Parishioners and visitors gathered at St. Bartholomew Church to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 12.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin of Guadalupe, is the patroness of all of the Americas. Her feast day is Dec. 12.
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz celebrated the liturgy filled with songs, costumes and vibrant images of the Virgin of Guadalupe. He arrived the same day from North Carolina where he had been recuperating from surgery related to his cancer diagnosis.
In his homily, which he delivered in both English and Spanish, he told those gathered to give thanks for their faith.
“This is a very important night for your faith and for your families. This is an opportunity to pass on your faith,” he said.
The archbishop thanked the leaders of the parish and spoke directly to the youth.
“We need young people to look to the faith of your parents and grandparents and how important it is to practice your faith,” he said.
He told them that Our Lady of Guadalupe “comes for every one of us.”
“She comes to those who have troubles, difficulties, worries, burdens. Every one of us has some problem that we can bring to Our Lady of Guadalupe,” he said.
