Andrews – It was a chilly day when Holy Redeemer Catholic Church held its annual Feast Day Procession of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12.
Everardo Diaz, coordinator of the event, said the annual feast day event is celebrated by worshippers at Holy Redeemer, even though the tradition originally began in 2002 at St. William Catholic church of Murphy. As more Hispanic parishioners moved or transitioned to Andrews, the procession has been held in town since 2006 along the same route.
That route begins in front of the Walgreens on Whitaker Lane, proceeds onto Fairview Road along those infamously blind curves, then to Third Street and along to Aquone Road, ending at the site of the church building.
Luis Villagomez – along with other church members, including the Rev. George Byers – wear bright green and orange safety vests and also provided safety lookouts at intersections along the route. The group is often given a police escort, but this year the faithful walked the route without any official participation from the town.
In years past, the Knights of Columbus has also participated. However, with no local charter in Andrews that participation has also stopped.
The faithful gathered over 40 strong to walk and sing Marian hymns in Spanish. One group carries the statue of Guadalupe, adorned with seasonal decorations, while the rest follow with either a guitar or hymnal in hand.
While many aren’t able to first attend because of work or family scheduling, many join in the route along the way where they can, when they can.
The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe stems from the Marian appearances reported in Mexico in the 16th century. The Virgin Mary is said to have appeared five times to a Mexican peasant, Juan Diego, and his uncle in the Hill of Tepeyac, a suburb of present-day Mexico City.
Catholic and Hispanic tradition holds that the feast day be celebrated each December from either the ninth or 12th of the month.
Many celebrations are held for a week or more in Central and South America as well, according to Byers. The Andrews crew is glad to have a central location for their one-day celebration each year.
“We’ve gotten a larger Hispanic population than Murphy in many ways, and a few members from St. William will come up. Some even come from Waynesville and Maggie Valley when they can to participate,” Diaz said.
Diaz added that the coordinator position is within the church, and as such the coordinator serves two sequential years before another church member is recruited or elected – or sometimes “volun-told” – to take over preparations.
Diaz is also quick to point out that the procession takes place “no matter the weather.”
“We’ve even walked during sleet, rain, snow,” he said. “We have to make the procession happen no matter what. And the route is always the same route.”
Although treacherous at times, the route provides a chance for the group to pray the rosary along the way as well as sing traditional songs celebrating Mary, mother of Jesus. The procession typically ends back at the church building, with an evening mass before a feast prepared by parishioners.
Holy Redeemer offers mass in both English and Spanish.