St. Joseph’s Guadalupana Society hosted celebrating the Feast Day of “Our Lady of the Americas, La Virgen de Guadalupe” on Friday, December 12, 2025. This is a Catholic celebration of the apparition of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego, an indigenous peasant, on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City on December 12, 1531.
A beautiful colorful and brightly lit float was constructed. This float carried a live image of our Virgin Mother Mary dressed by Kassandra Fajardo and a live image of Juan Diego dressed by JoseYandel Saavedra. They along with Father/Rev. Antonio Hernandez and with the faithful parishioners and our community pilgrimaged praying the rosary and singing from Devine City Park to the church at 6:00 AM. The float and the faithful arrived to the church by 7:00 AM.
Ten beautiful, excited, joyous girls danced to the altar with flower baskets to the Virgin. The dancers were: Sadie Washburn, Zoey Washburn, Prestyn Alexander, Azalea Tambunga, Lily Tambunga, Cloee Jo Esparza, Isabella Rodriguez, Azucena Sofia Hernandez, Austin Gonzalez and Lina Bueno (Lina is the great niece of Lydia Benavidez, Guadalupana Society Pres.).
Mariachi AZUL de San Antonio played “Las Mananitas” in the church. At 8:00 a.m. a Mass in honor of our Virgin de Guadalupe officiated by Rev. Antonio Hernandez assisted by Dcn Jerry Whitley, music by the mariachis. Two new members Jessica Carrillo and Mari Carmen Mendoza were blessed by Father Antonio into the Guadalupana Society.
A delicious breakfast and fellowship followed the mass at the hall.
St Joseph’s Church and the Guadalupana Society thank our local businesses for their community support: Chaparral Ford for the use of an electric truck, this allowed for “fume free” to the pilgrimage walkers; Devine Tortilla Factory for donation of their delicious corn tortillas and tamales; Chile Bandera, from Jourdanton for donation of their famous flour tortillas; Dulce Bakery, Lytle for donation of their scrumptious sweet bakery (pan dulce).
