HOUSTON (KIAH) —The beat of drums, dancing, and prayer echoed through downtown Houston on Saturday morning as crowds gathered to honor the Virgin Mary.
The Archdiocesan Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration brought together hundreds of people from parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston. Many participants wore Azteca-style feathered headdresses and brightly colored, handcrafted costumes as they paid tribute to the Virgin Mary and her son, Jesus.
The celebration honors the first apparition of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego on Dec. 9, 1531, at the Hill of Tepeyac — located in the northern part of Mexico City — as he made his way to Mass. According to tradition, Mary appeared to him several more times through Dec. 12 and asked him to tell the bishop to build a church on the hill in honor of her son.
Saturday’s procession through downtown Houston concluded with Mass at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, followed by a reenactment of the apparition and performances from several traditional dance groups…