Dear TLI family,
As we wrap up November and look forward to the beautiful season of Advent, we are full of gratitude. Our recent visit to Tepeyac Hill still brings a smile to my face. How blessed we are to be part of a Church that celebrates God’s presence in such rich and meaningful ways! Advent always fills our hearts with anticipation, but for our apostolate, it especially turns our attention to Our Lady of Guadalupe and her loving presence.
Between December 9 and December 12, the Church commemorates the extraordinary moments when the Mother of God touched the life of a humble layman. Our Blessed Mother chose Juan Diego, a quiet and simple man, to receive a message that would change the course of history. Her tender presence, her words of comfort, and the mission she entrusted to him continue to echo today. For Tepeyac Leadership, these days carry a special significance because they reflect what our apostolate is and why it exists.
Juan Diego is more than a historical figure for TLI. He is the example of the lay Catholic who does not initially see himself as a leader. He approaches God with humility and even hesitation, questioning his own worthiness. And yet God, through Our Lady, reveals something greater. He invites Juan Diego to step into a mission that bears immense fruit. In Juan Diego, we find a reflection of so many participants who join TLI each year. They arrive feeling unsure, often unaware of the leadership God is already calling them to embrace.
At every TLI cohort, we encounter many Juan Diegos. They begin with modest expectations. They sometimes wonder if leadership is meant for someone else. But as they journey through the program, they discover the gifts God has placed within them. The formation they receive, the community that surrounds them, and the spiritual life strengthened through prayer and the sacraments all work together to awaken something new. By the time they reach the culmination of their program at Tepeyac Hill, their perspective has changed. They see more clearly their identity as Christian leaders and understand that the Lord has prepared them for mission long before they recognized it themselves.
During my recent visit to Tepeyac, I once again recalled the Nican Mopohua, the original and beautifully poetic account of the apparitions written in Nahuatl. Each encounter with this text feels like hearing Our Lady speak directly to the heart. Her tenderness, her reassurance, and her maternal love shine through every word. She calls Juan Diego (us!) her beloved son (children!). She tells him not to fear. She reminds him that he is held in the crossing of her arms and the hollow of her mantle. She speaks with the same voice today to every one of us striving to follow God’s will for our lives.
This is why Tepeyac Leadership continues to draw inspiration from the spirituality of Guadalupe. Our Lady forms leaders with gentleness and clarity. She teaches us that leadership begins with openness to God, not with our own sense of strength. She shows us that the willingness of one humble heart can transform an entire nation. Our mission as an apostolate is to help lay Catholics uncover this same calling within their own lives.
As we enter Advent and prepare for the feast of St. Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe, I warmly invite the TLI family to join us for our annual Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The novena begins on November 4. May these days of prayer unite us and draw us closer to the mission that Our Mother continues to guide with love.
In Christ and Our Lady of Guadalupe,
P.S. The date has been set for the 2nd Tepeyac Leadership Gala. Click below to register and mark your calendar to join us!
