Devotees of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of Mexico, are expected to gather by the thousands at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph, Prospect Heights, to celebrate her feast day with a Mass, torch-lighting ceremony and traditional torch walk to about 35 Catholic churches in Brooklyn and Queens.

The Mexican ministry of the diocese will comprise much of the congregation, whose members are attending morning catechesis before the noontime Mass, which will be celebrated in Spanish by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, and is expected to be concelebrated by 20 priests. Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros will deliver the homily.

Festivities will move outdoors following the Mass, and Bishop DiMarzio will bless and light 35 torches for the faithful to carry through the streets. Led by torch bearers, more than 2,000 people are expected to make their pilgrimage to participating parishes using five routes; three of which will go to Queens, and two paths will end in Brooklyn.

This event is being broadcast live on NET-TV starting at 10:30 a.m. and can be viewed in the New York City area on Spectrum, channel 97; Altice (Optimum), channel 30; and Verizon Fios, channel 48. Live streaming is available at netny.tv.

– The Tablet Staff