L.A.’S OLDEST RELIGIOUS PROCESSION TO BE CELEBRATED IN PERSON AFTER PANDEMIC PAUSE
November 30, 2021  |  By:   |  Uncategorized  |  

–90th Procession and Mass Honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe Returns to its In-Person Celebration in East Los Angeles Sunday Dec.5– 

Faithful from across the tri-county Archdiocese of Los Angeles will gather in East Los Angeles on Sunday, December 5 to celebrate the 90th Procession and Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego. Themed “Our Lady of Guadalupe: Always forward in mission and hope,” the Procession and Mass commemorate the 490th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe during this special “Forward in Mission” Jubilee Year celebrating 250 years of Catholic faith in the Archdiocese.

“In the presence of Our Lady we need to feel awe and wonder. Truly, it is nothing we deserve — nothing we could ever earn — it is a pure gift of God’s beautiful love for us,” said Archbishop José H. Gomez in a video inviting all faithful to the celebration, which is available in English and Spanish.

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. will include a float contest with participation of Guadalupano parish groups and Catholic schools. The procession begins at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Solitude Parish in East Los Angeles (4561 East Cesar Chavez Ave., Los Angeles 90022). Local artists will select three winners based on several categories, including best representation of this year’s theme with winning floats receiving technology grants provided by the Catholic Communication Collaboration (C3) — third place will receive $1,000, second place $2,000 and first place will be awarded $3,000 for technology development in parishes and schools.

Archbishop José H. Gomez will celebrate an outdoor Mass at 1:00 p.m. at the East L.A. College Stadium (1301 Avenida Cesar Chavez, Monterey Park 91754).

Starting in mid-October, the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, known as La Peregrina, and Saint Juan Diego began a pilgrimage to visit dozens of parishes and Catholic cemeteries, including St. Catherine of Alexandria in Catalina Island, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and Calvary Cemetery & Mortuary, where hundreds of faithful have had the opportunity of veneration. The full pilgrimage schedule can be found here.

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 to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Monsignor Diego Monroy, then Rector of Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico City. Her image has been a symbol of unity, peace, compassion, and hope for people around the world.

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: LA County Health Department safety restrictions will be followed at the event. All attendees are required to wear facial masks, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. Restrictions may change prior to the event.

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