On Sunday, April 21, 2024, the footsteps of pilgrims will be heading in one direction: SIPARIA. The journey leads to an encounter with the Virgin Mary who has become the Mother, Comforter and Shepherdess of all who visit her Shrine. Give her a title; give her a name: Holy Mother, Siparee Mai, Divine Shepherdess; in Siparia she is Patroness and companion of pilgrims on their journey of faith.
The call of Pope Francis is to build a Church together; to accompany each other on the road together. The Pope’s vision for a Synodal Church involves the participation of all. Reaching out to the peripheries is critical for this journey together. This is a joyful and exciting time for listening to the Spirit and listening to one another. No one must be excluded.
The Shrine of La Divina Pastora is a meeting place for pilgrims. Here hearts are receptive and like Mary, are open to the Spirit. The Feast of La Divina Pastora this year, in a special way, is a Synodal moment; a moment of grace and a time for deeper reflection on what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church all over the world today but also right here in Trinidad and Tobago. We cannot miss this moment for listening and building Church together.
The theme for the Feast this year is: Consecrating Families To La Divina Pastora, Mother Of the Divine Shepherd”. Caring for families is a priority of the church and ought to be a priority for society too for the family is the sanctuary of life and the vital cell of society. Anything that threatens the family undermines human dignity and the sacredness of life. The Good Shepherd cares for his sheep and Mary as the Divine Shepherdess cares for all her children.
Mary, Mother and Shepherdess, makes room for all and wants none to stray or to be lost. Under her inspiration we need to build a new culture of respect and care for all but especially the vulnerable and the defenceless. We cannot allow our families to be destroyed by domestic violence. We need work together for the safety and welfare of all. We cannot allow the culture of death to rule in our homes or in our land.
La Divina Pastora gives us a vision of life, love and caring. In her company we find pathways for building peace, unity and stronger family values. By inviting her to accompany us on our Synodal journey and in all we do, we share in her shepherding role and become our sister’s and our brother’s keeper.
The following hymn is a catechesis for pilgrims and a gift to our local Church on our Synodal journey as Mary accompanies us and as we consecrate our families and our nation to La Divina Pastora, the Divine Shepherdess.
LA DIVINA PASTORA
La Divina Pastora, Divine Shepherdess,
Splendid in beauty
Our dear Patroness
Watch over your children
In times of distress
We hail you, we greet you
O Pure Virgin blest
CHORUS
La Divina Pastora
Let the echoes resound
From voices of faith
Where great courage abounds
Fill the hearts of your children
With your kindness and care
As we sing out your praises
O Divine Mother dear!
La Divina Pastora, Immaculate blest,
Hail full of grace
The bright star of our race
The Church has proclaimed you
Free from sin and all stain
With faith we acclaim you
Our Divine Shepherdess (CHORUS)
La Divina Pastora, Gentle and Meek,
The culture of violence
Is a great threat to peace
Help us daily to build
A new culture of love
In choosing to defend life
As a gift from above (CHORUS)
La Divin, Our Mother, O Virgin Sublime,
Keep safe and protect us
In challenging times
We revere you, venerate you
And we call upon you
To take us to Jesus
And in him to abide (CHORUS)
La Divina Pastora, Holy and blest,
In our homes we enthrone you
Our Divine Shepherdess
O lead us and guide us
Both the weak and the strong
To find the Good Shepherd
And to him to belong (CHORUS)
+Robert Rivas O.P.
May 1, 2014
(Reviewed, April 14, 2024)
