San Diego, CA
‘A great day of joy’: San Diego’s Catholic community unites for Our Lady of Guadalupe procession
More than 1,000 Catholics from around San Diego joined together in the North Park neighborhood on Sunday for the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe procession, an event meant to foster unity and hope among the community.
The procession — which honored Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico and the Americas — featured more than 70 Aztec dancers, over 20 floats, and members from 25 local parishes and Catholic groups. The event is part of the feast day celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, celebrated each year on Dec. 12.
There are 1.4 million Catholics living in San Diego and Imperial counties, the majority of which — around 60% — have Latino roots.
This year, members from other cultural groups, including the region’s Catholic Filipino community, also participated in the procession.
“Most Hispanics in this area are from Mexico originally, but we have many different countries represented here,” said Cardinal Robert McElroy, who leads the Catholic Diocese of San Diego. “It’s a sign that — not only the Hispanic community here — but the community as a whole is a tapestry of diverse cultures.”
The procession traveled from the Morley Field Sports Complex and through North Park before ending at the St. Augustine High School, where McElroy celebrated Mass with more than 2,000 in attendance.
The religious event has been celebrated in San Diego for more than 50 years. It honors the “Patroness of the Americas” who is believed to have appeared to a Mexican peasant named Juan Diego in the 16th century during the Spanish colonization of Mexico and its Indigenous people.
“She served as a model of hope and identity for the oppressed and the native population at the time,” said Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido, one of the procession organizers.
Today, members of the Latino community are seeking some of that same hope, he said.
In the weeks following the re-election of President-elect Donald Trump, local parishioners have expressed fears over what a second Trump term may bring to their community.
Trump has promised mass deportations, pledged to roll back birthright citizenship and said he would use the U.S. military for immigration enforcement at the southern border.
While the event is a celebration of the patron saint and her blessings, McElroy said concerns about the future have given way to a “somberness” at this year’s event.
“It’s a great day of joy… and also asking God to accompany us through those challenges we face,” he said.
Some parishioners say Our Lady of Guadalupe has helped them through other recent personal struggles, such as grief and worries over their family’s health.
“Everybody has needs; everybody has loss,” said Yolanda Vargas, a member of the Our Lady of Guadalupe church in Chula Vista and whose mother passed away earlier this year.
Vargas was one of several women from her church — each wearing colorful and beaded traditional clothing and head dresses — who participated in the Danza Guadalupana, a dance to honor the patron saint, during the procession.
Her aunt participated in the dance for 53 years, she said, which inspired her to join this year.
The procession also attracted other community members who were enjoying the day at Morley Field.
Barrio Logan resident Victoria Valenzuela was biking with her daughter, Xitlaly Uribe, around the field when they came across the procession. Valenzuela immigrated to the U.S. from Sinaloa, Mexico, in 1994 and said the procession reminded her of her home years ago.
Even though they aren’t Catholic, both the mother and daughter said they were happy to see people out together.
It’s really nice; we see community,” Uribe said.
Originally Published: