Catholics honor Our Lady of Guadalupe in downtown Houston procession and Mass Sunday, Dec. 4
December 2, 2011
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release: Dec. 2, 2011
Contact: Monica Hatcher, Media Relations Specialist
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
mhatcher@archgh.org
713.652.8213 (office)
Catholics honor Our Lady of Guadalupein downtown Houston procession and Mass this Sunday, Dec. 4
HOUSTON – Marking the anniversary of the Virgin Mary's appearance to the humble Mexican peasant Juan Diego in 1581, thousands of Catholicfaithful will come to downtown Houston at noon on Sunday, Dec. 4 for a procession and Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Sponsored by the Guadalupana Association of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, mariachis, singers and folkloric Matachines dancers will participate in this colorful, annual celebration.
The procession and Mass top off a year-long collaboration among dozens of Archdiocesan parishes that planned and raised funds for the event, one of the largest of its kind in the Hispanic Catholic community. Parishes and families from Houston and outlying towns will participate in the festive day of song, dance and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas.
Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego
In 1531, on a hill near a rural village just outside of Mexico City, the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, appeared to a humble peasant named Juan Diego, now St. Juan Diego.
Arrayed in light and speaking in his indigenous tongue of Nahuatl, Our Lady told Juan Diego she wanted a church built to manifest her Son's love and hear the petitions of the faithful. To help him in his mission, she gave him a sign, imprinting her beautiful image on his cloak. From it would flow miracles. Millions were baptized and converted to Jesus Christ.
WHAT: Procession and Mass commemorating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
WHERE: Procession begins at the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston's downtown Chancery, 1700 San Jacinto St., and ends at the George R. Brown Convention Center about a mile away.
WHEN: Procession begins Sunday, Dec. 4 at noon, followed by performances and devotions in the GRB. Mass begins at 5 p.m.
VISUALS/AUDIO: Scores of matachines, or indigenous folk dancing troupes, mariachis and other singers as well as thousands of families will be at the procession and Mass.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston serves 1.3 million Catholics in 10 counties. It is the largest Roman Catholic diocese in Texas and the 12th largest in the United States.
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