St. Laurence, Elgin
For second year, St. Laurence celebrated a bilingual Mass followed by Las Mañanitas.

Father Andrew Mulcahey, pastor, said “I enjoyed (the celebration) very much. It was great to see a full church on the special day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.” About the mixture of cultures during the night, he said, “We have a number of (Hispanic) families who have been parishioners for a number of years. We want to give them a welcome and make them feel welcome, too.”

Terry Green, a parishioner of St. Laurence, said, “I heard about (Our Lady of Guadalupe) for long time. ... I just want celebrate.” St. Laurence will start having a regular bilingual Sunday Mass on Jan. 8 at 9 a.m.

St. Joseph, Elgin
“Despite the weather, nothing or no one can change our love for Our Mother,” said Father Jesús Domínguez (above), pastor, during the first celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Beginning at 10 p.m. Dec. 11, the first mañanitas included music, prayer, and a narration of Our Lady’s visit to St. Juan Diego in Mexico. After Mass tamales and hot Mexican drinks were offered in the school gym and dancers performed.

Sacred Heart and St. Nicholas, Aurora
“Let’s ask Our Mother to protect our lives, our health and our family, that’s what a mother always asks for their kids,” said Msgr. Arquimedes Vallejo, pastor, Vicar for Hispanic Ministry and dean of the Aurora Deanery, during the 3 p.m. Mass at Sacred Heart in Aurora.

Msgr. Vallejo started Las Mañanitas at 7 p.m. Dec. 11. A mariachi band played songs to honor Our Mother of Tepeyac Hill. Msgr. Vallejo offered Mass every hour until the shared celebration of Sacred Heart and St. Nicholas parishes ended with a 7 p.m. Eucharist.

Another tradition from the Mexican community of Puebla was to pray to the saints, which the community “through their intersession ... had received miracles”, said Msgr. Vallejo.

Many brought statues into the parish during Mass. At the end of Mass, the majordomos, who are in charge of the image of the saints during the year for prayers and fundraising for the Guadalupe events, took the statues to St. Nicholas Parish for typical Mexican food and music and a chance to take pictures of children.