By Maria Paz Duarte | Correspondent

Amid the flurry of traditional costumes and an abundance of flowers to be presented to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a gift of thanksgiving, hundreds gathered the evening of Dec. 11 in St. Joseph Church, Trenton, and again Dec. 12 in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Virgin of Guadalupe has become a symbol of love and devotion to people across the continent, where thousands of individuals, including those in numerous parishes within the Diocese of Trenton, pay tribute to the Mother of the Americas as they celebrate her feast day, Dec. 12.

Click HERE to view gallery of photos in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton.
Click HERE to view gallery of photos in St. Barnabas, Bayville.

For the St. Joseph Parish community, the celebration began with praying the Rosary, while in between each decade, the parish’s choir sang songs in remembrance of the Blessed Virgin. During the songs and the recitation of the Rosary, the church filled with people dressed in costumes and traditional clothing, many of whom knelt at the feet of the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe to offer prayer intentions or words of thanksgiving.

Prior to the start of Mass, the children’s choir, “Semillitas de Dios” (Seeds of God), processed to the altar to deliver white roses to the Virgin Mary and to raise their young voices in song.

Father George Medina, parochial vicar, who served as celebrant of the Mass, emphasized that “Our Lady of Guadalupe is not only loved and honored in Mexico, but also in the United States because she decided to appear to the smallest and humblest of God’s children in order to bring peace and harmony. Likewise, we are like brothers and sisters who must bring peace to this country,  love one another, accept and respect each other, regardless of race, origin, or social status, because we all are children of the same mother.”

Father Medina also thanked the community for all their support over the years … and asked each person to express their love for the Virgin Mary by giving love to others and serving God the best way possible.

After the conclusion of the Mass, participants were invited to share fellowship, with hot chocolate and tamales (typical food of Mexico) in the parish hall, while they waited to sing “Las Mañanitas” (Serenade) to their beloved Mother of God.

Leandra Ovalle and Hilda Quiñonez, members of the Guadalupanas’ group in Saint Joseph Parish, said they were blessed to see many participants paying tribute to the Virgin of Guadalupe.  Ovalle mentioned that she felt honored to be part of this group because they can share their love for their mother, Mary, and also share their cultures with others.

Pedro Olaxj, a parishioner in Saint Joseph Parish, has participated in this event for the past seven years. “I love to come here to celebrate my Virgin Mary because she is my intermediary with God, she protects me and makes me feel loved. Even though I don’t have family in this country, I never feel alone, because I have her deep in my heart.”