Merced Catholics celebrate Virgin of Guadalupe with faith and joy

For Raul and Maria Vega of Merced, every Dec. 12 is a date of celebration and devotion.

Like hundreds of other Catholics in the area, they participate in festivities and prayers in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, or the Virgin of Guadalupe. The tradition, largely observed in Latin American countries, has become a staple at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Merced.

On Wednesday night, the couple, along with their four children, were at church in observance of the novena prayers, public prayers that go on for nine consecutive days leading to Saturday’s festivities. It’s a tradition the Vegas practiced in their home country of Mexico, and continue today.

Catholics believe that in 1531, a man named Juan Diego twice encountered the Virgin Mary near present-day Mexico City. Once on Dec. 9 and again on Dec. 12 of that year.

Legend has it that Mary told Diego to ask the bishop to build a church on Tepeyac Hill, but the bishop needed proof of the encounter.

The Rev. Jesus Reynaga of Sacred Heart explained that Diego returned to the hill and found roses, which he took back the bishop. When he opened the cloak he used to carry the roses, an image of the virgin appeared on the garment. The bishop took this as a sign and the church was built in honor of the holy mother. The garment said to belong to Diego hangs at the modern basilica there, drawing crowds of faithful.

Diego, beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1990, also is recognized as the church’s first indigenous saint.

Reynaga estimates that about 500 people show up each night to celebrate Mass during novena at Sacred Heart. This year, the nine-day ceremonies are being celebrated by the Rev. Miguel Angel Rodriguez Viaz of Guadalajara, Mexico, the guest priest.

For the past three years, Sacred Heart has left its doors open for 24 hours starting Dec.11. Festivities begin Friday night with a musical performance each hour. At 4 a.m. Saturday, the church usually fills to capacity for “Las Mañanitas,” a traditional celebratory song, accompanied by mariachi music.

“Year after year, people had to stand outside because we didn’t have enough room during the early morning Mass,” Reynaga said.

He said the idea to keep the church open throughout the day and night is meant to accommodate people at all times.

This year, Sacred Heart also started a new tradition. Churchgoers are dropping off gifts for senior citizens and the homeless. The gifts will be distributed to local senior centers and shelters later this month.

After each ceremony, the church’s youth dance group performs traditional Aztec dances as a gift to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Three of the Vegas’ children are part of the dance group.

“For us, it is really important that our children recognize the customs of our home country and that they have faith in the Virgin of Guadalupe,” said Maria Vega.

Raul Vega said he hopes his children will pass the tradition of venerating the Virgin Mary to their future children.

“We work all year for this feast. ... We do it with fervor and with love. We hope one day they will, too.”

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Merced Catholics celebrate Virgin of Guadalupe with faith and joy."