Honoring the 'virgin of conversions'

HOLLYWOOD � The sound of drums resonated through the walls of Little Flower Church in Hollywood Dec. 11 as representatives of the Aztec community in South Florida processed into the church to mark the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The drums were accompanied by festive dances and chanting as the group paid tribute to the image of the virgin.

�When the holy virgin Mary by God�s providence appeared on the mount of Tepeyac to Juan Diego centuries ago, she did not speak to him in Spanish, she did not speak in Latin or in Portuguese, instead she spoke to him in Nahuatl, the native language of the Aztecs,� said Little Flower�s pastor, Father Thomas S. O�Dwyer, to the more than 500 people who attended the Mass. �It is good that our Catholic Church embraces the goodness and preciousness of the different cultures that comprise our community. Each people, each culture has the right to give praise to the Lord in their own way, with the beauty of their customs and in their own languages.�

�This celebration above all strengthens our faith towards God, towards the Church and toward the Virgin of Guadalupe,� said Lucy Castillo, who was responsible for bringing the yearly festivity to Little Flower. �Today is a very special day for us here and in our native Mexico.�

Four years ago, Castillo went to the parish and asked for permission to start a celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe on her feast day. The following year the celebration became a reality and it has continued ever since.

The Mass was attended by a diverse group of people from different parts of South Florida, including Juan Miguel Gutierrez-Tinoco, consul general of Mexico in Miami.

�From a religious standpoint there isn�t a figure that is more representative of Mexico than her. But she is not only important in Mexico, she is also patron of the entire continent, patroness of the Americas,� said Gutierrez-Tinoco.

After Communion and as a surprise to many in attendance, mariachis entered from the back of the church and processed towards the image of the virgin, serenading her with Mexican folk songs as the crowd followed along.

�Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Empress of Latin America, she is a symbol that helps manifest our faith,� said Sister Maria Elena Larrea of the Franciscans of Penance and Christian Charity, who serves as pastoral ministry and education director at Little Flower. �She is the virgin of conversions, the virgin of evangelizations, the virgin who fills us with all the joy and spiritual strength that we may need. She welcomes all ethnic groups without regards to their origin.�

�To celebrate this feast with the community is a great blessing,� Sister Larrea added. �It is our privilege and honor to receive Our Lady of Guadalupe in our home.�