Last Friday, the 12th was the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. The night before, my parish church held its big celebration led by the parish's enthusiastic Hispanic community. Mass began at 10pm and was preceded by three hours of dancing and prayer and followed by another couple hours of music, stretching the festivities to six hours on a work night!
This modest statue of Our Lady is swamped with flowers from church-goers, which could be said to mimic the flowers that accompanied St. Mary as she appeared to St. Juan Diego on a hill near Mexico City on a chilly December day. This filled the entire area in front of the church's side altar devoted to St. Mary.
When I arrived just in time for Mass, the church was full and I had to stand in the back along with a few dozen other attendees. Most of these pictures were taken about 45 minutes after Mass concluded as two bands continued to serenade the shrine to Our Lady. The Bishop of the Diocese of Madison, Robert Morlino, attended the Mass and stayed to bless parishioners and the hundreds of religious articles that they brought in tow.
Although I have seen very few true and current ethnic celebrations of Feast Days, I was very impressed and a bit awestruck while getting to see the devotions that went into this Mass and celebration.
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Cathedral Parish
120 W. Johnson Street, Madison, WI 53703http://www.isthmuscatholic.org/
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