St Maria Guadalupe Garcia Zavala, known as Mother Lupita within her order, lived in a time of great turmoil in Mexico when it was dangerous to be a Catholic. She demonstrated bravery as she continued to live out her vocation to the fullest despite the risk.
Maria was born to a faithful Catholic family. Her father owned a religious goods store next to the Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan. Maria spent many hours in the Basilica praying and developing a deep relationship with the Blessed Mother.
Although she originally planned to get married, Maria felt a different call on her heart and felt that God was calling her to the religious life. A priest whom Maria often turned to for advice shared with her that he had felt called to start a new religious order. Maria worked with this priest for form the Handmaids of St. Margaret Mary and the Poor.
This new order existed to serve the sick poor in their community. The established a small hospital and the sisters worked to care for anyone who needed medical help, without asking for any pay. The order was so poor that the nuns had to go beg on the streets for the money to continue running the hospital.
Shortly after the order was established, Mexico became a dangerous place to be Catholic. The government took the Church’s property, kicked members of religious orders out of the country, and treated many priests like criminals.
To survive, the sisters chose to stop wearing their habits and instead dress in normal clothing. This did not prevent the government from coming into the hospital to take supplies and disrupt their work, but despite this, the sisters kept doing their best to serve their community.
As she saw priests being hunted down and killed, Maria took it upon herself to protect them. She hid several priests and even an Archbishop in her hospital, disguising them as patients. Although the government suspected this was happening, Maria was able to keep these men safe.
Maria’s kindness even extended to those who worked for the government. She would give food and medical care to those who lived near the hospital, even if they were the ones trying to shut her down. Maria’s kindness and generous heart eventually converted these men who went on to help protect the hospital.
Today, the order St. Maria helped established now have 22 locations in five different countries. Their largest presence is still in Mexico. These sisters continue St. Maria’s work to help the poor by living amongst them.