CHARLOTTE — On Saturday, Dec. 11, and Sunday, Dec. 12, thousands of faithful celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at churches across the Diocese of Charlotte.
This is a celebration of particular devotion among Latino Catholics, especially Mexicans. It recalls the time in December 1531 when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a poor, indigenous Mexican man named Juan Diego.
That sparked a massive evangelization effort across the Americas in which millions of people came to know God and be baptized. Among other miracles from her five apparitions, the image of Mary miraculously appeared on his tilma (cloak) – and his 500-year-old garment is still displayed today in the church built on the site of her apparitions: the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. This basilica is the second-most popular pilgrimage site for Catholics – second only to Rome.
Many churches had celebrations including Mass, traditional Mexican songs and dances, mariachi bands, kids dressed up as Mary and St. Juan Diego, and good food.
Churches celebrating the feast included Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. John Neumann churches in Charlotte, Our Lady of Mercy Church in Winston-Salem, St. Mary’s Church in Greensboro, St. Mark Church in Huntersville, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe, Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City, St. James the Greater Church in Concord, Our Lady of the Highways Church in Thomasville, St. Michael Church in Gastonia, St. Therese Church in Mooresville, St. John Baptist de la Salle Church in North Wilkesboro, St. Frances of Rome Mission in Sparta, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jefferson, St. Elizabeth Church in Boone, Our Lady of the Angels Church in Marion, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir, St. John the Baptist Church in Waynesville, St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Sylva, St. Francis of Assisi Church in Franklin, Holy Redeemer Church in Andrews, Our Lady of the Mountains Church in Highlands, St. James Church in Hamlet and more.
— Catholic News Herald
Holy Cross Church in Kernersville was one of many churches celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe last weekend. (Photo by Paul Doizé)
Parishioners of Holy Cross Church follow the cross and an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in a procession led by Father Noah Carter, pastor, for the feast day. (Photo by Paul Doizé)
Parishioners joyfully packed Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe last weekend for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
Our Lady of Lourdes's celebration featured special hymns and music. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners with Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor, at the parish's Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 11. Note the elaborate depiction behind them of Our Lady’s appearance to Juan Diego on the Hill of Tepeyac. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
Father Roberts incenses an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 11. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
Two Monroe parishioners kneel in prayer before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
Father Roberts is pictured with one of his younger parishioners at the celebration. Both are wearing traditional clothing in honor of Mexican heritage. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
Monroe's littlest parishioners dressed up in intricate traditional costumes for the feast day. (Photo by SueAnn Howell)
Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations also were held at St. Elizabeth Church in Boone. (Photo by Amber Mellon)
Isn't she adorable? Our Lady of the Angels parishioners celebrate the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe in Marion Dec. 12. (Photo provided by Alfonso Alvarez-Navarrete)
Our Lady of the Angels parishioners celebrate the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo provided by Alfonso Alvarez-Navarrete)
Members of Our Lady of the Angels Mission, pictured with pastor Father Carl Kaltreider, celebrate the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe in Marion Dec. 12. (Photo provided by Alfonso Alvarez-Navarrete)
Celebrations in Marion included indigenous traditional music and dancing to honor Our Lady. The stylized, intricate dancing is considered a form of prayer that honors and gives thanks to God. (Photo provided by Alfonso Alvarez-Navarrete)
The feast day procession in Marion was blessed with blue skies. (Photo provided by Alfonso Alvarez-Navarrete)
Mnay people donned a traditional Aztec headdress known as quetzalāpanecayōtl, or El Penacho in Spanish. (Photo provided by Alfonso Alvarez-Navarrete)
St. Mark Church in Huntersville held a breakfast celebration and children's costume contest organized by the parish’s Hispanic community for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by Amy Burger)
St. Mark parishioners young and old donned traditional costumes for the feast day. (Photo by Amy Burger)
More costumes from the Huntersville parish's contest. (Photo by Amy Burger)
More costumes from the Huntersville parish's contest. (Photo by Amy Burger)
Father Fidel Melo, pastor of St. James Church in Hamlet, celebrated Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by César Hurtado)
The celebration included an outdoor procession in honor of Our Lady. (Photo by César Hurtado)
Father Fidel Melo, pastor of St. James Church in Hamlet, preaches during Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Photo by César Hurtado)
The celebration also featured traditional music, dancing and costumes. (Photo by César Hurtado)
The outdoor Mass in Hamlet attracted hundreds of people to pray for the intercession of Mary and give thanks for her miraculous appearance to the indigenous people of Mexico 500 years ago. (Photo by César Hurtado)
A detail of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations held in Charlotte. Note the many flags: Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of all the Americas. (Photo by César Hurtado)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish’s celebration in Charlotte featured many children dressed up as St. Juan Diego. (Photo by César Hurtado)
Parishioners kneel while praying for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe during celebrations in Charlotte last weekend. (Photo by César Hurtado)
Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations held in Charlotte featured a large image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a replica of the miraculous image that appeared on Juan Diego’s tilma in 1531. (Photo by César Hurtado)
Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations in Charlotte also featured traditional music and dancing. (Photo by César Hurtado)
Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations in Charlotte also featured traditional music and dancing, including “Baile folklórico,” (Spanish for “folkloric dance”). (Photo by César Hurtado)
Bike riders made a pilgrimage from Shelby to Forest City to take part in the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations at Immaculate Conception Church on Dec. 12. (Photos provided by Father Herbert Burke)
Around 50 men, escorted by police for safety in the dark, left around 1 a.m. and arrived at the Forest City Church prior to the 5 a.m. celebration. (Photos provided by Father Herbert Burke)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
