Diocesan parishes and school celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe

Several parishes and schools in the Diocese of Sioux City held services and festivities to mark the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12. 

In many parts of the diocese with large Hispanic populations, celebrations began in early morning hours with the singing of the mañanitas.  not only included Mass but large fiestas featuring lively music with mariachi bands, native dancing and ample food.

Sacred Heart Sioux CityOur Lady of Guadalupe is not only patroness of the Americas but also of the Diocese of Sioux City. Given she is patroness of the diocese, some seminarians of the diocese attending the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, used it as an opportunity to celebrate.

In some cases, the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe was portrayed. The feast recalls the apparition of Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, who appeared to an Aztec peasant Juan Diego in 1531 at Tepeyac, which is now part of Mexico City. Our Lady asked Juan Diego to go to the local bishop to request a church be built on the hill at Tepeyac.

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The bishop wanted proof so a few days later Mary gave Juan Diego a large bundle of roses that were miraculously blooming in winter. He carried the flowers in his tilma (cloak) and when Juan Diego opened the tilma to remove the flowers the now famous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on the tilma. 

A church was built at Tepeyac and millions of Aztec converted to Catholicism.

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Dancers at St. Rose of Lima School celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe.