Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Hispanic and Latino Catholics gathered at St. Joseph Church in Butchertown for a late-night Mass on December 11, celebrating the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The event, led by Father Wilfredo Fernandez, was one of many held in the Archdiocese of Louisville to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico and the Americas.

Father Fernandez opened the Spanish-language Mass with a spirited greeting familiar in Hispanic and Latino culture: “viva,” which translates to “long live” in English. He exclaimed, “Viva Cristo Rey (Christ the King). Viva Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) Viva San Juan Diego. Viva San Jose (St. Joseph),” receiving a resounding response from the congregation.

Addressing those present, including many families with young children, Father Fernandez emphasized the importance of remembering St. Juan Diego’s feast day on December 9. He compared its significance to personal milestones like wedding anniversaries.

“It’s important to identify with St. Juan Diego because we’ve all (immigrants) lived his life in this country,” said Father Fernandez. “No matter how fair-skinned we are, we’ll always be Hispanic and Latino. St. Juan Diego helps us to keep our identity.”

During his homily, Father Fernandez recounted the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe's apparition to St. Juan Diego in 1531. As an Indigenous man new to Catholicism who barely spoke Spanish, St. Juan Diego faced numerous challenges when relaying his experience to his bishop.

“We know how it bothers us when people do not understand us (because of language barriers). Imagine what it was like for St. Juan Diego,” Father Fernandez remarked about St. Juan Diego’s struggle to communicate his divine encounter during a time when meeting a bishop was nearly impossible.

“St. Juan Diego overcame many obstacles like us immigrants, who have struggled and persevered to make this country our home,” he added.

Father Fernandez encouraged attendees to look up to St. Juan Diego as a guide leading them closer to Mary and Jesus.

The celebration also featured a dramatization of the apparition story by parish youth and concluded with fellowship where attendees shared cultural foods such as tamales.