Every year as a priest I have looked forward to the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Popular devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe varies in intensity from country to country in Latin America, and nobody can match the love and fervor of the Mexican people. She has been part of their history as a people and nation since 1531.
Though at the parish this celebration always required much planning and careful attention to details, I prepared for it joyfully. I have always enjoyed popular expressions of piety and faith such as processions, novenas, dances, and other expressions of the faith incarnating in culture. It is through these great feasts of the Church that the faith has been passed down from generation to generation. These popular expressions of faith are in the forefront when it comes to evangelization.
This year the celebrations began with Bishop Hartmayer celebrating a Mass at the D. Ray James Prision in Folkston. About 400 men attended the Mass, one was baptized, and ten confirmed. The Mass was held outdoors since there is no room big enough to hold that many men at the facility. We were on the basketball court. These men, mostly Mexican, are awaiting deportation after they serve several years of jail time. I have never seen a group of faithful so appreciative of the presence of their bishop. They stood and clapped as the bishop approached the basketball court. After Mass most of them asked for an individual blessing. An inmate had painted a beautiful image our Our Lady which the bishop blessed. The choir and music were excellent.
On the feast day itself, we traveled to Saint Juliana Mission in Fort Valley where there has been a significant Latino presence since the 1980s. A mostly agrarian community in Peach County, the small mission has been a strong Catholic community for decades.
The church was packed as you can see above. The parish hall was also packed as you can see below. There were also plenty of people in the narthex area and outside the church as you can see farther below. Some had brought their own chairs from home.
People sung along with the Mariachi band popular songs that they have heard and sung as far back as they can remember. After Mass, the police guided the procession from the church to the Austin Theater downtown where there was plenty of food and music. There were children everywhere and all had a great time.
It is a blessing to have such unique expressions of faith present in our diocese. As the century-old story of the apparitions of Our Lady to San Juan Diego counties to be told, the faith of thousands is enriched and deepend. They are encouraged to continue in the path of holiness as they strive to imitate each day more Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Mary.
Pictures are mine, all rights reserved.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In