GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Monday December 12 is the beloved Mexican holiday The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. However, Sunday night, hundreds gathered in southeast Grand Rapids to honor her.
"My mother," said organizer Guillermina Sierra with tears in her eyes when asked what Guadalupe means to her. "She’s my mother."
According to the Diocese of Grand Rapids, the Our Lady of Guadalupe feast day honors the appearance of The Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531, when she commissioned him to build a church near Mexico City and sent him to the bishop with flowers in his coat as a sign.
"For the Mexican people one of the important things is that we walk," said Hilda Reynoso, who attended the festivities. "We walk together. So, that's why we make this procession because our walking is following the steps of Mary."
The group, which started out with 50 to 60 people, congregated first at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church on Hall Street SE at 6:30 pm. Then they traveled on foot together for a mile down Jefferson Street. By the time they made it to the Shrine of San Francis Xavier, hundreds of people had joined the walk.
Throughout the processional, or pilgrimage as some called it, they danced traditional dances, sang songs, and prayed while holding candles.
"She introduced me to this and it’s the first time for me to experience this," said Kaori Funamoto, Reynoso's neighbor from Japan. "It’s a special day for me."
Reynoso was glad that her neighbor attended the event so that she like many others could experience a tradition held dear in Mexican culture.
"We come from any of our parishes and we come to the main shrine and to celebrate as one," Reynoso said. "One nation, one people, one God to honor our mother."
READ MORE: Devotion to Virgin Mary draws millions to Mexico City shrine
