Hispanic Catholics celebrate their faith

faithful of diocese invited to participate in December celebrations

by Sr. Anna Marie Reha

Director of Hispanic Ministry

For the Hispanic community here in the Diocese of New Ulm, November 2 - the Feast of All Soul’s Day Todos los Fieles Difuntos, is a very significant day.

Generally it is celebrated by families visiting the graves of their relatives. But in light of so many in the Hispanic community living far away from the burial places of their loved ones a special liturgy is celebrated in each of the diocese’s six Hispanic Worship Centers: Willmar, Renville, Litchfield, Sleepy Eye, Marshall, and Glencoe. During this liturgy the community lights candles and places them at a prepared altar while praying a litany of their faithfully departed.

Upcoming Celebrations

Our Lady of Guadalupe - This month the Hispanic community will celebrate a nine-day novena leading up to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12), the patron saint of Mexico. Traditionally an early morning serenade (Mañanitas) of the Virgin on her feast day takes place. The main service is solemn Mass which may include a variety of elements: processions, costumed native dances (called matachines), and people offering bouquets of roses to Our Lady.

The origin of Our Lady

Between the 9th and the 12th of December, 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego on Mount Tepeyac, now in the center of Mexico City. She appeared as a native Mexican and spoke a native language. She came as a pregnant woman, and asked Juan Diego to build her a church. From that church the Blessed Mother promised to bless the people of America with her help and her blessing. When the bishop of Mexico City asked for a sign to prove Juan Diego’s testimony about the appearances, the Virgin Mary filled Juan Diego’s cloak or tilma with roses that should not have been blooming at that time. Juan Diego ran to the bishop’s house; opened his cloak and let the roses fall. All around him were amazed, not by the roses, but by the image of the Virgin Mary which was imprinted on his cloak. Within the next 10 years almost the whole country of Mexico, led by the words of the Virgin Mary, accepted the faith she placed in the hands of Juan Diego. The miraculous image of Mary, named Our Lady of Guadalupe, is now housed and venerated in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. She is honored as the Queen of Mexico and the Empress of the Americas. December 12 honors the faith she came to announce to the peoples of the Americas.

Las Posadas - Also this month, in preparation for the feast of Christmas, the Hispanic community celebrates a nine day novena (December 16th to 24th) commonly called Las Posadas. The devotion is built around the Rosary and various meditations and reflections. Added to this is the re-enactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging (or "posada") in Bethlehem. Children dress up as Our Lady and St. Joseph (called in Spanish the "Santos Peregrinos"). The Posada usually ends with the breaking of the piñata. The novena is celebrated as many nights as possible, either in church or with neighbors at home.

Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration schedule

St. Mary’s, Sleepy Eye

December 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Bilingual Mass, followed by potluck meal.

Holy Redeemer, Marshall

December 10 at Midnight: Mañanitas

December 11 at noon

Mass followed by a potluck meal.

St. Philip’s, Litchfield

December 11 at 12:30 p.m.

Mass followed by a potluck meal.

St. Pius X, Glencoe

December 11 at Midnight: Mañanitas

December 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Mass potluck meal.

Holy Redeemer, Renville

December 10 at 5:30 p.m.

Mass followed by a potluck meal.

December 11 at Midnight: Mañanitas

St. Mary’s, Willmar

December 11 at noon

Mass followed by a potluck meal.

December 11 at midnight

Mañanitas

St. Anastasia, Hutchinson

Prayer service

December 11 at 4:00 p.m.

St. Joseph’s, Montevideo

Prayer service

December 12 at 7:00 p.m.

LAS POSADAS

For more information about this year’s scheduling of the Posadas, contact the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry, (507) 359-2966.