Intercultural Marian celebration planned

Intermountain Catholic

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SALT LAKE CITY – October is the month dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, one of the many titles for the Blessed Virgin Mary. This title comes from a 16th-century feast in honor of the victory of Lepanto, because of a rosary procession offered for the success of Catholic forces against the Ottoman Empire during the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

The Diocese of Salt Lake City will celebrate Our Lady of the Rosary in a unique way with the support of Father Joseph Frez, associate pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Parish in Kearns and Arlita Llenares, administrator of liturgy and music at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

"Father Frez is helping to organize the procession and Arlie is helping with the celebration of the Holy Mass," said María Cruz Gray, director of the diocese’s Hispanic Ministry.

Different cultures and ethnicities will gather at the Madeleine Choir School on Oct. 16 to celebrate the Virgin. A procession led by banners with images of the different representations of the Virgin from many countries of the world will wind from 2nd Avenue to C Street toward North Temple and return to the school.

"We have banners of all the Virgins from America ready," said Gray. "Other Catholics are going to bring representations and banners of the Virgin in Africa, Samoa and from all over the world."

Among the banners are those of The Immaculate Conception from the United States of America, Sta. María de la Antigua from Panamá, Nra. Sra. de Suyapa from Honduras, Nra. Sra. de Coromoto from Venezuela, Nra. Sra de los Angeles from Costa Rica, Nra. Sra. Aparecida from Brazil, Nra. Sra. de la Merced from Perú, Nra. Sra de la Caridad from Cuba, Nra. Sra. De la Divina Providencia from Puerto Rico, Nra.Sra. de Chiquinquira from Colombia, Sta. Maria del Rosario from Guatemala, Nra. Sra. Del Quinche from Ecuador, Nra. Sra. Del Perpetuo Socorro from Haiti, Nra. Sra. De la Paz from El Salvador, Virgen del Carmen de Maipu from Chile, and La Inmaculada Concepción del Viejo from Nicaragua.

It is expected that the rosary will be prayed in the different languages that the Catholics in the diocese speak. Children are welcome to dress in costumes of their native countries.

"All the immigrants who live here in Utah are invited to get together and celebrate our Mother," Gray said. "It’s like every bead of the rosary represents our different ethnicities and cultures. It’s time for all the Catholics to get together and celebrate our Mother."

After the procession, the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City, will celebrate Mass, followed by a reception in which appetizers from different countries will be served.

"The Holy Mass will be multilingual," Gray said.

For more information contact the Hispanic Ministry office at 801-328-8641 ext. 361, Arlie Llenares at 801-328-8641 ext. 106 or Father Frez at 801-966-1571 ext. 161.