Basilica Volunteer Christmas Party

This past January fourth, after the 5:30 P.M. evening Mass, the Basilica Volunteers gathered at the Basilica Café for our Annual Christmas Party. Our volunteers are the Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Ministers of Hospitality, and Acolytes who serve all year round. They are dedicated children, adolescents, women and men who have a sincere devotion to Our Lady of San Juan del Valle and wish to serve her pilgrims.

During the course of the evening beautiful religious items from our Gift Shop were given as door prizes. It kept the evening interesting as Father Amador conducted the raffle at intervals while we were eating the delicious tamales made by the Kitchen Staff at our Café. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Volunteer of the Year Award. Earlier in the week, the members of the Worship Department of the Basilica gathered in a top secret meeting to vote on the person who most exemplified the sense of service, prayer, and devotion that should characterize our volunteers. They unanimously chose Mrs. Manuela Villescas of San Juan. Manuelita, as most people call her, or Meme as Father calls her has been serving as a Basilica Volunteer since the dedication of the Shrine in April of 1980. She is a true example to us of service and dedication. The volunteers immediately, and spontaneously, rose to give her a standing ovation. Congratulations Manuelita!

If you are interested in becoming a Basilica Volunteer, please call our Worship Department at 956.787.0033

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