THOUSANDS MARK THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
WITH FESTIVE MASS AND TORCH PROCESSION THROUGH CITY STREETS
The Diocese of Brooklyn celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, 856 Pacific Street, in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, with two Masses attended by more than three thousand pilgrims. Following each Mass, Bishop Robert Brennan blessed and lit the torches that led pilgrims on a procession throughout Queens and Brooklyn back to their home parishes. More than 50 Catholic Churches took part in the yearly ritual to honor the patron saint of Mexico.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is the title given to the Virgin Mary after she appeared to an indigenous peasant, Juan Diego, in 1531. According to tradition, she left an image of herself imprinted on his cloak as a sign of her divine presence. Her apparition is seen as a symbol of faith, unity, and protection, particularly for indigenous peoples in Mexico and Latin America.
During the morning Mass for the faithful of Queens parishes, retired Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros encouraged the packed church of pilgrims to find the significance in the rituals they are taking part in this day and listen to God’s call as they process and sing on the streets.
Bishop Robert Brennan told the Brooklyn faithful during the afternoon Mass that Mary loved Juan Diego, Mary loved the Mexican people and Mary loves us today. And, in her maternal love, she wants us to know the love of God; the Virgin of Guadalupe asks us to make Christ the center and the summit of our Christian lives.
The group of pilgrims represents, in its vast majority, the Mexican Catholic population of Brooklyn and Queens. An estimated 175,000 Mexicans live in Brooklyn and Queens. This event was organized by Father Baltazar Sanchez Alonzo, Director of the Mexican Apostolate.
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VIDEO COURTESY – Diocese of Brooklyn
https://vimeo.com/1038715541?
:00 Traditional Mexican dancers
:21 Procession of parishes into the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, priests and bishops
1:00 Mariachi singers
1:20 Offertory gifts and communion
1:38 Lighting of the torches
2:02 Procession on the streets
