrated in Spanish at 12 noon.

Just before Christmas, Father Henry, Bishop Carmody and Father Eduardo Montemator, director of the diocesan evangelization department, traveled to the town of San Juan de los Lagos in the state of Jalisco in Mexico.

The trip was prompted by the generous donation of land by the Huerta family of Corpus Christi, who have donated 55 acres to the diocese in memory of Albert Huerta, who led a healing ministry at the site called "My Father's House."

The news has been welcomed with great hope by the Hispanic community.

The devotion to the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos began in 1623, after a History of Spanish evangelization in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. The legend tells that a family of acrobats arrived in the small town. The family was composed of the father, mother and two daughters, who were on their way to Guadalajara. They stopped along the way to spend the night in San Juan. On the following day, in gratitude for the hospitality offered them, they decided to entertain the people. Dressed in extravagant attire they amazed the crowd as they performed dangerous acrobatic feats. The enthusiasm grew and the family decided to perform their most dangerous act, to jump and land in the middle of swords. The father jumped first with great skill, and then came the turn of the younger daughter, who was around 7 years old. At first she did very well and then she miscalculated a jump and fell into the end of a sword, that cut into her tiny body. The girls body was taken into the town's chapel for prayer.

Ana Lucia, who was in charge for the cleaning of the chapel, was very affected by the pain of the parents, who took the blame for the death of their daughter.

She thought to herself, "What if the Virgin wanted to heal the girl! She approach the mother and she said, "I have an image that can make miracles. Do you want to place it on the chest of your daughter's body?". The mother nodded her head with hope.

Ana Lucia ran to bring the old and damaged image of the Virgin, and with great faith and devotion she placed it on the chest of the girl, while people gathered to pray. Suddenly and before a number of people, the girl opened her eyes, got up and hugged the image.

From this first miracle, so clear to the eyes of many people, and an unending chain of miracles and favors grew into devotion to the Virgin under the advocation of San Juan of the Lagos. Her Shrine, is one of the most visited in Mexico, second only to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Miracles and favors granted by God, also happen in Corpus Christi.

It has been 12 years, in March of 1998, since the lawyer Alberto Huerta, who died last year, gave a testimony of the miracle of the life of his son Joseph, who suffered a very serious accident, in which he was almost killed. The accident happened in Colorado while he was skiing. The prognosis from the doctors was very sad. If he lived he would be a paraplegic. Mr. Huerta did not know how to pray but he started talking with God, and called his friends asking for prayers for the health of their son.

After 12 days, Joseph woke from the coma. He recovered his health and continued working as a lawyer. His father soon began a prayer and healing center.

The ministry that Mr. Huerta started drew many people together. This ministry will be part of the activities that will take place at the Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos in Corpus Christi.

The image of the Virgin, which was purchased in Mexico and placed in the shrine here, is similar to the original one crafted by indigenous people centuries earlier.

The image will be a sign of faith, hope and healing to all who visit the shrine. Look for more information about the activities of the shrine and surrounding property in the Feb. 19 South Texas Catholic.