Parishioners from St. Mary’s Parish in Chilliwack vacationing in Puerto Vallarta are hoping they can return home to Canada as violence appears to be abating following unrest over the weekend.

“It does feel much calmer,” Melissa Godbout said in an interview with The B.C. Catholic on Monday. “The worst of it was definitely yesterday.”

Godbout, who is in Puerto Vallarta with her husband, Andrew, parents, sister, and six children ranging in age from 12 to 18, said the family flew to Mexico last Sunday for a vacation and had planned to return home Sunday afternoon. Instead, violence erupted in Mexico’s Jalisco state following a military operation targeting a powerful cartel leader.

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She said they experienced the unrest at close range.

“I heard gunfire from our hotel lobby when I was getting the information initially about the explosion … just a couple blocks away from us,” she said. “It was pretty scary there at the beginning.”

Her father also witnessed gunfire on the beach and on two nearby boats. “So then he came running back and shared the news, and that certainly heightened everything for us.”

According to Mexican officials and wire reports, the violence followed a Feb. 22 military operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, aimed at capturing Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. A shootout occurred during the operation. Officials said four cartel members died at the scene and three others were wounded and later died.

Hours later, gunmen reportedly blocked highways and set vehicles and businesses on fire. In Puerto Vallarta, residents and tourists were urged to shelter in place.

In response to the unrest, Mexico’s Catholic bishops issued a statement Feb. 22 urging prudence and prayer. Addressing “The Pilgrim People of God in Mexico,” the bishops expressed their closeness with Catholics, “sharing your concern and inviting you to prudence and prayer.”

“We exhort you, with a pastoral and fraternal spirit, to strengthen personal and community security measures, take shelter in your homes when necessary, and avoid unnecessary travel, always following the instructions of the civil authorities,” the statement read.

The message, signed by Bishop Ramón Castro Castro of Cuernavaca and Auxiliary Bishop Héctor M. Pérez Villareal of Mexico City, also called on the faithful to “intensify their prayer for the peace that our nation so greatly needs,” invoking the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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The family attended Mass Friday at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Puerto Vallarta and bought a rosary. “Now that I see that the bishop of Mexico is saying to ask for intercession from Our Lady of Guadalupe, I think we might do that tonight as a family,” she said.

The family is staying in a resort in the hotel district. Godbout said Sunday was the most unsettling day.

At one point, she said hotel management told guests they had to check out despite being unable to leave due to cancelled flights.

“They told us we had to check out, that we weren't allowed to stay in our rooms even though we couldn't leave, and that we could try to rebook later in the day if they had room” she said. “So we stayed in the room so that people were physically in the room, and they couldn't remove us.”

She and her family eventually secured rooms for another night.

Monday has felt calmer, she said. Public transportation has begun reopening, and some hotel staff who had stayed overnight were replaced by staff who were able to walk in.

The family has registered with Global Affairs Canada, the consulate, and the embassy but has not received direct communication.

“We've registered through every possible channel that we can … but we haven't received anything back yet,” including from their airline. “We received email [from WestJet] saying the flight was cancelled, and then here's information on how to rebook once booking becomes available,” she said. “We got another email saying that they would reimburse for accommodation, but that's it.”

Despite the uncertainty, the family has drawn strength from their faith community at home.

“Our pastor, Father Gio [Schiesari], he's been communicating with my husband,” she said. “And I shared the information with some friends, and they got a special intention for our family at yesterday's Mass. So the whole church is praying for us, which is incredible.”

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For now, they are waiting for airlines to resume regular operations and for rebooking options to become available.

“The kids have been calm the whole time, which is great,” she said. “But I know they want to leave now.”