WOODLAWN – Our Lady of Guadalupe has united cultures through the centuries since her first appearance in a series of apparitions in 1531.
The original image of the Blessed Virgin Mary miraculously appeared on the tilma of Saint Juan Diego after Our Lady of Guadalupe placed flowers in her mantle and asked her to present them to her bishop. The image of Our Lady of Guadlupe was imprinted on the tilma when Saint Juan Diego opened the mantle to show the bishop.
This tilma is kept in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, representing multiple symbols of evangelization. Mary’s dark skin, the royal Aztec colors she wears, and in particular the way she appears to be on the move – some say “dancing” – have served in converting the hearts of many Latin American natives to the Catholic faith.
In his post-synodal apostolic exhortation “Ecclesia in America”, Saint John Paul II declared Our Lady of Guadalupe “Patroness of all America and star of the first and of the new evangelization”. He also welcomed his birthday which will be celebrated across the continent.
Archbishop William E. Lori joined the St. Gabriel congregation in Woodlawn on November 10 to commemorate the December 12 feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The celebration began with novena prayers, followed by a procession with dancers, a mass and a social gathering with food and dancing.
A diverse parish, Saint-Gabriel welcomes faithful from many cultures. In an attempt to bring the community together, the Mass was bilingual, with an English and Spanish choir and traditional African and Aztec dances.
Among the concelebrants were Auxiliary Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Catholics; Monsignor Thomas L. Philips, parish priest of Saint-Gabriel; Father Canisius T. Tah, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo in Pikesville; Father Roger Brito, associate pastor of St. Clement I at Lansdowne; and the deacon Vito Piazza, first deacon in Saint Gabriel.
In his homily, Bishop Lewandowski noted that Our Lady of Guadalupe had appeared to Saint Juan Diego four times until he submitted to the bishop his request to build a church for her on the hill of Tepeyac.
“She comes with the same urgency every December 12,” he said. “She wants you to ‘build a church for her’ in your heart, a church for Jesus to live in.”
Some parishioners of the archdiocese responded to Notre-Dame’s request.
Originally from Mexico City, Gloria Gómez began one ministry among others in her parish of St. Gabriel with an Aztec dance group called “Nuevo Amanecer” (New Dawn) to honor the traditions of Our Lady’s ancestors with Gómez. The group offers free dance lessons for first generation children and anyone who wants to join.
New Dawn participated in the December 10 procession with a dance called “concheros,” in which performers used seashells wrapped around their feet to make music as they danced. She said that dancing for the Aztecs was an expression of faith towards their gods, but after the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, they redirected these dances to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the child in her womb, since Our Lady of Guadalupe -Lady of Guadalupe is pregnant.
New Dawn member and St. Gabriel parishioner Nayeli Ramos, 17, said she danced for Our Lady of Guadalupe to honor her Catholic religion and Mexican ancestors.
“It wasn’t until my father got sick that it was a very difficult time for our family,” she said as her voice choked. “We prayed for her intercession and she gave us the miracle that he would get better. I owe her my whole life.
Similarly, Cameroonian women have brought the Association of Catholic Women to Saint-Gabriel parish where they meet once a month.
“We clean the church, visit hospitals, orphanages and prisons,” said Mary Kedze, parishioner of St. Gabriel. “We do charitable works and prayers. “
About 40 women sang and danced up to the altar during Mass on December 10 in their traditional white and blue uniform with the Immaculate Conception depicted on their skirts as they brought the book of the Gospels to the clergy before the reading of the Gospel.
“Wililili ehh, Alleluia,” they shouted as they walked to the altar, singing their traditional song, “The Word of God is coming. Honor the Word of God. Praise the word of God.
Fifteen years ago, a native of Monterrey, Mexico and parishioner of the Sacred Heart-Sagrado Corazón of Jesús Carlos Gutiérrez started “Danza Guadalupana” with his brother in Baltimore.
He said that their costume represents the dancers as “Matlachines”, which means “Warriors for the Virgin”. The bright colors of the clothes represent Mexican culture. Their feather headdresses or “penachos”, which are handmade and imported from Mexico, represent the attire of the natives. Their kilts also represent Our Lady as Saint Juan Diego holds the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in his tilma.
“I started dancing in Monterrey when I was 12,” said Gutierrez, “My love for Notre Dame and dancing grew as I danced. It’s beautiful to come in a another country to represent that and teach it to the children.
Bishop Lewandowski urged members of the congregation to build a church in their hearts, homes and communities by praying the Rosary, confessing, attending Mass, teaching the faith to children, and doing works of mercy. bodily and spiritual.
“The time has come for us to give in to his request”, declared Bishop Lewandowski, “Our Lady of Guadalupe offers us an encounter with Christ. “
The following list contains several parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore with their respective Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations throughout the weekend of December 12:
Christ of the King, Glen Burnie
Monsignor Slade Auditorium
120 Dorsey Road
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
December 11
9 p.m. Festive New Year’s Eve, Serenata with Mariachis, rosary and social gathering
December 12
11 a.m. Procession and mass in the Auditorium
Sainte Claire, Essex
714 Myrth Avenue.
Essex, MD 21221
December 12
11 a.m. Procession and Mañanitas with Mariachis
11:40 am rosary
Midday mass
Saint-Clement I, Lansdowne
2700 Washington Avenue
Lansdowne, MD 21227
December 11
5 p.m. Living Rosary
6:00 p.m. Mass followed by a reception
Saint Francis de Sales, Abingdon
1450 Abingdon Road
Abingdon, MD 21009
December 11
5:30 p.m. Bilingual mass
Saint John the Evangelist, Colombia
10431 Twin Rivers Road
Columbia, MD 21044
December 11
5.45 p.m. rosary
6:30 p.m. Mass
7:45 p.m. Marian chants
8 p.m. Mariachis
December 12
2.15 p.m. rosary with procession
3pm mass
4:15 p.m. Marian sketch with the apparitions of Notre-Dame
Saint John the Evangelist, Frederick
112 E. Second Street
Frédéric, MD 21071
December 12
2:30 p.m. Mañanitas
3:00 p.m. Mass followed by a welcome
Saint-Jean, Westminster
43 Monroe Street
Westminster, MD 21157
December 12
Noon procession with rosary and mass
Saint-Joseph, Cockeysville
103 church lane
Cockeysville, Maryland 21030
December 11
6 p.m. Mass, procession and social gathering
Saint-Joseph, Hagerstown
17630, avenue Virginie
Hagerstown, MD 21740
December 11
10 p.m. Mass with Mariachis
11 p.m. social gathering
Saint-Jean Neumann, Annapolis
620 N. Bestgate Road.
Annapolis, Maryland 21301
December 11
7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. reception
9 p.m. procession and rosary
11:30 p.m. Mass
12:30 am Mañanitas and Mariachis
Saint Michael, Overlea
10 Willow Avenue
Overlea, MD 21206
December 12
Noon Mañanitas with Mariachis
12:30 p.m. Mass
Our Lady of Pompeii, Baltimore
3600 Claremont Street
Baltimore, MD 21224
December 12
5 a.m.
6 am mass
Midday mass and procession
Resurrection of Our Lord, Laurel
8402 Brock Bridge Road
Laurel, MD 20714
December 12
6:30 am Mañanitas
7h mass
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Highlandtown / St. Patrick, Fells Point
600 S. Conkling Street
Baltimore, MD 21224
December 12
5:00 am
6:00 mass
11:30 am Mass – Dances in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Sacred Heart, Glyndon
65 alley of the Sacred Heart
Glyndon, MD 21071
December 11
7 p.m. mass
8 p.m. rosary and adoration
Saint-Timothée, Walkersville
8651 Biggs Ford Road
Walkersville, Maryland 21793
3-11 Dec
6:30 p.m. Novena
December 12
8:00 am Mañanitas and mass
11:30 am rosary
Noon mass followed by a reception
Send an email to Priscila González de Doran at [email protected]
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