ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ PRAYS FOR UNITY AND CALLS THE FAITHFUL TO FOLLOW JESUS’ WAY OF PEACE DURING CELEBRATION TO HONOR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
December 4, 2022  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

–The 91st Guadalupe Procession and Mass was attended by thousands of Southern California families, parish and school communities— 

Archbishop José H. Gomez called Our Lady of Guadalupe a gift to all and reminded hundreds of faithful of Southern California of her message of hope, compassion, unity and love during the annual outdoor Mass in East Los Angeles on Sunday, December 4, the culmination of the 91st Procession and Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego, which started at mid-morning with thousands in attendance. Themed “Holy Mary of Guadalupe, Mother of life and peace, pray for us,” the Procession and Mass commemorated the 491st anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the peasant Juan Diego.

“Our Holy Mother Mary of Guadalupe always leads us to Jesus, who will show us the way to find peace,” said Archbishop Gomez in Spanish during the bilingual homily he delivered at East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Stadium. “Jesus will show us the way to the true happiness and love in our lives.” See full Mass and homily here.

“True conversion is to change the way in which we live. Let’s ask our Mother Mary to help us discover what are those small things we need to change in our lives.

“God wants us to remain united, to be close to Him and close to each other, especially in our families. Let’s make of our families a model of unity and a place full of love. Our homes should always be where Jesus should be present and a place where all can find love, compassion, and mercy,” said Archbishop Gomez.

The Mass featured the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe and the image of St. Juan Diego that were hosted by several parishes and cemeteries of the Archdiocese of L.A. since October. It was preceded by a musical tribute to the Virgin of Guadalupe, including singers Araceli Sipaque and Jose Franco, and dances by the Archdiocese’s Filipino ministry. Mariachi Charros de Oro de Adrian Cruz was part of the solemn Mass.

The celebration is the oldest religious procession in L.A., as it was established by Mexican Catholics who fled persecution by the Mexican government during the Cristero War in 1931. The annual celebration commemorating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe recalls the miraculous apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac Hill, Mexico City, in December 1531, when she left her image on his “tilma” or cloak. Her image has been a symbol of unity, peace, compassion, and hope for people around the world.

The annual procession through the streets of East L.A. included “andas,” or decorated handmade carts with framed images or statues of the Virgin of Guadalupe, brought by families and parish groups to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Starting in mid-October, the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, known as La Peregrina, and Saint Juan Diego began a pilgrimage to visit 25 parishes and Catholic cemeteries, where hundreds of faithful had the opportunity of veneration.

La Peregrina, a pilgrim image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, is an exact digital reproduction of the original image in Mexico City’s Basilica, which has been blessed and touched to the original image. The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and one of St. Juan Diego were gifts hand-delivered 17 years ago to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Monsignor Diego Monroy, then Rector of Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico City.

For more information about the pilgrimage, visit lacatholics.org/guadalupe. To contribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego celebrations, click here.

NOTE: Photos of the 2022 Procession & Mass to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe are available here. Please credit Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Full video of the Mass can be seen here.

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