Guadalupe celebrations growing along with the diocese

... in Sumter

By PAUL A. BARRA and TIM BULLARD

Our Lady of Guadalupe may be the patroness of the Americas, but the Diocese of Charleston seems to be adopting her as its own. This year, pilgrims from the diocese journeyed to Mexico City to celebrate the Dec. 12 feast day of the lady known affectionately to Mexicans as La Morenita at the very spot on Tepeyac hill where she appeared to Blessed Juan Diego in 1531. Closer to home, parishes across the state held special liturgies and feasts in her honor.

In this city in the middle of cotton and tobacco country, parishioners of St. Jude welcomed migrant workers and their families from as far away as Cameron and Summerton. The vigil Mass on Dec. 13 was sung in Spanish by a choir with an international flavor; the leader and guitarist was Kate Smith Kennedy, but the singers were students from Spain and from Guatemala, Ecuador and other Latin American countries. The liturgy was preceded by a procession and followed by a Christmas party Hispanic-style.

The Word was proclaimed alternately in English and in Spanish, and Deacon B. J. Ellis laced his homily with Spanish-language expressions. His closing prayer was to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Spanish.

The fiesta after Mass included a groaning board of food, Latina dances, a pinata and Luther Troop as Santa Claus. The families filled their old cars and vans with gifts. St. Jude has hosted the Guadalupe celebration for four years; the event continues to grow and the pastor knows who to blame.

"Guadalupe services are increasing, probably because of the ever-greater numbers of Hispanic Catholics (in the diocese)," said Redemptorist Father Michael Varady. "We have an active Hispanic ministry here and Alice takes care of everything for us."

Alice is Alice Ingram. She said that the parish and the Sumter community at-large are "very supportive" of the St. Jude Migrant Ministry. For proof, she displayed the room full of bags of Christmas food and toys and clothing donated for the migrant families who are beginning to settle near the farm work that sustains them.

Another parish that serves as a beacon for Latino farm workers is St. Thomas the Apostle in North Charleston. Migrant workers from the sea islands south of Charleston go there to celebrate Mass on Sunday afternoons.

The Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego shortly after the Spaniards had subdued the native Mexican Indians. She was dark-skinned and dressed in symbolic Mayan clothes. Her initial miracles included Castillian roses found growing on a bare winter mountain and her image that appeared on the cactus-fiber cloak Diego was wearing. Pilgrims today can still view the miraculous image.

Millions of Indians converted to Christianity.

... in North Charleston

By JORDAN MCMORROUGH

Masses celebrating the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe were celebrated in churches throughout the state, remembering the appearance of the apparition of the Blessed Mother to the Aztec Indian outside of Mexico City in 1521.

More than 200 people attended an evening of celebration at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in North Charleston on Dec. 11. The celebration included a dinner, an outdoor procession and a Mass. The procession was led by members of the congregation carrying a large banner of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, while everyone in attendance carried candles and recited the rosary.

Father Jose Antonio, a priest from Colombia who has served in the diocese since the spring, celebrated the Spanish liturgy, along with Father Art Dalupang, pastor of St. Thomas. Music for the evening was provided by a mariachi band from Atlanta.

The celebration at St. Thomas began at 7 p.m. and continued past 1 a.m. Friday. Similar events were held in Conway, Beaufort, Batesburg, Hardeeville, Greenwood and Sumter.

In fact, Father Art said it was due to his participation at the celebration at St. James Parish in Conway last year, while he was pastor of St. Ann Church in Kingstree, that motivated him to host this year's event. He praised the fact that Anglo families in the parish, as well as Hispanic ones, saw the importance of the feast day and attended the festivities.

Father Jose Antonio was also pleased with the turn-out for the evening. He serves an area encompassing North Charleston, Johns Island, Beaufort and Hilton Head, serving as a spiritual director for the Spanish-speaking immigrants, conducting Bible studies for adults and youth, listening to confessions, training leaders for RENEW, and forming small Christian communities "comunidades de base."

After serving in Hispanic ministry in the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario, in Canada for over 10 years, Father Jose relocated to South Carolina due to the large need for Spanish-speaking priests.

... in Greenwood

By BARBARA VAUDREIL

It was standing room only the evening of Dec. 12 as over 340 people overflowed Our Lady of Lourdes Church for a fiesta in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Spanish speaking and English speaking parishioners and visitors from the greater Greenwood community joined together for this special celebration which was coordinated by Buscando Luz, the parish's Spanish-speaking committee.

The Buscando Luz choir and Mariachi Atlanta provided music during the Mass which was celebrated in Spanish by Father Hayden Vaverek, pastor. Before Mass, a long procession of cars made its way from the New Haven Apartments, home to many participants. Leading the procession was a lighted float with a tableau of Our Lady of Guadalupe portrayed by Lorena Ramirez, and Juan Diego portrayed by Juan Villafuerte. A crowd greeted the procession as it entered the church grounds and Father Vaverek blessed the vehicles.

The green, white and red colors of Mexico and a huge banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe decorated the parish hall where members of the community enjoyed a evening of dinner and dancing to mariachi music.