The rain of the past week stopped just in time for Saint
’s Catherine Parish’s sixth annual Our Lady of Guadalupe
processional Sunday.
The rain of the past week stopped just in time for Saint’s Catherine Parish’s sixth annual Our Lady of Guadalupe processional Sunday.
Several hundred people came out to march through downtown Morgan Hill in a processional that started in front of Jesús’ Restaurant on Third Street and ended at the church.
The processional led the people down Depot Street, up Fifth Street, through Monterey Road, then on Main Street, past the Library, before circling around past City Hall and to the Church.
There was a celebration the entire way. There was music, dancers dressed in Aztec attire, horses that danced and many people holding flowers and pictures of the Virgin Mary.
“This is a celebration for the Hispanic community,” said José Montemayor, who was in charge of the event. “This increases our spirituality and our faith. It is a big fiesta.”
Even though the processional did not begin until 11 a.m, many people arrived well before 10. As people waited to begin marching through downtown, they were entertained by a band and horses who danced.
The significance of the Virgin Mary to the Hispanic community goes back the days when the Spanish had just conquered Mexico and converted the native people to Christianity.
In 1531 lived an Aztec man named Juan Diego who, on Dec. 9, began to receive visions of the Virgin Mary. She asked Diego to have a church built on a hill called Tepeyac. The local bishop demanded proof, so Mary gave Diego roses, which did not grow in Mexico at that time, along with a picture of herself on his cloak.
Ever since, the miracle has been celebrated with religious ceremonies that can last as long as nine days.
“This is very important; it’s one of the best things that can happen for the Mexican people,” Louis Urias said, “In Mexico they have processionals that last for nine days. Every morning at 5 a.m. they go out and do this.”
The tradition has spread out of Latin America and into the United States where there are countless processions that go on every year.
“It’s a great thing for the community,” said Ortensic Rodriguez, who says she has attended the processionals for the past three or four years. “It is a nice way to show the community about Catholicism and about La Virgin.”
As people walked down the streets, many carrying flowers or pictures of the Virgin Mary or of Jesus, some Morgan Hill residents came out to video tape the event or just watch everyone go by.
When everyone arrived at Saint Catherine, there was more music leading up to a 12:15 p.m. Mass. Later that day there was a fiesta featuring music, dance groups and plenty of food.
