SALT LAKE CITY — When Julia Ramirez, a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, attended her first Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration here more than 10 years ago, she was speechless, she said.
For Ramirez, who is originally from Toluca, Mexico, it was comforting to be able to celebrate the Virgin in way that is very similar to how it is done in Mexico, with mariachis, singing the Mañanitas (birthday song), and having a procession in the streets while singing “La Guadalupana, la Guadalupana.”
“I was shocked when I realized that being so many, many miles away from Mexico, I could feel like I was home, with my loved ones, celebrating our Morenita (a name for Our Lady of Guadalupe used by many Mexicans). It was a very good and emotional feeling,” she said.
Since then, every year Ramirez has faithfully attended the celebration at the cathedral.
“Some years it has not being easy – the cold weather, occasionally the snowstorms … then the pandemic, but our Mother is always there for us and I can’t not be there to celebrate her day,” Ramirez said.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12 commemorates the appearance of the Blessed Mother to Saint Juan Diego in December 1531. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the Americas. Her feast day celebrations often begin with a novena that starts on Dec. 3, then with a late-night Mass and party beginning on Dec. 11 and carrying on through the morning of the actual feast day.
The schedule for the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations at the Cathedral of the Madeleine and some other parishes in the Diocese of Salt Lake City follows. Check with your parish for information about their celebrations.
Cathedral of the Madeleine, 309 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Monday, Dec. 11
7:15 p.m. Rosary followed by a mariachi band, a procession and a vigil
11 p.m. Mass with Bishop Oscar A. Solis presiding
Tuesday, Dec. 12
8 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. Mass in English
Noon Bilingual Mass
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, 624 W. Lennox St., Midvale
Dec. 4-12 daily
6: 30 p.m. Novena
Tuesday, Dec. 12
9 a.m. Mass in English
5 p.m. novena, followed by Aztec dancers and a procession
7 p.m. Mass in Spanish, followed by Aztec dancers
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, 715 West 300 North, Salt Lake City
Dec. 3-10 daily
6: 15 p.m. Rosary followed by Mass and a social gathering
Monday, Dec. 11
7 p.m. Traditional dances, followed by rosary
9 p.m. Procession, followed by band and presentations
11 p.m. Mass with mariachi band
Tuesday Dec. 12
Midnight: Mañanitas, followed by choir and rosary; Mass at 7 a.m.
5 p.m. Dancers, followed by rosary
7 p.m. Mass with Bishop Oscar A. Solis, followed by a social gathering
Saint Francis Of Assisi Parish, 65 East 500 North, Orem
Dec. 3-12 daily
After Masses, novena and rosary
Monday Dec. 11
8 p.m. Traditional dances, followed by Mañanitas
10:30 p.m. Enactment of the Apparitions of Our Lady to St. Juan Diego
Tuesday, Dec. 12 – midnight Mass, followed by Aztec dancers and Mañanitas
6 a.m. Mass, followed by Aztec dancers
10 a.m. Mass in English
6:30 p.m. Procession followed by Mass in Spanish
8 p.m. Mass followed by Aztec dancers
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