Cold Not Stopping Our Lady Of Guadalupe Celebration
DES PLAINES, Ill. (CBS) -- The bitter blast is not enough to keep the Hispanic community from observing the Our Lady Of Guadalupe religious celebration.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakely reports this is the 25th year for this celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Maryville Academy Shrine in Des Plaines and this one may be the coldest yet.
At the heart of it all is this grotto dedicated to the Virgin Mary which includes a 12 foot tall statute of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The celebration marks the appearance of the Virgin to a Mexican peasant named Juan Diego in 1531. Our Lady of Guadalupe has grown into a powerful national symbol for the Mexican people. As a sign of devotion Wednesday, groups of pilgrims will walk from their parishes and others will run bearing torches.
"Other people are coming on bicycles. Many of our people are coming in different ways asking the holy mother to intercede for their needs," said Fr. Sergio De La Torre.
At half past midnight, Mass will be celebrated outside at the grotto.
It all wraps up with a concluding Mass on Thursday night at 7 p.m. By then, as many as 100,000 worshipers are expected.
