The Metropolitan Cathedral of Guayaquil, officially called St. Peter's Cathedral, received the Pilgrim Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa August 27 until 31.
The Cathedral is located in the heart of the city, in front of the Seminary Park and was originally built of wood around 1547; it was rebuilt in reinforced cement in the twentieth century, in neo-Gothic style.
The Cathedral has two additional chapels, the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, where Jesus remains in adoration every day from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and the Sacrament Chapel, where the Icon was during those days and where the Holy Eucharist is celebrated almost every hour.
The Icon arrived at the time of the Mass began at 5:00 p.m. Our Lady entered at just the right time, through a side door of the Cathedral and was taken directly to the altar.
Estela Zea, who had the opportunity to contemplate the Icon closely, was surprised by the experience of looking at Our Mother, and said that it seemed that the left shoulder of the Virgin was leaving the painting, as in an act of giving Her Son to all present.
The Czestochowa Icon is scheduled to be in Guayaquil until the end of September, and then will visit the Archdiocese of Portoviejo.