Weather was near perfect as the group processed through the streets, en route to the church. (Johnson Publications photo)
Youths who depicted Mary and Juan Diego, at right, being carried on the back of the pickup, were CCS students Ashley Fregoso, a freshman, and Jesus Juarez, a seventh grader. (Johnson Publications photo)
Annual procession remembers Our Lady of Guadalupe appearance in 1531
Several members of the catholic Hispanic community and Fr. Lothar Gilde celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a procession through the Imperial streets Sunday. The procession ended at St. Patrick Catholic Church where a 12 noon Mass was celebrated followed by a reception and reenactment of the event when Mary appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico and gave him her image. The official observance of the day honoring Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego in Mexico is Dec. 12, but the celebration was held early this year. Our Lady of Guadalupe holds a special place in the religious life of Mexico and is one of the most popular religious devotions. Her image has played an important role as a national symbol of Mexico. Our Lady of Guadalupe is also the patroness of the Americas.