Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church opens in old Radnor Baptist space

Inaugurated in Aztec-style, drum-led procession of faith

Mass draws over 1,000

"Welcome to our neighborhood"

A "miracle"

The Tennessean reported here about the "half-mile pilgrimage Wednesday from St. Edward to the former Radnor Baptist Church, about to be reopened as Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church":

Led by a police escort and an honor guard of the Knights of Columbus, several parishioners carried an icon of the Virgin of Guadalupe on a wooden platform covered with flowers and electric candles.

A group of drummers and dancers in Aztec-style costumes followed the icon. Behind them, parishioners carried children, umbrellas, icons of the Virgin Mary, American flags and candles as volunteers in orange vests waived flashlights and yelled "Rapido!"

As they passed the corner of Simmons and Morton avenues, a group of neighbors stood on the porch and cheered: "Welcome to our neighborhood."
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More than 1,000 people would eventually pack the new church, where Bishop David Choby celebrated Mass.
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The Rev. Joseph Breen, pastor of St. Edward, called the event "a miracle."
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The new building is a godsend, said Breen, allowing Hispanic parishioners, led by the Rev. Fernando Garcia, to have a home of their own.

Photo by Francisca Galaz. Licensed under Creative Commons.