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For Saralicia Cortez, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is special because "she helped the Mexicans learn about the religion of Catholics."

Saralicia, a student at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Ferguson, portrayed Mary in a re-enactment of Our Lady's visits to St. Juan Diego near Mexico City in December 1531. Saralicia said she was proud to take part in the events at her parish church because of the connection of the feast to her heritage and because it shows how important the faith is to the people.

Next week the Archdiocese of St. Louis begins its Catholics Come Home initiative, a campaign of inspiring television commercials airing Dec. 16-Jan. 22 that invite fallen-away Catholics, as well as people interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, to come back to the Church.

Julie Bostick, a member of Curé of Ars Parish, was away from the Church for some years, until she was brought back by a bumper sticker.