Tepeyac Hill dedication draws thousands to Rother shrine

Under overcast skies on a chilly December Sunday, more than 3,000 faithful gathered for the first Mass on the grounds of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine as Archbishop Coakley led an outdoor Mass and climbed Oklahoma City’s Tepeyac Hill to bless the statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego.

The hill, which towers over the northwest corner of the site near Shields Boulevard and NE 89th Street, is a replica of Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City that was the site of the Virgin Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego in 1531. 

The outdoor Mass on Dec. 11 was the first event on the shrine grounds, leading up to the dedication of the shrine church on Feb. 17. Once completed, the shrine will be the largest Catholic Church in Oklahoma.

“This image of Mary will remind us of the close ties of Mary to Christ and his Church. Let us beseech the Lord’s blessing upon this place,” Archbishop Coakley said before sprinkling holy water on the 12-foot statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe and then blessing the nearby 8-foot statue of a kneeling Saint Juan Diego. 

An hour before the Mass, several hundred parishioners and more than 60 Matachines dancers processed down NW 89th Street to the shrine grounds, dancing, praying, drumming and singing. They were escorted by Oklahoma City Police and Oklahoma County Sheriff’s deputies on horseback.  

“We’re celebrating the Virgin Mary’s life, and it’s important to gather as a family. We’re all really excited to have it here,” said Sandra Herrada, who was attending with her four children and her husband, Daniel Romero, who was a dancer.

Nearby, Erika Martinez gathered with her husband and friends.

“We’re here to venerate our mother, Mary. It’s part of our love toward our mother and our Lord,” she said. “(Tepeyac Hill) is a blessing. It’s a gift sent from God.”

Many of the families in attendance at the dedication are parishioners at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. Sacred Heart and Holy Angels Catholic Church will combine to celebrate Masses at the shrine as well as at Sacred Heart’s original location on Shartel Avenue, now known as Historic Sacred Heart.

Father Donald Wolf, pastor of Sacred Heart, rector of the shrine and cousin of Blessed Stanley Rother, delivered a homily in English and Spanish. 

“If we can guide the blind, then we become a source of hope for those … who are left behind. If Christ is to become alive, the Word is proclaimed to them where they are. We can’t wait until the Lord breaks the door down to enter where we are. We make our way to where the Lord is,” Father Wolf said from a stage at the foot of Tepeyac Hill.

“We build this shrine to encapsulate the example of Father Rother and the gift of his sacrifice so that when we see what he has done, we are looking through a window of the presence of Christ among us. … We rejoice that it is here that we begin. That we, on these grounds, on this day, carve out a place dedicated to the living presence of Christ.”

Father Wolf concelebrated Mass with Archbishop Coakley, Archbishop Emeritus Beltran, Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., Father Rusty Hewes and Father Brannon Lepak, vice rectors of the shrine, and other priests and deacons. Also in attendance were Leif Arvidson, executive director of the shrine, shrine and archdiocesan staff, volunteers and the Knights of Columbus.

Learn more about the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine at rothershrine.org.

Diane Clay is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.

Photo: More than 3,000 faithful gathered for the first Mass and blessing of the statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego on Dec. 11 at the Bl. Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City. Photo Avery Holt/Sooner Catholic. (above) 


Photo Theresa Bragg/Sooner Catholic.


Photo Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.

Photo Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.
Photo Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.

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Rother shrine dedication Feb. 17
Join Archbishop Coakley, priests of the archdiocese, bishops and guests for the dedication of the Bl. Stanley Rother Shrine on Friday, Feb. 17 in Oklahoma City. The dedication will be the centerpiece of a week-long celebration and is open to the public. Seating will be limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Find more information at rothershrine.org/dedication.