With December come a number of Latin American feasts, customs and traditions which will be celebrated among the Hispanic parishioners and community members of St. Theodore Catholic Church.

The feasts are: the Memorial of Saint Juan Diego on Dec. 9, The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12 and Las Posadas from Dec. 16 to 24.

&8220;Our hope is that everyone will try to take some time and experience these celebrations that are being offered at our parishes,&8221; said the Rev. Jim Berning,

pastor of St. Theodore parish in Albert Lea and St. James Parish in Twin Lakes.

The Memorial of St. Juan Diego

This saint&8217;s day has been put on the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar since he was canonized a saint of the church on July 31, 2002, by John Paul II.

This Mexican Indian was on his way to Mass in the year 1531 and Our Lady appeared to him a total of four times. She instructed him to go to the bishop and have him build a church, so that in it she could show and send forth all her love, compassion, help and defense because she was a loving mother to all. The bishop was reluctant and asked for a sign.

Later that day, Our Lady assured Juan Diego that she would provide a sign on the following day; but, Juan&8217;s uncle grew sick and so he was unable to go back to the place where she appeared. Juan, in search of a priest for his uncle, avoided the hill of Tepeyac where Mary had appeared but she came down again and promised that the uncle would not die and to bring the bishop a sign. He thought the sign was finding roses growing on the frozen hillside and he gathered them into his tilma or cloak. When he arrived to the bishop, he unfolded his tilma and the roses spilled out and the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was found on it. The image, still clear today, is displayed in a huge basilica church built at Tepeyac in Mexico City and named for Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

This celebration with Las Ma&110;anitas/ morning prayer will begin at 5 a.m. Thursday in St. Theodore&8217;s Church, 315 E. Clark St. Mariachis will lead those attending in song. There will be morning prayers and songs that honor Mary as she once came to Juan Diego on the hillside of Tepeyac. After this time of prayer and songs, there will be time for some traditional warm drink and pastries.

At 5:30 p.m., there will be a procession beginning at the back parking lot of St. Theodore&8217;s offices and church through the streets of Albert Lea and then back to the church with a Bilingual Mass at 6 p.m.

A mariachi group will join the procession. Bishop Bernard Harrington of the Diocese of Winona will be the celebrant for the Mass. There will be Aztec dancing and another traditional Mexican dance during the Mass.

Afterward, a potluck fiesta/meal will be served at 7 p.m. in Marian Hall.

&8220;All are invited to come with your families and friends to experience this celebration together with our Hispanic parishioners,&8221; Berning said. Those attending should bring a dish to pass.

Dec. 16-24:

Las Posadas

Las Posadas are the nine days of prayer (Novena) and festivity in honor of the nine months that Mary carried the infant Jesus in her womb. This Latin American custom is a preparation for the birth of Jesus and portrays Joseph and Mary seeking shelter among hardship in Bethlehem.

People go to a different house each night, as if seeking shelter, where they are eventually welcomed. They pray and sing together and share a little food and drink. The final posada will take place at the 11 p.m. bilingual Mass on Christmas Eve at St. Theodore Church. Places, times and dates can be by going to www.sttheo.org and clicking on newsletter. Also, they will be inserted in the church bulletin on Dec. 15 and 16.

Berning said he welcomes all to celebrate these feasts and customs and appreciates those who are helping to make it all possible.

&8220;Thanks to all who are helping make these events possible for us as we come together and respect our different customs and traditions in our midst,&8221; he said. &8220;These are more important to me because of my Spanish cultural studies in Guadalajara, Mexico this past year. I will never forget it.&8221;