The Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 12
“I urge all members of the pilgrim Church in the Americas, pastors and faithful, to participate in this celebratory journey that aims to promote an encounter with God through Our Lady of Guadalupe, for the renewal of the social and ecclesial fabric of these peoples and communities.”
– Pope Francis, Mass for the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe (2022)
Celebrating her Feast Day: How can I support migrants?
God calls us to welcome the stranger, and Our Lady of Guadalupe reminds us that God’s unfailing love encompasses all of us, regardless of immigration status, race, nationality, and all other differences. As we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we honor the millions of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in the United States and across the world who live in fear because of their immigration statuses and the current political climate around migration. On this day, you can…
Pray
• Use this Feast Day as an opportunity to reflect on Our Lady of Guadalupe and to pray for her intercession.
• Attend Mass! If you are not able to make it to Mass for this Feast Day, take a moment during the day to reflect on the daily readings for December 12, 2023.
• Given the importance of St. Juan Diego and the proximity of his Feast Day (December 9), take a moment to reflect on his life and pray for his intercession in your life and in the lives of struggling migrants.
Educate
• Talk to parishioners and friends about Catholic Social Teaching around migration and Our Lady of Guadalupe’s message.
• Hold an event of your own (ex. a panel or a reception) that uplifts the voices and stories of Latin American or migrant parishioners.
• Analyze migration events in the world around you and be more intentional about reading what the Church teaches on these issues.
Give
• Donate money or requested items to help immigrants and refugees through your local Catholic Charities.
• Reach out to your local Catholic Charities about ways to volunteer your time to help migrants in your community.
• Join a feast day celebration hosted by Latin American community members as a way to inform your prayer life. Give of your time to help prepare or hold the event as needed.
Advocate
• Tell your elected representatives that you support immigrants and the programs that help them, including DACA and TPS. Mail letters, make phone calls, or meet with their staff. You could even invite them to your celebration.
• Use social media or write a Letter to the Editor to voice your support for migrants. Explain why Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast day is an important reminder to love and
advocate for immigrants and refugees.