Celebration in San Luis and Commemoration of Mother Cabrini on the 125th Anniversary of Her Visit to the City

On September 24, the patronal festivities in honor of Our Lady of Mercy were celebrated at Villa Mercedes with an outdoor Mass and a procession.

The faithful participated in the main celebration presided over by the Bishop of San Luis, Gabriel Barba, during which they commemorated Mother Cabrini on the 125th anniversary of her visit to the city.

Songs, prayers, and devotion accompanied the image of Our Lady of Mercy throughout the afternoon of this Thursday. The main celebration in honor of the patron saint of Villa Mercedes began in front of the Mother Church and continued through the streets of downtown, with a special stop in front of the mural of Mother Cabrini. Mayor Maximiliano Frontera was present at the religious celebration and the related activities.

The Bishop of San Luis, Gabriel Barba, presided over the Mass, which took place outdoors, together with priests from various parishes in the city and Father Guillermo Juárez, who had traveled from Tucumán.

During his homily, Barba noted that forms of subjugation have changed over time, but that some continue to exist. Among these, he mentioned human trafficking and warned that it is an issue that remains hidden but is closer to society than is often realized.

He applied his reflections to our daily relationships. “Do we truly make the Virgin Mary our own?” the bishop asked, inviting everyone to bring that relationship of faith into their homes and daily lives.
Another key point of his message focused on human dignity in the face of technological changes. He mentioned artificial intelligence and emphasized that society is undergoing a new phase which, due to its scope, he compared to the Industrial Revolution.
In light of this scenario, he stressed the need to care for every person and their dignity, especially in the face of the new challenges arising from these transformations.
He also reflected on the meaning of “Merced” and invited everyone to view various difficult situations through the lens of charity, service, and dedication “where mercy is needed.”
“Today we ask our Mother to teach us and help us to be Christians and Catholics—not just in name, but above all so that we may deserve the title of Christians and Catholics because we live it out,” he added, concluding: “May the Virgin of Mercy bless our city of Villa Mercedes and, from there, pour out her mercy and love upon the entire province, helping us to build this homeland of brothers and sisters.”

After Mass, the image went out to travel through the streets of the city center; then from Pedernera they proceeded to Buenos Aires, turned onto Lavalle and continued to Pringles, then reached Potosí and Pedernera. At this point they stopped in front of the mural dedicated to Mother Cabrini. There they laid flowers in tribute to the religious sister, as part of the 125th anniversary of her arrival in Villa Mercedes. They then concluded at the starting point.
At the end of the ceremony, the faithful approached the image of the Patroness to express their intentions and their thanks.

Sr. Marisel Mora, MSC, Sr. María Oliveira, MSC, and Sr. Laura Elizabeth Sánchez, MSC, attended the event.

Thanks to elchorrillero.com for this article