Our Lady of Guadalupe: Parishes hold celebrations to mark feast day

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Dec. 13, 2007

Dressed in traditional Mexican Indian clothes, the eyes of 7-year-old Yesenia Calderon of Sioux City lit up and she smiled as she watched the skit centered on the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Participation in the celebration marking the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is more than just family tradition, it is a fulfillment of her grandmother's promise.

"When she was born, she was ill and the doctors didn't know what was wrong with her," noted the child's aunt, Cecilia Ruelas. She explained that the infant didn't have much shape or structure to her nose, "you could only really see her eyes and she couldn't really eat when she was born." Surgery was in the plan at a later date.

Yesenia's grandmother, who communicated in English through Ruelas, explained that she was given guardianship of her granddaughter when she was just a month old. She prayed to Our Lady of Guadalupe - telling the Blessed Mother that if she was to take care of the baby and the child was to live, the grandmother asked that the child be healthy.

Balvina Calderon told Mary that she would dress the child in traditional dress each year and participate in her feast day should Yesenia be healed.

Shortly after that prayer, the grandmother said the baby's face bubbled up almost like an abscess and she was then able to eat. The doctors were surprised at the baby's turnaround and asked Balvina what happened to the child for the healing. She credited Our Lady of Guadalupe's intercession.

Balvina considers it a miracle.

"Our Lady of Guadalupe is in our lives every day of the year, but we want to give her respect on her special day," said Ruelas.

The Calderons were among the hundreds who attended mananitas and then Mass celebrated by Father Matthew Hewitt at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. Despite arriving at the church at 4:40 a.m., Yesenia was still bright and cheerful at 9 a.m.

In his homily, Father Hewitt's main message centered on that Our Lady "cares for each of us in a very special and personal way." Through Our Lady and Juan Diego, thousands of people converted to the Catholic faith on the new continent.

"We have the same protection of this mother, who wants to draw us nearer to her son," said the priest. "She always points to her son."

Bishop R. Walker Nickless was in attendance at the Mass and present in the sanctuary for the Mass.

As the liturgy drew to a close, the bishop offered a few comments. He said he was surprised to see so many cars outside the church so early in the morning and then he was inspired to see so many people praying to God as he entered the cathedral.

"I am so grateful for your presence in our diocese and for the witness of your faith," said Bishop Nickless.

Despite several inches of snow the night before, the mananitas at 5 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. Mass drew about 300 people.

Rosa Quinrogu of Sioux City said she participates in the early morning prayer to observe this feast day out of a devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Fourteen-year-old Itzel Chavez has attended two times out of the past three years. She likes seeing the dancers that are part of the procession and mentioned that attendance at the liturgy has been part of her family tradition.

She has learned about the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe through her family and in the parish confirmation classes.

After the skit at 8 a.m. in the Epiphany Center, Bishop Nickless blessed an image of Our Lady of Quadalupe.

"She is patroness of the Americas and is very important to us here in Sioux City as she is patroness of our diocese as well," noted the bishop. "We ask the mother of God to help us always come closer to her son."

Father Hewitt, director of Hispanic ministry at the Cathedral of the Epiphany, mentioned that a second Spanish Mass was offered at 10:30 a.m. and that one drew an even bigger crowd - about 400 people. Again the skit was offered, followed by a meal and traditional Hispanic dancing that went to mid-afternoon.

"Our Lady of Guadalupe has touched their lives so profoundly," he explained. "Their love for the Blessed Mother is so great and their devotion to her is so deep and they show that to her through their dancing, songs and expressions - but they are filled with reverence and respect."

Other parishes in the diocese also held celebration last weekend.

Father Roger Linnan, pastor at St. Mary's in Hawarden, concelebrated a bilingual Mass with Father Doug Klein. That liturgy featured Hispanic music from a Sioux City group and the procession and recessional included dancers from Sioux Center. He estimated that about 300 people attended - mainly Hawarden parishioners but some from Sioux Center.

"The group from Sioux City continued to play music during a festive meal," he said. "It was a wonderful celebration of faith. I think the Anglo people also enjoyed the Mass very much and participating in the prayers and praising God through music."

In his homily, Father Klein explained about the reasons for the devotion to Our Lady.

At St. Patrick's in Estherville, Sister Joyce Blum said the Dec. 9 celebration drew people from surrounding parishes, including some from Minnesota. Among those in attendance for much of the celebration was Father Brent Lingle of Spencer.

"There were about two hours of mananitas, then we had hot chocolate and sweet bread," she said. "Then some of the dancers said they wanted to serenade the virgin. They danced around the shrine - it was beautiful."

Other portions of the celebration included a Mass with procession that featured Hispanic dancing, a meal and more dancing.

Sister Blum said the piñatas were a big hit with the children. Next year she wants to increase the number of piñatas.

The parish celebrated another Mass on Dec. 12, that was attended by all of the religious education students.

In Storm Lake, they started the day at St. Mary's with the mananitas. Father William Vit, associate pastor at St. Mary's, explained that the celebration started with a procession that included the image of Our Lady and Aztec dancers. A celebration followed that included more dancing and a social. He estimated that about 550 people attended.

"We really looked at the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego and she was calling the people of that time to convert to Christianity. That was the theme that we took on here - we must live the message of conversion that she gave to Juan Diego," said Father Vit.

Just as Christmas Mass is a big draw for Anglos that may not go to church the other times of year, he said the same can be true for some Hispanics with this celebration.

"This brings the community together. That where I find my joy in presiding at Mass - seeing people there who I have missed for a year and inviting them to participate in the conversion message of Our Lady of Guadalupe," he said. "It's an opportunity to evangelize."

He stressed the fact that this was a parish event, not just a Hispanic event. For instance, the Knights of Columbus provided an honor guard.

Mananitas, a Mass and fiesta were also held at St. Rose of Lima on Dec. 9.

Holy Trinity Parish in Fort Dodge hosted a Mass and celebration on Dec. 12 and Christ the King in Sioux Center was hosting mananitas that day.

Additional celebrations are planned for Dec. 16 at Sacred Heart in Alvord, St. Mary's in Rock Valley and St. Patrick's in Sheldon.