Dedicated to the Virgin

Claudia Rivas, enjoys the festivities around Christmas time. But she is especially fond of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Rivas, a devout Roman Catholic, joined Las Guadalupanas, a group dedicated to honoring and serving the Virgin Mary, as a way to show her gratitude to the virgin. She is among more than 40 Guadalupanas who helps set up the festivities for Dec. 12 at St. Anthony Claret Roman Catholic Church. "We're in charge of hiring mariachis, buying roses and other flowers for the altar, providing sweet bread and hot chocolate," Rivas said. When the 85-year-old woman joined the group seven years ago, she was going through a bitter divorce. She prayed to the Virgin Mary to help her get through it and to allow her now 9 year-old son to always be provided for. Since then, she has been volunteering, whether physically or financially, to the group. Dec. 12, the day that Roman Catholics believe the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, a humble Indian, is generally celebrated throughout Mexico and other Latin American countries. People gather in city plazas or at basilicas by the hundred of thousands. In Jose Hernandez's hometown of Leon, Guanajato, Mexico, several people gather in the morning and carry in altar of the Virgin Mary across town. "People walk about 14 hours, with breaks of course, to the next town, carrying the altar, while mariachis sing," said Hernandez, who has played Juan Diego in the re-enactment of the apparition at St. Anthony Claret. Although the feast isn't celebrated in the United States the way it's celebrated in Mexico, it still draws large crowds. Last year more than 3,500 people attended morning Mass at St. Anthony Claret, listening to the mariachis play "Las Mananitas," a morning serenade to the Virgin Mary. "It takes a lot of time to prepare for those celebrations," Rivas said. "We have to start early in the year to prepare for this day." Las Guadalupanas raises money for the event by selling tamales and coffee outside of i church or by holding other fund-raisers. ; The event costs a few thou- j sand dollars, Rivas said, who j didn't know the exact amount j spent. I "In the end, it doesn't really j matter how much is spent," I Rivas said. "It's worth being j able to continue a tradition j and expanding the faith of the Virgin." Margarita Martinez braves the morning chill to participate in a celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe held in 2001 in the former Jeffrey-Lynne neighborhood. Celebrations this year are scheduled at local churches on Dec. 12, although some churches are celebrating Mass nightly in the days leading up to the feast day. What are you praying for? We asked people what they are praying for this year. Claudia Rivas: "I'm praying for world peace... for the young children, for the single mothers in the world. I'll pray that they always be blessed." Maria Rosas: "That day, I will thank the Virgin for everything she has given me. My mom said that when I was born, I had a crooked leg and that she asked the Virgin to help me heal. It was a miracle." Jazmin Vargas: "I'll pray for peace within families and the whole world." Emilia Barillas: "For peace, for peace within drug addicts and alcoholics and for violence to diminish." Jose Hernandez : "I'll pray for peace. I also want to ask the Virgin to help me see my family in Mexico again because I'm on my own here."