EDENTON — St. Ann Catholic Church in Edenton will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a Friday evening (Dec. 12, 2025) procession and Mass, inviting the community to take part in one of the most significant Marian feast days in the Catholic Church.
The observance will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a public procession starting at the Edenton waterfront and proceeding through downtown to St. Ann Catholic Church. The procession will be led by Fr. Anit A. Jacob, MS, administrator of St. Ann Catholic Church. Participants are encouraged to carry candles, flowers, and devotional images as the procession makes its way to the church.
Following the procession, a special Mass will be celebrated honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe as the Patroness of the Americas. The church sanctuary will be decorated with roses, symbolizing the miraculous sign associated with the 1531 apparition of the Virgin Mary to Saint Juan Diego near present-day Mexico City. Following the Mass, a fiesta will be held in the parish hall, where traditional Mexican foods will be enjoyed, providing an opportunity for fellowship and cultural celebration.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe commemorates a series of apparitions in December 1531, when the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego, an Indigenous convert to Christianity, on Tepeyac Hill outside what is now Mexico City. According to tradition, Mary asked that a church be built in her honor and provided a miraculous sign when Juan Diego’s tilma (cloak) was found to bear her image. That image remains preserved today and has become a powerful symbol of faith, hope, and cultural unity throughout the Americas. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is recognized as the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world, welcoming tens of millions of pilgrims each year — surpassing even the Vatican in Rome.
In addition to the Edenton observance, St. Ann Parish Mission, known as All Souls Mission, in Columbia held a vigil celebration on Thursday evening in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The vigil included a procession through the streets of Columbia to the Mission church, followed by the celebration of a Catholic Mass and a traditional fiesta. Approximately 50 parishioners and guests attended the vigil celebration.
Church leaders note that the annual observance reflects both deep spiritual devotion and the growing cultural diversity of the region. Parishioners and visitors of all backgrounds are welcome to attend and participate.
Constructed in 1858, St. Ann Catholic Church is recognized as the oldest Catholic church building in continuous use as a place of worship in North Carolina. The historic church has served generations of parishioners and remains a prominent landmark in Edenton’s downtown, continuing its mission of faith, service, and community outreach.
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to serve as an important occasion for prayer, unity, and cultural celebration, and organizers encourage the public to join in the evening observance.