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St. Mother Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala ~ Mother Lupita

Saint Mother Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala was co-founder of the Congregation of the Handmaids of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the Poor, and was the first mother superior of the congregation. She was beautified by Pope John Paul II on April 25, 2004, and will be canonized on May 12, 2013.

Maria was born on April 27, 1878 in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. Her father, Fortino, ran a religious goods store situated in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan. She had a special devotion to the Lady and she made frequent prayers in the basilica.

As a young woman, she made plans to marry, however she ended these plans as she felt called to religious life.

She then pursued religious life and co-founded a new congregation on October 13, 1901, known as the Handmaids of St. Margret Mary Alacoque and the Poor. Maria spent most of her time serving as a nurse and as the Mother Superior General of the congregation.

The Congregation grew rapidly and served ever more people. However, she was also devoted to poverty, saying that only by being poor can one be with the poor. She sometimes begged for money on the street to help meet the needs of the Congregation and the patients they served.

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