Men perform a traditional folk dance as part of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in Cleveland, Tenn.A peasant’s vision in Mexico City nearly 500 years ago triggered celebrations in 10 area Catholic churches this week.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which marks a 1531 vision of the Virgin Mary, is considered the most important day in the religious calendar in Mexico. And the shrine that houses the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Mexican capital is one of the most-visited Catholic pilgrimage destination in the world.
But with the immigration to the U.S. of many Catholics from Mexico and other Latin American countries, many Catholic parishes have adopted the ceremony as a way to share cultures and unite their Spanish-speaking and native members.
Jean Wenn Luce, a member at St. Therese of Lisieux Church of Cleveland, Tenn., says the celebration allows the mingling of people who may not know each other or even cross paths due to service times.
“It brings everyone together,” she says. “It allows them to enjoy each other’s cultures, to build relationships. It’s an impactful opportunity to bring people together [with] food and music. It’s very festive.”