Thousands gather in devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 24, 2013
HOUSTON — Drums, costumes, music and dancing of centuries-old Mexican tradition filled the streets of downtown Houston on Dec. 8 — all in an expression of devotion and thanksgiving to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas.
The 40th annual city-wide celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe united thousands of people from across the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to celebrate and rejoice on the vigil of the anniversary of the Virgin Mary’s appearance to the humble Mexican peasant Juan Diego in 1581. The actual feast day is Dec. 12.
The event began with a procession from the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston to the George R. Brown Convention Center where festivities continued with scores of danzantes and matachines, or indigenous folk dance troupes, mariachis and other singers.
“The Guadalupana Association would like to thank everyone who attended the event. It was an honor to see so many fellow Catholics come together to celebrate 482 years of the first appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” said Margie Casarez, president of the Guadalupana Association of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
“The association would also like to thank the Archdiocese, the 48 Guadalupana Associations, the 29 groups of matachines and danzantes, and the singers for helping making this celebration one for the books. I look forward to next year’s celebration,” she said.
The celebration concluded in the evening with a Mass celebrated by Daniel Cardinal DiNardo.