In my experience, celebrations worthy of Our Lady of Guadalupe can promise three things: mariachi, countless rosaries and a gathering of devoted Latinos. The more than 2-hour procession in Manhattan this morning in honor of the Virgin Mary had them all.
Beginning at 7 a.m. from the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard on 14th St., hundreds of women, children and men paraded north through Midtown Manhattan in demonstration of their dedication to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The parade consisted of nine different groups, each one made up of parishioners representing multiple parishes. By my count, there were churches from the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan, as well as a group representing three different Catholic churches in Yonkers, a suburb just outside New York City.
This early-morning procession is a yearly tradition, and it is part of a larger celebration that began at the parish at the 6 p.m. Mass the previous evening. Twelve hours later, I attended the 6 a.m. Mass that preceded the procession. Throughout our walk (and occasional jog), we chanted, sang and prayed through our roughly 3.5-mile journey. The sun was just starting to rise as we began to walk.
In the crisp 30-degree weather, I lost count of how many times I called out “Que viva!” in response to the other participants calling out “¡Que viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!... ¡Que viva Cristo Rey!... ¡Que Viva Mexico!” The crowd was energetic and chatty, with breaks in conversation only to pray the rosary. The event was a great success.
But the evening before I had found myself feeling nervous about the turnout. I wondered whether threats of mass deportation from President-elect Donald J. Trump or the recent news developments around the murder of a health care executive on 54th St. would deter attendees. The possible deterrence would be understandable: With deportation in the news, a parade of hundreds of mostly Latino-presenting individuals walking en masse in Manhattan would surely catch some eyes, and perhaps even some unwanted attention. And all of New York City still feels on high alert as we await the murder suspect’s trial.
And yet, people showed up. In the face of fear and threats to our community, Latinos from around the city gathered in a public veneration of Our Lady of Guadalupe––seeking comfort in her and in each other. It was inspiring.
Fittingly, the priest who blessed the procession participants instructed us to ask the Virgin Mary for three things: for hope, for comfort and for gratitude. He pointed out that the procession would be a time of prayer between us and the Virgin, and that if we just asked for it, she would grant us these three requests. Through our attendance, I believe we had already begun asking.
In a hopeful display of love, we gathered, teeth chattering, and awaited instructions to begin our journey through Midtown Manhattan. Though we may have all had different prayer intentions in our hearts, we shared our hope in the Virgin’s powerful intercession. Comforted by our faith and by each other, we trekked in the cold air and across hard concrete, sometimes having to jog a little to catch up with our faster procession participants. And at the end of the procession, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for my body and the abilities God had given me to complete the journey, and for the blessings I receive from him each and every day.
The Mexican cultural aspects were also not lost on me. (Because the Virgen de Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego in Mexico, signs of the Mexican pride are ever-present on this day.) As we lined up for the procession, women bundled up against the cold handed out free cups of atole and avena, alongside pieces of pan dulce. The steaming pots of delicious atole drew me like a moth to a flame. The sidewalk in front of St. Bernard was lined with folding tables selling green, white and red scarves and hats, placed carefully next to rosaries and other religious items. Women adorned their hair with green, white and red ribbons, and many participants wore matching hoodies with the image of the Virgin on the back.
Veneration of the Virgin Mary is an integral part of our Catholic faith, and it feels especially so for many Latinos. The procession this morning also demonstrated how our community helps shape our individual faith identities. By coming together, we were able to celebrate the Virgen de Guadalupe on her feast day in a way worthy of her name: through song, dance and community. These expressions of faith are taught from a very young age, as made evident by the dozen red-nosed, rosy-cheeked children present at the procession. And as we all leaned on each other for warmth, both literally and figuratively, we strengthened our communal ties and feelings of belonging. As we continue to face trials and tribulations of all shapes and sizes, these communities of faith are vital to our survival.
Growing up in California, I was blessed to be a part of a parish with a vibrant Latin community. The 12th of December was synonymous with festivities and never-ending music. When I moved to rural Massachusetts for college, I was sure these festivities would be lost. But I was delighted that during my time at Williams College we began a tradition of making food in community and hosting a bilingual Mass in celebration of the Virgin. And now, in New York City, I was one of hundreds gathered at the crack of dawn, grinning wide and spirits high for our dear morenita. We are asked to celebrate the Virgen de Guadalupe on her feast day, giving her our time, trust and gratitude; in return, she gives us her intercession and a lasting peace in her presence. Today we celebrate her memory, but we know she is with us throughout the year.
