Mision MasAlto Evangelize in Pico de Orizaba

6 days ago
3 min read

MEXICO

Faith in Mexico has been declining due to the emergence of sects, overwhelmed priests, and poverty. Training pastoral agents as evangelizers to promote devotion to Christ, the Virgin Mary, and acts of mercy is done with the aim of cultivating individuals like Juan Diego who can strengthen the faith in Mexico.

Catholic World Mission supports Mision MasAlto to fund scholarships for two full-time Evangelizers who will lead the evangelization efforts of 400 pastoral agents in the Pico de Orizaba (an inactive volcano), and La Perla situated within the Pico de Orizaba National Park. Pastoral training includes a special congress during Holy Week.

PROJECT UPDATES

Forming Juan Diegos, one pilgrimage at a time

August 2026

This past May, thanks to the generosity of Catholic World Mission donors, evangelizers in La Perla, Veracruz, accompanied around 8,000 pilgrims from the foothills of Pico de Orizaba on their annual pilgrimage to the Garden of Guadalupe.

Samuel, Cristina, and Guadalupe dedicated their time and hearts to preparing and accompanying the pilgrims, strengthening their faith and bringing to life the theme shared throughout the year: love for Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and love for Mary, our Blessed Mother. The pilgrimage was a beautiful witness that faith is expressed through concrete works of love.

The night before the pilgrimage, entire communities walked, both on horseback and on foot, to meet in Rancho Nuevo and begin a Eucharistic procession to the Guadalupe Garden. Amidst nature, with songs, prayer, and joy, a living Church, outward-looking and deeply rooted in the reality of its people, became visible.

The Holy Mass, presided over by Bishop Eduardo Cervantes Merino of Orizaba, in the community of El Minero, was the heart of the day. Many pilgrims described this location as a “natural cathedral,” where faith is simultaneously experienced with simplicity and profound depth.

The Virgin of Guadalupe was crowned following the commitment of numerous men and women as Apostles of the Virgin, under the motto "I am Juan Diego." This gesture is not merely symbolic: it expresses a concrete vocation of service, evangelization, and Christian leadership in their communities.

Behind this extraordinary event was the hidden and tireless work of evangelizers who visit communities, encourage families, organize groups, welcome pilgrims, and create an atmosphere where many people could experience God’s love in a very real way.

Strengthening Faith in the Volcano Communities of La Perla, Mexico

May 2025

Thanks to the generous support of Catholic World Mission, two full-time evangelizers have been hired to serve the remote Volcano communities in La Perla. Guadalupe Romero and Samuel Reyes along with his wife, Cristina Carmela Rosas, are actively working to deepen the Catholic faith, form new Apostles, and build vibrant Eucharistic communities devoted to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Guadalupe has played a key role in motivating pastoral agents and organizing a major congress during Holy Week 2025 in collaboration with Bishop Eduardo Cervantes and local parish priests. Over 400 pastoral agents from 48 communities participated in this event, which focused on spiritual formation and leadership.

Mision MasAlto in the Pico de Orizaba, and La Perla in Mexico.

Guadalupe also helped coordinate a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where community members renewed their devotion and prayed for strength to continue their mission.

Samuel and Cristina have begun their outreach in the most remote areas, supporting parish priests and encouraging local residents to become leaders in their own spiritual and material development.

Your support is making a lasting impact—bringing Christ’s love to the poorest of the poor and expanding His Kingdom in these underserved regions.

Guadalupe Romero Becomes a Full-Time Evangelizer

Feb 2025

Thanks to Catholic World Mission supporters, Guadalupe Romero was hired as a full-time Evangelizer. The formalization of the community of Apostles, now led by Guadalupe, inspired the Rector of the Basilica of Guadalupe in Tepeyac to write the attached letter, which we consider a significant step forward.