On December 10th, 2023, more that 320 Latino and Anglo persons got together in The Parish church of Rockville MN to celebrate the Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe.  There was a bilingual Mass, mariachi music, traditional dances and a potluck with Mexican food at the end of the celebration.

The Mother of God in the advocation of Santa María de Guadalupe has a privileged place in the religiosity and in the hearts of Latin American men and women.  Her maternal affection and her delicate tenderness engender feelings of unity, fraternity and harmony in the souls of the faithful who sincerely seek God in the celebration of the Eucharist. That is why her Holy Image is always present in the consecrated chapels where Latinos gather to celebrate the Holy Mass.

For Latinos/as, the adoration of Christ Jesus in the Eucharist and the veneration of His Holy Mother is not a static act of immobile quietism in which there is only a stationary mental reflection.  They go to the chapel to establish a dynamic love relationship and have an exchange of feelings and ideas with the eternal God who is alive and active transforming hearts and the universe.  From this follows the fact that for Latinos/as the celebration of the Eucharist is very festive and lively, filled with joyful music, sonorous songs and harmonious body movements.  The Mass is the feast of the banquet, in which popular, energetic, and lively musical and dance expressions have a place; expressions that indicate the great joy that this encounter with the risen and glorified Lord who reveals himself brings to the entire community. And it is also a joyful and festive meeting with brothers and sisters from different places and cultures, in which everyone shares their feelings and thoughts equally, and builds up a united and harmonious human community.

Fr. Efrain Rosado, OSB.