Cardinal Roger Mahony and Catholics throughout the greater Los Angeles area will gather for the oldest religious procession in East Los Angeles in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 4.

The one-mile long procession will begin at 1 p.m. at the corner of Cesar Chavez and Ford Boulevard, by the 710 Freeway. The procession --- an annual tradition in Los Angeles since the early 1930s --- will end at East Los Angeles College Stadium, 1301 Cesar Chavez Ave. in Monterey Park.

The celebration recalls the miraculous apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego at Tepeyac, Mexico in December 1531, when she left her image on the "tilma" or cloak of St. Juan Diego.

At the front of the procession is the venerated "Peregrina" image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is an exact digital reproduction of the original in Mexico City. Parish groups, decorated floats and indigenous dancers will escort the "Peregrina" image.

Following the procession, Cardinal Mahony will celebrate a special liturgy featuring traditional and typical mariachis, bandas, dances, hymns and poems.

Procession organizers, the Committee of the United Guadalupanos of Los Angeles (El Comite de Guadalupanos Unidos de Los Angeles), made up of community members and volunteer parishioners, invite all Angelenos to participate in this traditional homage to the Blessed Mother.

"The Blessed Mother appeared to a humble Mexican Indian during a time of conflict and turmoil to bring compassion and peace," said Msgr. John Moretta, pastor of Resurrection Church and a member of the Guadalupe procession committee. "We invite everyone to join us for this historic procession in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe as she continues to unite us as a humble people in search for understanding, compassion and peace for all."

For more information, call Resurrection Church at (323) 268-1141.