On Saturday, December 3, 2022 Torches of Guadalupe Procession and Holy Mass was a beautiful spiritual gathering despite the heavy rain.
Father Guilherme Andrino and Cori Scotti of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and Staff, among other parishes in the diocese of Trenton presented a special devotion.
21 torches that represent parishes in the diocese of Trenton that have a special devotion to Mary, the mother of God. These torches went from church to church every weekend and the final destination was at Our Lady of Guadalupe, Parish, December 3rd.
During this time as the torches continued from church to church, Father Guilherme Andrino chose Nicklas Shimonovich to be the memorial this year and was remembered at each of the masses. Nicklas was a Lakewood Police Officer that tragically lost his life in an off-duty motorcycle crash on September 5, 2020.
The mass was live streamed all over the country, and live streamed in Mexico in the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (the mass was translated in Spanish with a translator).
A procession commenced with walking the streets of Lakewood from Our Lady of Guadalupe at 8 AM and ended at Holy Family following a mass.
In the procession included, “UNITY WITH THE COMMUNITY” 1941 Oldsmobile car (by Shrage Pinter) with the 13 fallen officers names on the door panels, and the LPD police shield; eight floats representing all different parishes and their devotion to Mary, all the people walking were carrying statues as a sacrifice, wearing traditional dresses of Guadalupana‘s and traditional Mexican dresses. There was music and dancing, and the final destination was holy family where the torches were presented.
During the mass, Cori Scotti conducted the music ministry and sang beautifully while all 21 torches were lit and blessed!!
At the closing of the mass the torches were extinguished, and Father Guilherme Andrino called the Lakewood Police Officers that were in attendance front and center, and said a special prayer for the Chief of Police of Lakewood, Gregory H. Meyer, and all the officers, thanking them for their continuous appreciation and support and prayed for their safety and protection. *A special thanks was given to Sgt. Frank Work and Traffic Safety unit in ensuring the procession was safe and secured.
Only one torch remained lit and Father Guilherme Andrino, lit a special candle for Nicklas Shimonovich and said a special prayer as he gave the lit candle to his parents Lt. Robert Shimonovich, Sgt. Jeannette Shimonovich and his brother Leonardo Shimonovich (all three are presently Lakewood Police Officers), to remember that Nicklas’s light will always shine bright and he will never be forgotten. (*This is a devotion to the patron saint of Americas which is Our Lady of Guadalupe).
(photos courtesy of Trenton Monitor) #guadalupe #ourladyofguadalupe #lpd
(facebook – Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish of Lakewood)