By Josh Bootsma
LANSING, Ill. (December 6, 2020) – Our Lady of Guadalupe Day will be one of many December holidays celebrated differently this year. The holiday occurs on December 12 and is a day of special importance for Catholics—Latino Catholics in particular. Declared to be a Liturgical Holy Day by the Pope, December 12 commemorates the 1531 apparitional appearance of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego on a hill near Mexico City. Lansing celebrations of the holiday have in previous years included religious services, a processional, Mariachi performances, and a meal. Few of those highly-social celebrations will occur this year.
Alberto’s Beauty Salon
Located at 3218 171st Street in Lansing, Alberto’s Beauty Salon has hosted an Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration in past years for the local community, an event that includes a Mariachi band, a Catholic Mass, and a meal. The entire celebration has been cancelled this year due to COVID-19.
Daisy Herrera, store manager at Three Roosters, the grocery store and restaurant neighboring Alberto’s Beauty Salon, said she was disappointed that the celebration could not occur. She didn’t officially announce the cancellation, but most of her regular shoppers assumed it would not happen. Herrera said she will likely buy flowers for the Virgin Mary anyway, who has a home in the back corner of Three Roosters.
St. Ann Catholic Church
Although St. Ann Catholic Church will have a socially-distant, mask-required Mass on Our Lady of Guadalupe Day, the church will not have a processional of children and dancers as in years past. As with all masses currently taking place at St. Ann’s, reservations for the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass are required and can be secured by visiting the church’s website or by calling 708-895-6700. The special Mass is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 12.
St. Ann’s Father Mark Kalema said he will miss the usually-lively service, especially the Mariachi element. “I really like the Mariachi,” he said. “For the people, especially. They are very joyful when they listen to that music.”
In addition to live streaming the service, St. Ann’s is offering an in-car option for attendees, where people can listen to the service on their car radios and participate in communion as the sacrament is delivered to their vehicles.
St. Ann Catholic Church is located at 3010 Ridge Road.
Alberto’s Beauty Salon is located at 3220 E 171st Street.
Related
- One Lady of Guadalupe, two celebraciones (2019 celebration)
Scenes from Lansing’s Virgin of Guadalupe celebration (2018 celebration)
Scenes from Celebración de Nuestra Virgen de Guadalupe (2017 celebration)
