Saint
Francis Xavier CATHOLIC CHURCH
Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration
BRINGS JOY TH
S
aturday, Dec. 12 will be a great and full day for St. Francis Xavier Parish as we celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Spanish-speaking community is leading the parish-wide celebration that will include Mass, the Rosary, and dancers. Dancing will begin at 7 a.m. and Mass will be celebrated at noon. “With COVID-19, we’re not exactly sure how it will all look, but it’s going to be a great day no matter what,” Fr. O’Brien says. “Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of North America so she belongs to us all. But for our parishioners, especially those from Mexico, she holds a particularly important place.” Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to St. Juan Diego, a humble farmer, in December 1531. She appeared to him and his uncle in a total of five apparitions. Her image was placed in St. Juan Diego’s cloak, or tilma, when he filled the cloak with roses to give the local bishop proof of her appearance. The cloak is now enshrined in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. “Her appearance set off one of the great periods of evangelization in the history of the Church,” Fr. O’Brien says. “She is a model and an inspiration. I hope that many people will turn to Mary’s intercession in their own life of discipleship and evangelization. The Mass will be a beautiful celebration of our Catholic faith.”
Artisans in Italy are working on our new Our Lady of Guadalupe statue. These photos show the progress made in the carving work. It will be completed and in place in time for the Dec.12 Feast Day celebration.
As everyone gathers throughout the day for this celebration, we will be able to show not only
“With COVID-19, we’re not exactly sure how it will all look, but it’s going to be a great day no matter what. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of North America so she belongs to us all. But for our parishioners, especially those from Mexico, she holds a particularly important place.” — Fr. O’Brien
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