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CV NEWS FEED // Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York will preside over a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dec. 12 to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the beloved Patroness of the Americas.
The 10 a.m. liturgy will also feature Auxiliary Bishop Francisco Figueroa Cervantes of the Diocese of Zamora, Mexico, as the homilist, the Good Newsroom reported.
The feast day marks the culmination of more than a week of prayer and cultural events honoring the Virgin Mary, whose 1531 apparition to St. Juan Diego in Mexico City continues to inspire Catholics worldwide.
“We celebrate over 20 Masses for different Hispanic traditions at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral throughout the year,” Cardinal Dolan said. “The upcoming Our Lady of Guadalupe is our largest, and one of our most joy-filled occasions to celebrate with all the parishioners and visitors who join us that day. Everyone is welcome.”
Our Lady of Guadalupe is venerated as the patroness of Mexico, the United States, and all the Americas, as well as the protector of unborn children. Her miraculous image, imprinted on the cloak of St. Juan Diego, remains enshrined in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world.
Catholics have been praying a Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe since Dec. 3. On Dec. 11, the eve of the feast, a 6 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard, followed by the lively “Traditional Mañanitas” at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which includes mariachi music and traditional Mexican dance.
The Dec. 12 festivities will open with a 7 a.m. procession of Our Lady’s statue through Manhattan. Hundreds are expected to join as the procession moves along Eighth Avenue and West 50th Street, culminating at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for the Solemn Mass. The Mass will be livestreamed here.
To conclude the celebrations, Vespers will be held in Latin at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan and will be accompanied by traditional Mexican liturgical music.
