By Ana Rodriguez Soto - The Archdiocese of Miami
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO | David Prada
Standing outside the old basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico the day after Pope Francis' visit, from left: David Prada, director of the archdiocesan Office of Building and Property, and his wife, Liz; artist Nilda Comas; Father Israel Mago, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Doral; and Ruben Bravo, project manager for MCM Construction.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO | David Prada
Father Israel Mago, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Doral, celebrates Mass at the basilica in Mexico one day after Pope Francis' visit there.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO | David Prada
The Mexican flag is draped beneath the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the basilica in Mexico, a day after Pope Francis spent 20 minutes in silent prayer there. The altar of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Doral was inspired by the one in Mexico.
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO | David Prada
Standing outside the new basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico the day after Pope Francis' visit, from left: Ruben Bravo, project manager for MCM Construction; Liz Prada and her husband, David, who directs the archdiocesan Office of Building and Property; artist Nilda Comas; and Father Israel Mago, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Doral.
MIAMI | Just when he thought Our Lady of Guadalupe couldn’t surprise him any more, David Prada got another unexpected gift � a trip to her basilica in Mexico, on the same weekend Pope Francis visited.
It was supposed to be a final “pilgrimage of thanksgiving” to the patroness of the Americas for her intercession in the construction of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Doral � a whole parish plant built in slightly less than a year, with heaven-sent funding from an anonymous devotee of Our Lady.
Prada, director of the archdiocesan Office of Building and Property, had been intimately involved in the project, from design to dedication. He and others had noticed coincidence after coincidence throughout the process that made them think the Virgin � and her son � were definitely helping out.
As a thank-you gesture, Prada planned to travel to Mexico with his wife, Liz Prada; Father Israel Mago, Our Lady of Guadalupe’s pastor; Ruben Bravo, the project manager from MCM Construction; and Nilda Comas, the artist who created the corpus of the crucified Christ that rises above the sanctuary as well as the larger-than-life-size mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe that is visible on the outside of the church.
Prada was picking a date for the trip when his wife, a teacher, mentioned that she had Feb. 12 and 15 off.
“It’s very unusual for her to get a Friday and a Monday off,” noted Prada.
So he jumped on those dates, quickly booking a hotel room and a plane ride. Father Mago and the others would meet them Sunday evening to celebrate Mass at the basilica on Monday.
That’s when Prada’s wife called back and told him: That’s the weekend Pope Francis is visiting Mexico. He would be celebrating Mass at the basilica in Guadalupe that Saturday, Feb. 13.
Prada couldn’t believe it. Hotel rooms were neither scarce nor pricey, and the plane fare seemed downright cheap.
Father Mago contacted Msgr. Eduardo Chavez, one of the postulators of the cause of St. Juan Diego, who was able to get them tickets to the stands outside the basilica during the pope’s stop there. (Father Mago got someone to cover for him at the parish.)
They arrived at 11 a.m. for the 5 p.m. Mass and were able to greet Francis as he toured the area on his popemobile.
Prada also got Msgr. Chavez and Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, to autograph (and bless) a book they collaborated on, “Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love” � a book that served to inspire many elements of the Guadalupe church project.
On Sunday night, the group took part in the weekly candlelight procession from the basilica to the hill behind it � Tepeyac, where Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego. And on Monday, Father Mago celebrated one of the hourly Masses inside the basilica.
Prada credits Our Lady of Guadalupe for turning the thank-you trip into “a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
“For me, basically, the whole trip is all her planning,” he said. “As any good mother, she lovingly gives to her children, and is never to be outdone in her generosity.”
Photographer: COURTESY PHOTO | David Prada
Panoramic view of the plaza outside the basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico during Pope Francis' visit, taken by David Prada from the bleachers where he and the others from Miami were seated.
