The 78th annual Procession and Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe will take place Dec. 6, in East Los Angeles.

Thousands of Catholic faithful from diverse ethnic communities will gather beginning at noon, at the corner of Cesar Chavez Avenue and Ford Boulevard, to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe at the oldest religious procession in Los Angeles. A Mass with Cardinal Roger Mahony presiding will begin at 1:30 p.m. at East Los Angeles College Stadium, Monterey Park.

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 478 years, her image has been a symbol of unity, peace, compassion and hope for people around the world.

This year's celebration commemorates the 10th anniversary of the proclamation of the Virgin of Guadalupe as the Patron Saint of the Americas by Pope John Paul II. As part of this year's celebration, the Guadalupe Torch (Antorcha Guadalupana) with the Holy Flame from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, along with the pilgrim images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego, are visiting parishes throughout the Archdiocese leading up to the Procession and Mass on Dec. 6.

"The theme of this year's celebration is 'Do Not Be Afraid,' which were the very words Our Lady of Guadalupe said to St. Juan Diego when she appeared to him 478 years ago," said Msgr. John Moretta, pastor of Resurrection Church, East Los Angeles, and chair of the 2009 Guadalupe Committee. "Those words continue to lift the hearts of our people in light of the difficult times many of our brothers and sisters are facing today, from the economic crisis to the separation of families because of a lack of immigration reform."

All are invited to accompany the images and the Guadalupe Torch during the procession, which will include decorated floats, Aztec and multi-ethnic dancers, music and songs in honor of the Blessed Mother. The procession will end at East Los Angeles College Stadium, 1301 Cesar Chavez Avenue, in Monterey Park.

The homily will be delivered by San Gabriel Region Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala. At the end of Mass, the faithful in attendance will be invited to venerate the pilgrim image of the Virgin with roses.

For more information on the 2009 Guadalupe Celebration, the public can visit www.LA-peregrinos.org, or call St. Marcellinus at (323) 269-2733.