CHARLOTTE — Celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe took over the Diocese of Charlotte Thursday and Friday despite frigid temperatures. Faithful in western North Carolina spent time praying, dancing, singing and processing in devotion to the Virgin Mary. Some parishes celebrated from late Thursday evening into the morning hours Friday, demonstrating a powerful and continuous devotion.
The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe refers to the Marian apparition of the Virgin Mary to an indigenous man named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City in 1531, after which an image of her miraculously appeared on his cloak and became a central focus of devotion for millions of Catholics. Her image and shrine quickly grew into one of the most important religious sites in the Americas and became deeply woven into Mexican cultural and national identity, serving as a symbol in the country’s struggle for independence and unity. With more than half of North Carolina’s foreign-born Latino population being from Mexico, the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe is entrenched in local communities.
The festivities were especially impressive at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Charlotte, which has the diocese’s largest Hispanic population. There, from 6 p.m. on Dec. 11 until Mass at noon on Dec. 12, more than 800 parishioners joyfully and continuously honored the Virgin of Tepeyac. The evening began with a 6 p.m. Mass, followed by youth performing traditional regional dancing of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. Another Mass and a dramatic reenactment of the Marian apparition to St. Juan Diego followed.
After that, vocalists offered songs of appreciation to Mary. At midnight, a mariachi band marched into the parish to announce the beginning of the feast day with the singing of las mañanitas, which asks the Blessed Virgin to grace the day with joy and blessings as the community continued its celebration into the morning.
At the parish, Guadalupe celebrations have been grandiose for many years as its Hispanic community has continued to grow over the past few decades.
Due to immigration actions by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Charlotte area in the past month, a general uneasiness is still felt in the parish community, which led to a slight downsizing of the feast, the parish reported.
“I was still surprised that so many showed up in person,” said Vicente Capistrano, director of communications at OLG. “There were people overflowing from the parish, yet it was still less than in years past.”
Crowds were large throughout Thursday evening, with many staying for multiple Masses and participating in songs and prayer in front of images of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Emcees gave the crowd the opportunity to speak about the importance of the Virgin of Guadalupe in their lives.
One woman named Leticia accepted the microphone and, with a smile, explained that she identified with the “brown-skinned Virgin” and that she feels aided by her in her motherhood. “The love of a mother is incomparable,” said Leticia, who opted not to provide her last name.
Apolonio Lara Nava, who has lived in the United States for the last four years, took the microphone to talk about how important the Virgin of Guadalupe has been in his journey of migrating to the United States. “Whenever things got difficult, I would turn and she was there,” Nava said. “She is always there.”
Across the Diocese of Charlotte, parishes celebrated the feast in varied ways.
Hickory
On Friday, St. Aloysius in Hickory celebrated the feast beginning with the Holy Rosary in a procession around the parish, followed by the Mass celebrated by parochial vicar Father Jervis Kewi Kebei.
At the end of Mass, Deacon Francisco Piña performed consecrations to the Blessed Virgin Mary. From there the celebration continued with folkloric dances, a family gathering, and reenactments with explanations of the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, as well as the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fátima, Portugal, and Lourdes, France.
Thomasville
The faithful of Our Lady of the Highways gathered to pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday. The night started at 6 p.m. with an Advent penitential service, during which five priests heard confessions for more than three hours.
At 9 p.m. the activities in honor of the Virgin began with the Holy Rosary, followed by several groups who, despite the cold, danced in the church parking lot.
At 10:30 p.m., everyone moved into the church, where parish choirs and a band honored Mary with a serenade that lasted until about 1 a.m. Throughout the night, more than 400 faithful were present.
“We also enjoyed various dishes and hot drinks that were donated by members of the community in thanksgiving for all the favors received through the intercession of the Brown-Skinned Virgin,” said parishioner Rosa Guzmán.
Mooresville
At St. Therese in Mooresville on Friday the faithful filled the parish. A band and mariachi sang to the Virgin while the children and youth danced.
As parishioner Katie Reyes said of the meal, “The food nourished everyone not only physically but also spiritually, showing the great example of service by those serving the community.”
Young women celebrating their quinceañeras brought flowers to the Virgin. The faithful took part in a solemn Mass with a message of hope delivered by Father Engelbert Ofon, who gave it bilingually, bringing comfort to migrants who have already lived weeks in fear.
“He reminded us that we are not alone — we have her, who leads us to her Son, our Savior!” Reyes said.
High Point
Immaculate Heart of Mary celebrated their Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast on Dec. 7. About 1200 parishioners filled the pews at 2 p.m. for Mass, dressed in colorful shirts, shawls, and outfits displaying images of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The liturgical hymns were sung by a mariachi band as performers danced down the nave in traditional Aztec attire, which is worn to commemorate the conversion of the pagan indigenous culture to Catholicism.
Father Patrick O’Connor, pastor of IHM, presided over the standing-room only Mass after which the congregation gathered in front of a manger containing a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe with San Juan Diego kneeling by her side. “The parishioners wanted to design the manger to look like something from the Carolinas with an A-frame instead of a traditional Mexican one,” Father O’Connor said.
Afterward, a reception was held in the school fellowship hall where dancers wore colorful dresses while twirling to the Jalisco, a dance that evokes nostalgia for parishioners with Mexican roots.
Greensboro
At St. Mary’s in Greensboro more than 800 community members participated in Mass and a giant evening procession around the Parish Center. There they serenaded the Virgin Mary and carried lit candles as they walked with her image.
Afterwards, many stayed until 2 a.m. drinking hot Mexican drinks and singing, and later returned at 5 a.m., when families took turns saying rosaries for the rest of the day.
“It was great; it was amazing. You can feel the spirituality,” said parishioner Evelyn Bermudez. “It touched so many hearts. You could see families kneeling and even crying during the prayers and while the mariachi band was playing. It was beautiful.”
— Brian Segovia. Photos by Troy C. Hull, Brian Segovia, Lisa Geraci and provided
Faith shows up, even in the cold
Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury honored Our Lady of Guadalupe with a beautiful celebration of Mass and procession. Father Eckert led the Mass, setting the tone for a reverent and joyful celebration. Afterward, parishioners braved the cold to walk together in procession, giving public witness to their love for Our Lady and their shared faith. A powerful reminder that devotion is not about comfort. It is about commitment.
Dancing
The faithful from across the Diocese of Charlotte showed their faith and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe in multiple celebrations held at dozens of churches on the eve of her feast day. Traditional dancers fill the celebration with color and energy, offering rhythmic steps and symbolic movements as an act of devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Their heartfelt performance adds a powerful cultural and spiritual touch to the feast. Here you can see the cultural festivities that took place in various communities throughout western North Carolina.
Processions
Many took to the streets on the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, joining in a heartfelt procession that symbolized their shared walk of faith under the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Families of all ages followed her image with prayers, songs, and offerings of gratitude, turning the journey into a living expression of devotion.
Mañanitas
In the early hours of December 12th, parishioners took to the streets to participate in the traditional "Las Mañanitas" serenade, during which songs and praises are sung to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe on her day. With candles, flowers, and music, the faithful express their devotion and gratitude while accompanying the image of the Virgin.
