Recognizing that the love of the Mother of God transcends national borders, members of the archdiocesan Guadalupe Committee dedicated a special "Día de los Muertos" altar in honor of immigrants who died during their journey in search of the American Dream.

They also announced the theme for this year's 76th annual procession in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe: "Mother Without Borders --- Tearing Down Walls of Injustice."

Msgr. John Moretta, pastor of Resurrection Church in Los Angeles and chair of the Guadalupe Committee, and other priests blessed the outdoor altar at St. Marcellinus Church in Los Angeles Nov. 2. The colorful yet somber altar included photographs of deceased immigrants as well as marigolds and sunflowers, candles, loaves of bread and other foods.

"Father, on this Day of the Dead, bless this altar which remembers the victims of injustice, victims who have suffered with their lives," said Msgr. Moretta. "We ask you, through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, to destroy the walls of injustice, the walls of racism, the walls of discrimination and greed, and all the vices that kill our community."

The absence of a just and workable immigration system creates many obstacles and hardships for immigrants, said Guadalupe members. A group of women then lit candles in memory of loved ones.

Humberto Ramos, parish life director at St. Marcellinus Church, said the annual religious holiday commemorating the faithful departed known as "All Souls" was an opportunity to "honor brothers and sisters seeking a better life and who lost their lives crossing the border.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas, can foster unity among diverse people, he said.

"We all are one family. Our Mother doesn't create borders. She is the Mother of all," added Ramos.

Julia Flores, a St. Marcellinus parishioner, told The Tidings her story of making three attempts to cross the Mexican-U.S. border in the late 1970s so that she and her husband could earn enough to provide adequate food and education for their children.

"I put myself in the care of Our Lady of Guadalupe," said Flores, who worked for many years as a seamstress and is now a naturalized U.S. citizen. "I never stopped praying."

Following the blessing ceremony, this year's theme and poster was unveiled as "Mother Without Borders --- Tearing Down Walls of Injustice."

The poster depicts the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe surrounded by the faces of people from many different ethnicities.

"The love of Our Lady of Guadalupe is greater than all the borders which affect us and separate us, like racism, hate, and social prejudices --- cultural, political and economics," said Father Julio Ramos, associate pastor at St. Paul Church in Los Angeles. "She helps us to survive and motivates us to tumble the walls of injustice which many times we created ourselves, the human people."

Guadalupe members made a special appeal to young people to participate in the procession.

"To the young people, you are very important in this society, in the church and in the world," added Father Ramos. "You have a very special place in the heart of our mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe."

This year the 76th annual procession with the image of the Pilgrim Virgin --- the oldest religious procession in Los Angeles --- takes place Dec. 2 at noon. Thousands of Catholic faithful from diverse ethnic communities will gather for the one-mile long procession at La Soledad Church at 4561 Cesar Chavez Ave. East L.A. The festive celebration includes mariachi music, dance, song and ethnic costumes to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The procession will end with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Roger Mahony, auxiliary bishops and priests at the East Los Angeles College Stadium, 1301 Cesar Chavez Ave. in Monterey Park beginning at 1:30 p.m. Following the liturgy the faithful will be able to venerate the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe with roses.

Those who are unable to walk in the procession can go directly to the stadium for prayer and a musical program prior to the liturgy.

Editor's note: For creative ideas on how schools and religious education programs can organize and participate in the Dec. 2 procession, see www.guadalupela.com.