STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Sacred Heart School in West Brighton marked the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Friday with a morning Mass, followed by a student play and a cultural dance performance.
During the service, Rev. Rhey Garcia, the church’s pastor, told students the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Students then processed to the auditorium, where they presented a short play and enjoyed a performance by the Ballet Guadalupano of Mount Carmel, a cultural dance group led by Emma Tapia.
This was the second year the school held the celebration.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on Dec. 12 to remember the 1531 appearances of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego in Mexico. The celebration honors the “Queen of Mexico and Patroness of the Americas” and marks the miraculous image of Mary that appeared on Juan Diego’s cloak, or tilma, after she told him to gather roses in winter.
“With our neighborhood’s growing Hispanic population and more Hispanic students, we are very excited to celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe with our families,” said Celeste Catalano, the principal of Sacred Heart School.