A relic of St. Josemaría for Cuernavaca

On Sunday, June 7, 2026, a historic and providential event was celebrated in Cuernavaca, State of Morelos, Mexico: the placing of a painting and a first-degree relic of St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, in the chapel dedicated to his memory and to Our Lady of Guadalupe, located in the Jardines de Cuernavaca neighborhood.

A chapel of providential origin

The story began more than 30 years ago, when the Tovar Rodríguez family came in contact with a prayer card of the then Servant of God Josemaría Escrivá. Fermín and his wife, Mary Carmen, decided to start a chapel in 1985 in the community of Jardines de Cuernavaca, where they lived, dedicated to the founder of Opus Dei, an institution with which they had no communication.

Over the years and thanks to the efforts of the neighbors of the community, that chapel that began celebrating Mass under a large tree that was located where a metal cross is planted today, grew and improved little by little to what is now the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Josemaría Escrivá, belonging to the Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Teopanzolco).

The surprising thing is that this initiative was born completely independently, without the authorities of Opus Dei in Mexico or its members being aware of it.

Rediscovery and joint work

At the beginning of 2025, thanks to the providential contact between women of the Work and Mary Carmen Tovar Rodríguez (daughter of the founders of the chapel), the existence of the temple that has as co-patron the saint of the ordinary was discovered. After investigating with the civil and diocesan authorities, it was confirmed that the chapel was formally erected and registered, belonging to the Diocese of Cuernavaca since 2002.

Since the name of the saint had become diluted over the years, the faithful of the Prelature and the parish community joined forces to recover it and renovate the space. As part of this effort, the Vicar of Opus Dei in Mexico, Fr. Ricardo Furber, gave a picture and a relic of the saint to Bishop Ramón Castro Castro of Cuernavaca, so that they could be kept in the church.

Towards spiritual and community renewal

Ricardo Furber and the parish priest of Teopanzolco, Fr. Carlos Felix Antonio. Before a full church, the Bishop encouraged the parishioners to join the architectural renovation project of the church, but emphasized that the real challenge is spiritual: “The renovation of this chapel has a meaning that goes beyond an architectural work. The stones can be restored, the walls can be strengthened and the spaces can be embellished. But the true renewal that God expects is that of the heart. A restored temple is called to reflect a renewed community. It is not enough to rebuild spaces; it is necessary to rebuild bonds. It is not enough to improve structures; it is necessary to strengthen communion”.

A call for commitment

With deep gratitude to all those who with little or much, over the years, have joined this initiative, the Bishop of Cuernavaca confirmed his support and confidence in those who before and now want to contribute their grain of sand so that the renovation project of the chapel is not only an architectural project, but a sign of a renewed, lively and fraternal community of faith.