Community celebrates Guadalupe feast

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to the peasant Juan Diego Dec. 9, 1531, on Tepeyac Hill outside what is now Mexico City. To prove her existence to Juan Diego’s bishop, Our Lady filled his tilma (a poncho-like robe) with roses even though it was December, and her image was imprinted on the tilma. Juan Diego’s tilma, with the image still as vivid as it was when it first appeared to Mexican Bishop Juan de Zumárraga, is kept in the Basilica of Our lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

In 1979, Pope John Paul II designated Our Lady of Guadalupe as the "patroness of the Americas;" Juan Diego was canonized July 31, 2002, becoming the first Native American Saint.

Bishop John C. Wester of the Diocese of Salt Lake City celebrated his first Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast with the Hispanic community. He concelebrated the Mass with Father Javier Virgen, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, West Valley City; Father German Umaña, San Felipe Parish, Wendover; Father Martin Diaz, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Midvale; Father Kenneth Vialpando, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Ogden; and Father Oscar Martinez, parochial vicar, St. Joseph Parish, Ogden. Several deacons assisted at the altar.

The Hispanic community welcomed Bishop Wester and were pleased to have him celebrate with them. In his homily, Bishop Wester recalled when Pope John Paul II began his papal ministry and said to the people "Do not be afraid." He said there were many occasions when Mary could have been afraid.

"Mary was fearful when Jesus was lost in the temple, when people spoke against her son, when she stood at the foot of the cross, and when she was with the other disciples in the process of the upper room waiting for the Holy Spirit," said Bishop Wester. "Mary could have been very fearful, but she trusted in Jesus.

"Our Lady of Guadalupe said to Juan Diego, ‘Am I not your mother?’ ‘Do I not love you and care for you?’ ‘So do not be afraid.’ That was the theme Mary, in her ministry, gave to Juan Diego. So that is what she is continuing in her ministry – do not be afraid. Mary is with us and she cares for us. She is with us on the journey."

Bishop Wester said we need to take this message and as we leave Mass today, bring it to all of Utah and the world. As parents, we have to love our children, care for them, and take away their fears.

"Through that love as friends, fellow parishioners, and fellow workers, we have to bring that message to our world saying Christ is with us, do not be afraid. There is a lot of fear in the world, a lot of mistrust, a lot of prejudice, a lot of reasons why people are fearful. So we need to ask Mary to intercede for us, to walk with us, to alleviate these fears through our own minds."

As the Mass drew to a close, the Mariachi El Sol de Jalisco came up the aisle singing "The Mañanitas" to Our Lady of Guadalupe. To the applause of the people they sang two more songs.

Aztec dancers then filled the aisles paying their respects to Our Lady. They prayed the Prayer of the Four Directions. They then proclaimed "Long Live Our Lady of Guadalupe.

At a reception following the Mass, dancers from St. Joseph Parish, Ogden, and a group of actors from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Salt Lake City, recreated the story of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1531 to Juan Diego. The Hispanic Community enjoyed, hot cocoa, coffee, and sweet breads in the Juan Diego Catholic High School cafeteria.

Gray would like to thank the Hispanic Commission for all their help in making the day a festive and special occasion.