Cardinal Roger Mahony and thousands of Catholics from throughout the greater Los Angeles area will gather at noon Dec. 3 for the oldest religious procession in Los Angeles in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
This year's celebration is especially significant for Los Angeles' Catholic community: both the 475th anniversary of the miracle of the Virgin of Guadalupe and the 75th anniversary of the archdiocese's annual procession and Mass in her honor.
The annual celebration recalls the miraculous apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac, Mexico in December 1531, when she left her image on his "tilma" or cloak. For 475 years, her image has been a symbol of unity, peace and compassion for people around the world. The theme of this year's procession and Mass is "Mother of All Immigrants" in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe as the Patron Saint of the Americas and mother to all who migrate to this great land.
"The Virgin of Guadalupe brought compassion and peace during a time of conflict and turmoil," said Cardinal Mahony. "She continues to unite us as a humble people of God in search for understanding, compassion, peace and human dignity for all."
Msgr. Diego Monroy Ponce, Rector of the Basílica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe in Mexico City, will make a special trip to Los Angeles to bring a "Peregrina" image of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the procession and Mass. The image is an exact digital reproduction of the original in Mexico City, which has been blessed and touched to the original image. Parish groups from different ethnic communities within the Archdiocese, decorated floats and indigenous dancers will escort the "Peregrina" image during the procession.
Following the procession, at 1:30 p.m., Cardinal Mahony and Msgr. Monroy will celebrate Mass, which will feature mariachis, bandas, dances, hymns and poems typical to celebrations in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe. At the end of Mass, the public will be invited to venerate the image with roses.
All are invited to take part in the multi-ethnic, multi-lingual celebration that has been an East Los Angeles tradition for 75 years. The mile-long procession will begin at La Soledad Church, 4561 Cesar Chavez Ave., and will end with a Mass at the East Los Angeles College Stadium, 1301 Cesar Chavez Ave., Monterey Park.
In preparation for Dec. 3, the 2006 Archdiocesan Guadalupe Committee, "Guadalupanos Unidos," is also celebrating a novena, a series of special Masses in honor of the Virgin, November 24 through December 2, at nine churches throughout the archdiocese. For more information the public can call Resurrection Church at (323) 268-1141. |