As part of their novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe leading up to her feast day on Dec. 12, Mother of the Americas parishioners processed throughout the Little Village community for nine evenings, covering the parish boundaries in order to reach out to the entire community and the institutions that serve them.

On Dec. 11, parishioners gathered at Mount Sinai Hospital, 1500 S. Fairfield Ave., and processed to St. Anthony Hospital,  2875 W. 19th St., and into the church at 2226 S. Whipple St. Every evening brought a different route.

One evening parishioners processed from the archdiocese’s Kolbe House Jail Ministry past Cook County Jail. Another evening they processed from a police station back to the church.

Altar servers led the procession with candles as parishioners carried a statue of Our Lady appearing to St. Juan Diego and images of Mary covered in flowers.

Along the route, they prayed a version of the rosary with the meditations focusing on the apparition story.

Parishes and schools throughout the archdiocese held similar celebrations to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Two years ago, Mother of the Americas Parish formed out of the unification of Our Lady of Tepeyac, Assumption BVM and St. Roman churches, so this is the second time they held the procession in this manner. Previously the parishes held individual processions.

“Since we united Mother of the Americas, we’ve been intentional about doing processions in all different parts of our parish boundaries and at the institutions,” said Father Thomas Boharic, pastor.

Juan Araiza helped coordinate the processions. 

“It’s a very central part of Catholic devotion and Mexican devotion. In Mexico pilgrimages are done all over the country to Our Lady of Guadalupe, so everyone here knows of the pilgrimages,” he said.

Last year, during the pandemic, the event had an additional purpose.

“We found especially last year that it was important to process with Our Lady and St. Juan Diego to remind people that the church is open, that Our Lady is here for everyone. Being sacramental in the faith, we know that it makes a difference if you go to a place and pray,” Araiza said. “So praying while covering the neighborhood makes a difference. We know it does.”

Boharic agreed.

“We wanted to bring Our Lady, bring St. Juan Diego, bring Jesus out to the streets and to be visible to the community, visible to our institutions, just so they know that we are praying for them, that we love them and that they’re part of our parish,” he said. “Whether they are Catholic or not, we have a moral responsibility for them.”

Joseph Martinez, 14, was one of the altar servers who led the procession.

“I’m out here with our community to go out to people and to show them what happened and the history and the background of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” he said. “It’s a very good experience, even though it’s cold, to be with people praying the rosary.”

Being visible to the community on the streets is also important, he said. “It shows who we believe in and what we believe in.”