SALT LAKE CITY — Every year the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City celebrates the patroness of the Americas with ceremonies that range from Masses and processions to whole days of activities.
This year, the Cathedral of the Madeleine was not the exception, with hundreds of people gathering since early in the evening on Dec. 11, the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, to start the celebration with a children’s rosary led by the parish’s catechism teachers.
Afterward, a mariachi band played traditional Mexican songs as well as the Mañanitas (a Spanish version of the “Happy Birthday” song).
At 9:30 p.m. people gathered outside the mother church of the diocese to process through the surrounding streets, led by Bishop Oscar A. Solis; Fr. Martin Diaz and Fr. Joseph Delka, the cathedral rector and parochial vicar, respectively; and members of the Knights of Columbus.
The Hispanic Cathedral Choir and Orchestra entertained people who entered the cathedral to await the start of the Mass.
In his homily, Bishop Solis narrated the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who “appeared on the Hill of Tepeyac [near Mexico City] with her child in her belly to reveal the love of God … not only for Mexico, but for all the Americas and for the whole world.”
The Blessed Mother appeared to St. Juan Diego, the first indigenous saint from the Americas, on the morning of Dec. 12, 1531, as he was on his way to attend Mass in honor of Our Lady. He was walking by Tepeyac Hill when he heard beautiful music. A radiant cloud appeared, and within it stood Our Lady. She spoke to him in his own language and sent him to ask the bishop of Mexico to build a chapel in the place where she appeared.
“The Virgin gave a beautiful message of hope in that moment. … Her message was simple: ‘I am your mother and I am always with you.’ That was the message that has inspired thousands who have gone through a change of heart and a life conversion,” Bishop Solis said.
Reflecting on how nowadays millions of people have accepted the message of Our Lady, Bishop Solis said that the Good News is that that same message remains very much alive “for the many of our brothers and sisters who are suffering and have very difficult lives … in the undocumented families that live in fear … in the people who want to come to the United States only to find that they are not welcome … in these days that children are treated like animals and are placed in cages.”
Bishop Solis emphasized that the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe gives hope to all.
“Once again she comes to you to bring you Jesus. … She tells each one the same thing that she told Juan Diego: ‘Don’t be afraid. … Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything,’” the bishop said. He added that people need to hear these words of strength and comfort in the midst of their suffering and life challenges.
“And as your bishop I am with you, too. … Our Catholic Church walks with you, to be with you, to support you, to help you, and overall to pray for you, for the immigrants, for the refugees, for those who offer their time and volunteer in these difficult times to eradicate the indifference with charity, and to eradicate all that destroys our solidarity,” he said.
Bishop Solis concluded his homily saying that, as parishioners of the diocese and believers in Our Lady of Guadalupe, “we need harmony and respect and unity. We all are guadalupanos and venerate Our Lady, who comes to encounter us as our mother, guiding us to a true encounter with God.”
Following the Mass, at midnight a group of Aztec dancers offered their dances to honor Our Lady.
On Dec. 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, three Masses were celebrated at the cathedral in honor of the feast day.
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