A procession and Mass to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe drew some 8,000 faithful from diverse Los Angeles communities eager to glorify the patroness of the Americas.

"She's a mother to us all, and I'm here to pray for peace," said Consuelo Ruiz, a parishioner at Sagrado Corazon y Santa Maria de Guadalupe Church in Cudahy. "Whether we are white or black, rich or poor, ugly or beautiful, she sees us the same and loves us all."

Sounding a note of festivity and unity, thousands processed down Cesar Chavez Avenue towards the stadium at East Los Angeles College during a breezy but sunny Dec. 3 afternoon. Parishioners carried images of Our Lady of Guadalupe or featured colorful floats recreating the apparition of Guadalupe to an indigenous Juan Diego on Tepeyac hill near Mexico City in 1531.

Diverse communities from Latin America were also joined by Filipinos, Koreans, Samoans, and European-heritage peoples as well as numerous Aztec and Native dancers and drummers.

To underscore Mary's love for all of humanity, the faithful were invited to turn to one another prior to the start of the Mass and say in Spanish: "Mary is your mother and she loves you very much."

Cardinal Roger Mahony, the main celebrant of the liturgy, said the procession symbolized a community in pilgrimage walking arm in arm towards the eternal Jerusalem.

Mary, through her example and her life "teaches us that we should always be waiting and listening for the Lord," said the cardinal during this Advent season. "The one who took us to the true God, invites us again to wait with joy, and more importantly, with faith and action."

The cardinal, who was joined by the auxiliary bishops and priests of the archdiocese, said Our Lady of Guadalupe offers the faithful a way to persevere in prayer and hope no matter how difficult one's personal situation.

Maria Mejia of St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Los Angeles said she was there with her daughter and son in gratitude for answered prayers. Her eight-year-old daughter had been healed from leukemia, she said, thanks to the intercessory prayers of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "I was praying for the unity of my family and the health of Cindy. I kept hope, and she heard me," said Mejia. "I'm here to give thanks with all my heart."