Our Lady of Guadalupe

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Our campus community is a beautiful representation of the cultures around the globe. The Mission & Ministry Center reaches out to our diverse student body in efforts to honor and celebrate their specific and unique expressions of faith.

The first Our Lady of Guadalupe committee was established in 2011 by devout students seeking to live their faith and culture at Saint Mary’s College. We have the privilege to learn about and celebrate the significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Empress of the Americas, in our Latinx community (and beyond).

The feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12th in the Catholic church. However, in our SMC community, we are celebrating her early (as is our tradition), allowing us to share our culture and devotion to La Virgen with all in our community before we head into finals week.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is revered and recognized all over Latin America. In 1532, ten years after the defeat of the Aztec empire in Mexico by the Spanish, Our Lady made an appearance to an indigenous peasant, Juan Diego, on the hill of Tepeyac. In the language of the native people, Nahuatl, La Virgen shared her desire for a church to be built so that she can show and bestow her love, compassion, help, and protection to all who call upon her and confide in her.

La Virgen has been part of the Mexican identity for almost 500 years, she represents our ancestors; she represents us. She has been the source of hope for the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized. That is why believers and non-believers hold a special place for her in their hearts.

We will have a series of week-long opportunities to honor and celebrate La Virgen. Ending the week with a traditional procession with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Mass and fiesta. Our hope it to share with you all our Latinx expression through food, dance, thought, culture, spirituality, and faith.

Instrumental in bringing to life these celebrations is the "Our Lady of Guadalupe" Theology & Religious Studies fall class taught by Professor Anthony Suarez-Abraham. This Engaged Learning class partners with the Mission & Ministry Center to host not only the week-long Our Lady of Guadalupe events in December, but also plans, organizes, and creates several ofrendas set up around campus for Dia de Los Muertos. See the gallery of photos below for images of these yearly traditions.

For more information, contact Eddie Ventura – Asst. Director, Liturgy and Faith Formation (edv1@stmarys-ca.edu).