On Wednesday Nov. 25, Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic church in Mocksville hosted La Antorcha Guadalupana.

This event starts in Mexico City and will terminate in New York City on the feast date of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12. This is a torch relay organized by the Tepeyac Association.

Two replica images are taken from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe from Mexico. One is of our lady of Guadalupe and the other of the Indian messenger, Juan Diego to whom she appeared to in December 1531.

A torch is brought along with the images representing unity, love and the light of Christ.

Each year it passes through Mexico and crosses to the United States. The images are passed town to town, hand in hand by thousands of devotees to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The message of this event is to join families separated by a border.

Saint Francis celebrated with a procession through the streets, Aztec dances, folk dances, music, food, songs and the celebration of the Holy Mass.

On Thursday, Saint Francis ran to Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Greensboro to deliver the torch along with the images.

“Multiple prayers were said and tears shed upon her feet, she is The Virgen without a passport,” said Deanna Torres. “She is the mother of Mexico and Queen of our hearts. For me it is an emotion that words cannot express. To constantly live between two cultures is difficult but when I participate in events like this it is impossible to retain one’s emotions and devotion to the culture and Our Lady of Guadalupe.”