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

Parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Louisville are preparing a series of events to mark the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. The celebrations, which will primarily be conducted in Spanish, include traditional novenas, mañanitas, plays depicting the apparition of Our Lady to St. Juan Diego, mariachi music, processions, rosaries, prayer vigils, flower offerings, and community gatherings.

The Office of Hispanic Ministry has provided a detailed schedule for these observances across several churches:

Immaculate Conception Church in La Grange will hold a novena from December 3 to 11 at 7 p.m. daily. On December 12, activities begin with a rosary at 5 a.m., followed by mañanitas at 5:45 a.m., Mass at 6 p.m., and a gathering afterward.

St. Bartholomew Church will also host its novena from December 3 to 11 at 7 p.m., except for December 7 (7:25 a.m.) and December 8 (7:45 p.m.). Their celebration on December 12 starts with mañanitas at 5 a.m., rosary at 5:30 a.m., and Mass at 6 p.m.

At St. Joseph Church in Louisville, the novena runs from December 3 to 11 at 7 p.m. A special rosary is scheduled for December 11 at 9 p.m., followed by a play about the Guadalupe apparition to St. Juan Diego and then Mass. Mañanitas with mariachi music will follow late into the night; another Mass and folkloric dances are planned for the evening of December 12.

Holy Name Church’s main event is an evening Mass on December 11 at 11 p.m., followed by mañanitas.

St. Edward Church’s novena takes place from December 4 to 12 at various locations within the church complex depending on the date. The feast day itself features an evening Mass followed by mañanitas and a gathering.

St. Rita Church plans its novena from December 3 to November 11 each evening and begins its feast day celebration just after midnight with vigil prayers, songs, flowers offered throughout the day, an early morning mariachi-accompanied Mass, additional gatherings later in the day including another evening Mass.

At St. Peter the Apostle Church, nightly novenas lead up to events on December 12 that include Danza del Tepeyac performances before and after plays about St. Juan Diego’s experience; these are interspersed with processions and culminate in an evening Mass followed by mañanitas and more communal activities.

Annunciation Church in Shelbyville hosts their novena-rosary series mostly around dinnertime except for some adjustments on certain days; their extensive observance spans early morning prayer vigils through multiple musical celebrations leading up to evening liturgies and dramatizations.

Epiphany Church holds nightly novenas beginning early this month; their feast day program includes pre-dawn mañanitas ahead of morning Masses and post-service gatherings.

Christ the King Church in Tompkinsville schedules combined novenas with rosaries and Masses each evening starting early this month; they feature mariachi music after one service before concluding festivities with an additional feast-day liturgy.

These events reflect ongoing efforts by local parishes under guidance from diocesan offices to observe significant cultural religious feasts within their communities.