Archdiocesan news

Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe

JACOB WIEGAND | jacobwiegand@archstl.org Isabella Vivas Guevara, 6; Evelyn Velasco, 7; and Zoe Campos, 10, held roses before an entrance procession at Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12 at St. Juan Diego Parish in O’Fallon. The girls placed the roses in front of a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The evening also included praying the Rosary, Mass in Spanish, food and dancing.

Celebrating the Virgin of Guadalupe

Catholics gathered to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the evening of Dec. 12 at St. Juan Diego Parish in O’Fallon.

PHOTOS BY JACOB WIEGAND | jacobwiegand@archstl.org
Zoe Campos, 10, placed a rose in front of statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the start of a Mass on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12 at St. Juan Diego Parish in O’Fallon, a new personal parish for the Spanish-speaking community.

“It’s central to their identity as Catholics,” pastor Father Eric Olsen said about the significance of the feast to his congregation. “Mary brought the faith to this continent. In the homily, I really talked about how Mary placed Jesus in the hearts of the people. And we’re just really grateful to her.”

The evening festivities featured a standing-room only crowd for the celebration of Mass in Spanish. There were also songs in honor of Mary, and many people placed roses in front of a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Toward the end of the gathering, the crowd made its way to the basement for food, dancing and other entertainment including a short play of the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. St. Juan Diego Parish was established in August 2023 as a personal parish for the Spanish-speaking community.

St. Juan Diego parishioners Victor Vivas Guevara, 13, and Lizett Mata de Crooks prayed at Mass Dec. 12.
Ayari Coyotl, 15, (holding green fabric) a parishioner at St. Juan Diego, danced during a gathering following Mass.