Photos: Miles celebrate the Virgen del Swan in Cuenca, Ecuador

Neither the rain nor the cold prevented thousands of people from participating in the celebrations of the Virgen del Swan in Cuenca, Ecuador, from May 19 to 25; Celebrations that are held every two years when the Marian image arrives from its sanctuary in Loja, where the invocation emerged at the end of the 16th century.

According to a note from Radio Católica Cuenca sent to ACI Press, the “Churonite of the Swan”, as well as affectionately known to the image, arrived in that Ecuadorian city on Monday 19, specifically to the Park of the Republic, from where she was transferred to the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

The Virgin was received that night for about seven thousand souls, with a rain of flower petals thrown from the dome of the cathedral and fireworks. Before his arrival, the youth pastoral brought with the faithful present the Holy Rosary.

In the reception were also the Apostolic Nuncio in Ecuador, Mons. Andrés Carrascosa, the Archbishop of Cuenca, Mons. Marcos Pérez, and his auxiliary bishop, Mons. Fernando Ortega.

“The flowers that offered the faithful flooded the altar of the Virgin in the Cathedral. The seven days of visiting the image of the Virgin Mary, passed in the midst of massive demonstrations of love and devotion,” says the note of Radio Católica Cuenca.

From Tuesday 20 to Friday, May 23, seven masses were held every day and every day the Virgin of the Swan was dressed in a different outfit, as the tradition marks. The person in charge of his transfer and change of clothing was Fr. Socrates Chinchay, rector of the Swan Sanctuary.

Thanks to the Virgen del Swan

Each night outside the cathedral a cultural event was developed by the priostes or butlers, who were responsible for presenting various numbers by choirs, mariachis and bands, among others.

“We are very happy as faithful Catholics that we are. We have come to express our love to the Virgin Mary,” said Rosa Pacheco, one of the attendees.

María Guamán told for her part that Flores took the Churonita “in gratitude to the Virgin for the health and work with which she has blessed my family. The Virgin is thankful for intervening in the marriage of a daughter who was about to destroy.”

On the other hand, Angelita Vélez, from Loja, said in tears that “the Virgin allowed my daughter who had rheumatic problems to heal. Even what seemed impossible, today is reality, since my daughter has been able to be a mother.”

The Virgin, godmother of the renewal of marriage votes

On Saturday, May 24 in the morning, and in the presence of the Virgen del Swan, a massive Mass was held at the Miraflores Park, with about eight thousand faithful present, a day in which the Church party was held in Cuenca, the jubilee of the families and the renewal of the marriage votes of a large number of husbands.

Gladys Morocho and Francisco Quezada, for example, arrived from the town of El Oro, and with more than fifty years together, renewed their promises.

The Mass was chaired by the Archbishop of Cuenca, who also headed a great procession with the Marian image.

Fireworks for the Mother of God

On Saturday night, in Calderón Park where the cathedral is, the merchants of the markets and squares offered artificial fires and folk dances by the Mushuc Sisa group.

Patricio Peña, leader of one of the market associations El Arenal stressed that “we will never leave the devotion to the Virgin. He who has less, gives more to honor the Virgin. The love and devotion is abundant.”

Farewell Mass of the Virgen del Swan

On Sunday, May 25, a farewell mass was held, in which about five thousand faithful who filled the Calderón Park and the next streets participated. That day the Virgin of the Swan wore a white dress with pink and gold details.

Mons. Marcos Pérez, Archbishop of Cuenca, stressed in his homily that “we have arrived spontaneously. The Virgin Mary in this precious invocation of the swan, has come to remind us what Jesus taught us.”

“We say that it is the great catechist of the people, we all understand her, because she has the language of the good mother. He has come to visit us to remind us that we are children of God,” said the prelate.

The Virgen del Swan “has come to work in the heart of each Azuayo (Cuenca is in the province of Azuay), and we have felt attracted to their love and teaching. It reminds us that as she, we have also been called and sent to evangelize,” he concluded.