Revered Catholic procession, with stops in L.A. area, takes on deeper meaning amid raids

There was added resonance this year, as the annual pilgrimage the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego kicked off in mid-September visiting about 15 Roman Catholic parishes in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley – a pilgrimage that will continue through Dec. 7.

The impact of the January wildfires and the ongoing immigration raids have prompted many parishioners to seek solace at houses of worship.

And so, the Guadalupe Procession, already a beloved event in the region, became even more so among many Catholics.

It’s the oldest religious procession in Los Angeles, which, according to the L.A. Archdiocese officials, began by Mexican Catholics who fled persecution by the Mexican government during the Cristero War, in the 1920s.

It commemorates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which according to the diocese, “recalls the miraculous apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego at Cerro del Tepeyac (Tepeyac Hill), Mexico City, in December 1531, when she left her image on his ’tilma’ or cloak.’”

Ultimately, her image has been a symbol of unity, peace, compassion, and hope around the globe.

The pilgrimage made its way to Sacred Heart Church in Altadena on Monday, Oct. 13. The church had been scorched by the Eaton fire but Deacon José Luis Díaz is credited with saving it.

It then headed to Our Lady Help of Christians and All Saints parishes in Los Angeles.

This weekend, the images will be displayed in the Lancaster and Palmdale areas, including visits at Good Shepherd Cemetery, St. Mary’s Church and St. Clare of Assisi Church.

This year’s theme is “Our Lady of Guadalupe: Cause of Our Joy and Hope.”

Angelus News, the online news platform of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, reported that this year’s pilgrimage has prompted a much deeper meaning than usual for Catholics in immigrant communities.