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The Guadalupe Art Program is a bi-lingual spiritual empowerment workshop for Latina youth (ages eight through seventeen) that is offered throughout the Diocese of San Diego. Guadalupe Art Program Slide Show
Focused on the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the most ubiquitous icon in Latino culture, young girls explore, develop, and deepen their spiritual lives through art, music, and dance. This program also addresses many of the negative issues Latinas deal with in their interaction with their own culture and society at-large; oppression, sexism, abuse, addiction, and violence. The girls learn about and discuss their options; the positive changes that come through wise choices and that can be implemented in their lives. Here now are some of the particular aspects of the program that make these changes possible as the girls explore and express their creativity.
 Art Segment: Using the image of Guadalupe as their model, the girls paint themselves into her corona, thereby placing them within her loving aura. In doing this, the girls have the opportunity to explore their own sacred beauty. These images have now moved beyond the canvas and the same theme has been extended to the creation of jewelry, gardens, pottery, quilts, and photographic images. The works of art have been displayed in exhibitions (Art and Altars) at several cathedrals – Episcopalian and Roman Catholic – in both Los Angeles and San Diego.
Music Segment: On December 12th, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a special service entitled Mañanitas Para La Virgen de Guadalupe (A Serenade to Our Lady of Guadalupe) is offered. In this special event, the girls invite both the Latino and Anglo communities to come together to sing in the cathedral. We are currently working on a CD of the songs the girls perform as a chorus.
 Dance Segment: Using rebozos, colorful Mexican shawls, the girls express their spiritual and cultural identity through creative interpretations of songs and stories related to Latino culture.
Education and Pastoral Care: In addition to the artistic and cultural offerings listed above, and running throughout every aspect of the program, the girls are offered education, information, support, and pastoral care in regard to the issues of abuse, addiction, and violence. The program employs and integrates the principles of ALATEEN, a 12-Step program for teens living in addictive homes and relationships.
Many of the girls currently in the program come from families that are undocumented and that struggle with issues of unemployment, social acceptance, racism, and poverty.
They live in dangerous neighborhoods that are marked by violence and crime. The Diocese of San Diego is reaching out to the Latino community with great care and intention (this ministry was the primary focus our 2002 Diocesan Convention).
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