Southwest Detroit parish celebrates Mexican Marian tradition

DETROIT — Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish was alive with music, song, dance and worship in celebration of the parish patron’s feast day.

The southwest Detroit parish celebrated the vigil of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 11 with help from Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, who celebrated the Mass at St. Stephen Church along with Auxiliary Bishops Donald F. Hanchon and J. Arturo Cepeda.

Our Lady of Guadalupe’s appearance in 1532 to native Mexican St. Juan Diego led to the conversions of millions of Mexicans and ensured a lasting bond between the Mexican people and Catholicism, which was on display at the predominantly Spanish-speaking parish. The Spanish-language Mass featured festive music and dance from native Aztec culture.

“We come to celebrate the Virgin Mary, who for all Mexicans is the most venerated saint,” said parishioner Jose Lara. “She brought Christianity to the Mexican people when she appeared to St. Juan Diego, and we brought her here to the United States, so it’s an American tradition now in every state.”

Mexico’s conversion to Catholicism came after the Spanish conquered Mexico in the 16th century, abolishing the ancient Aztec religion that included making human sacrifices to ensure the sun
would rise each day.

In the week leading up to the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Fr. Eduardo Montemayor, SOLT, gave a presentation at Big City Bar and Grill in Detroit as part of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s Theology of Tap series. Fr. Montemayor, associate director of evangelization and Hispanic ministry for the archdiocese, stressed how Our Lady of Guadalupe served as the transition from the Aztec religion to the Catholic faith centered on salvation through Jesus.

“Back in time, our ancestors used to do human sacrifice,” said Joe Santon, another parishioner at Our Lady of Guadalupe. “When the Spanish showed up, they got rid of human sacrifice, and we didn’t have our religion. Then the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, saying that Jesus sacrificed himself for the whole world.

“It was the Virgin Mary who brought Christianity to Mexico; she is why so many converted. She’s a prophet who brought Jesus to us.”