Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Bishop, Dover parish celebrate Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 12

DOVER  To celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, Dec. 12, the Mexican and Hispanic communities at Holy Rosary and Sacred Heart parishes here, filled Sacred Heart Church here to standing room. Bishop Serratelli was main celebrant of the vigil Mass for the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as “Gaudete Sunday.”

“Every year, we celebrate this feast of Our Lady and this is largest attended Mass at Sacred Heart,” said Father Brendan Murray, pastor of both Holy Rosary and Sacred Heart parishes. “It’s a testament to the faith of Mexican Catholics. The celebration began the night before as ‘mananitas’ were sung to Mary and mariachis performed.”

Our Lady of Guadalupe holds a special place in the religious life of Mexico and is one of the most popular religious devotions. Her image has played an important role as a national symbol of Mexico.

According to tradition, Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego, who was an Aztec convert to Catholicism, on Dec. 9 and again on Dec. 12, 1531. She requested that a shrine to her be built on the spot where she appeared, Tepeyac Hill (now in a suburb of Mexico City). The bishop demanded a sign before he would approve construction of a church, however. Mary appeared a second time to Juan Diego and told him to collect roses. In a second audience with the bishop, Juan Diego opened his tilma (cloak), letting dozens of roses fall to the floor and revealing the image of Mary imprinted on the inside of the cloak — the image that is now venerated in the Basilica of Guadalupe.

After the Mass with the Bishop, in authentic Mexican tradition, a fiesta or party was celebrated at the parish hall with tamales and other Mexican specialties.