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For Saralicia Cortez, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is special because "she helped the Mexicans learn about the religion of Catholics."

Saralicia, a student at Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Ferguson, portrayed Mary in a re-enactment of Our Lady's visits to St. Juan Diego near Mexico City in December 1531. Saralicia said she was proud to take part in the events at her parish church because of the connection of the feast to her heritage and because it shows how important the faith is to the people.

The feast recognizes apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Appearing before the indigenous Native American saint, she requested that a church be built at the site. As a sign of this request, she gave fresh roses to Juan Diego to present to the local bishop and left an image of herself on St. Juan Diego's tilma, or cloak, which today hangs in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

The re-enactment was just one part of the celebration of the Dec. 12 feast day at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish. Several other parishes in the archdiocese also had various activities surrounding the feast.

Hispanics who celebrate the feast often make the celebration a daylong affair featuring Masses, singing, dancing, food and the veneration of the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

The festivities at Our Lady Of Guadalupe Parish began at 4 a.m. Dec. 12 with "Las Mananitas," a traditional morning prayer and song in Spanish to honor and serenade the Blessed Mother.

The term refers to the little songs that are sung to wake up Mary in the early morning hours. Those who came presented flowers to the Virgin. Many bring roses, the flower that Our Lady gave to Juan Diego.

Families also commonly dress their children in traditional native costume for the service. Little boys come dressed as St. Juan Diego.

After the morning service at Our Lady of Guadalupe, a 6 a.m. Mass was celebrated in Spanish. A breakfast afterward featured traditional Mexican food, such as tamales, sweet bread, called "pan dulce," and other items donated by area Hispanic restaurants and families from the community. Another Mass was celebrated in English for the school children later in the morning.

Auxiliary Bishop Edward Rice was the celebrant of the later Mass, attended also by students from St. Ferdinand School in Florissant, faculty members from Rosati-Kain High School, parishioners from a Northeast Deanery senior group and others from throughout the archdiocese.

Bishop Rice said that on the feast "we celebrate the beautiful gift of our faith."

He noted that faith is not easy, but it should be enjoyed and appreciated. Parents and teachers are helping to bring that gift of faith, he added.

He recalled the gift of faith Our Lady presented to St. Juan Diego, a man of simple means who believed who was not worthy but "who had to open himself up to that gift of faith." Bishop Rice said that even the bishop approached by St. Juan Diego also had to open his heart to the gift.

What Our Lady wants is "for us to come closer to her son, Jesus," Bishop Rice said.

A number of people at the Mass noted that their appreciation of Our Lady of Guadalupe was passed down through generations. Others are newer to the traditions.

"So cool" is how Hannah Conway, an Our Lady of Guadalupe parishioner, described the feast. "God spreads the word through her and, as a woman, that's cool to know."

Joan Dewitt, another parishioner, said there are a number of lessons. One is the feast's way of honoring God through His mother and another is how she spread His word through the poor.

"She gave acceptance and hope, and that's what we are as a parish," Dewitt said. "We're of many backgrounds but one faith."

Another parishioner, Maria Hernandez Thornton, said the feast is the biggest one for Hispanic Catholics except for Christmas and Easter. Other Catholics also follow Our Lady of Guadalupe, but "if you're Hispanic, it's the mother of all mothers," Thornton said.

She explained that Our Lady of Guadalupe is a spiritual mother -- " a mother that you seek when you need help -- a mother that you want to see and are happy to see."

The day is a central religious and cultural tradition revered not only among Mexican Catholics, but also a growing number of others. The Virgin of Guadalupe often is referred to as the Patroness of the Americas and Protectress of the Unborn, among other titles.