The community of Wilkes-Barre marked the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, 2025, with a vibrant celebration at St. Nicholas-St. Mary Parish. This annual event honors the Virgin Mary, who is believed to have appeared miraculously to St. Juan Diego in Mexico during the 16th century.
The celebration commenced with a lively procession featuring the statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Participants gathered along North Sherman Street, many dressed in traditional festive attire. The atmosphere was heightened by the sounds of a marching band, which played trumpets and drums as dancers performed along the route. The procession lasted approximately two hours, culminating in front of St. Nicholas Catholic Church just before the Mass.
Miguel Balbuena, a 19-year-old resident of Wilkes-Barre, expressed his deep connection to the event. “Every year I’ve come to the celebration, every single year for as long as I can remember. My parents help out here, so I was raised doing this essentially,” he said.
Siomara Amigon attended the procession with her four-year-old son, Nicolas, who wore a bright blue suit adorned with sequins and the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. “We do it for devotion, really, to show our love, our appreciation, our faith, our gratitude for everything that she’s given us throughout the year,” Amigon remarked.
Mass and Community Blessing
The Mass, celebrated in Spanish, saw the church filled to capacity, with many standing due to the large turnout. Two prominent statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe were positioned at the front of the church, surrounded by smaller statues and pictures brought by parishioners. During the service, attendees presented fruits and other offerings to be placed near the altar.
Bishop Joseph Bambera, who leads the Diocese of Scranton, officiated the Mass. Following the service, he took time to bless members of the crowd. Francis Mora, originally from Mexico, shared her thoughts on the significance of the celebrations. She emphasized the global importance of the feast day, referencing the gatherings at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.
“I came out here to celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe… Queen to the Americas,” Mora stated. Her granddaughter, 14-year-old Jadie Sosa, added, “I know that it’s special to us and it’s a part of our culture, so I wanted to celebrate it with my grandma.”
Reflections on Heritage and Unity
Pastor Joseph Verespy delivered a poignant homily reflecting on the significance of the Virgin Mary’s appearance to an Indigenous man in a newly colonized Mexico. He encouraged attendees to reject discriminatory ideologies and embrace the dignity of all individuals. “Our Lady of Guadalupe helped to galvanize the Mexican people as a people, with their dignity as children of God,” Verespy remarked.
Juana Martinez, who attended Mass with her husband, highlighted the unity displayed during the celebration. “It was beautiful how December 12 brought together people from an array of Hispanic cultures who trace their origins from across the Americas,” she noted.
Balbuena expressed his appreciation for the sense of community exhibited during the event. “That’s my favorite part, seeing everybody. To see a community that I call mine get together for this, it means a lot to me,” he said.
The festivities concluded with a reception at the St. Nicholas-St. Mary school cafeteria and gymnasium, where participants continued to celebrate their shared faith and heritage. The event served not only as a religious observance but also as a testament to the cultural identity of the Hispanic community in Wilkes-Barre.
