Yesterday afternoon we watched as several thousand people paraded past our house with the Virgin of Zapopan. It seems that this time of year the small statue is taken from her special cathedral in the center of Zapopan (one of the cities that make up the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara) to make a pilgrimage to all the Catholic temples in and around Guadalajara. She (her statue) spends the night in each temple--then is carried with much celebration through the neighborhood streets to the next temple--where she spends the next night, and the process continues. Folks believe that her presence brings blessing and protection to the neighborhood.
Yesterday was our neighborhood's turn. Everyone started preparing the streets with decoration the day before--sweeping the street, laying a carpet of alfalfa leaves and hanging flags and balloons—excitement in the air.
Then about 5:00 yesterday afternoon, as the video clip shows, the procession made its way down our street passing a few feet from the door of our house. I was impressed to see so many people out on the streets to participate with the virgin. I wondered what moved them to do this. I wondered if the next generation will do the same.
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