Intercultural Marian Celebration scheduled for Oct. 1 at St. Ann's

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SALT LAKE CITY — Each year in October, the month dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, parishioners from missions and parishes from all over the Diocese of Salt Lake City gather to celebrate the Intercultural Marian Celebration.

This event is a celebration of Our Lady and her many titles and representations from all over the world.

Each year the Intercultural Marian Celebration highlights one specific representation of Our Lady. This year, due to all the turbulence and challenges that the world faces, the Queen of Peace will be leading the procession and celebration, said Maria Cruz Gray, director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry, which organizes the event.

To make the celebration a success, a planning committee gathers each month to make the arrangements. Committee members represent many parishes, missions and organizations, including San Isidro Mission and the parishes of the Cathedral of the Madeleine, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Ann, St. Mary of the Assumption, St. Joseph the Worker, St. Francis Xavier, Sts. Peter and Paul, the Legion of Mary and the Knights of Columbus.

St. Ann Catholic Church in Salt Lake City will be the host parish this year.

The Intercultural Marian celebration will bring hundreds of people of various cultures and ethnicities; the procession will include banners and images of the different representations of the Virgin from many countries of the world, some carried by the people and others transported in carriages designed especially for the occasion.

“We have the many apparitions of our Mother: Our Lady of Guadalupe from Mexico, the Immaculate Conception from the United States of America, Our Lady of Coromoto from Venezuela, Our Lady of Los Angeles from Costa Rica, Our Lady of Chiquinquira from Colombia, Our Lady of Manaoag from the Philippines, Our Lady of Naju from Korea, of course the Queen of Peace, among many others,” Gray said.

As the procession wends its way through the grounds of St. Ann Parish, the rosary will be recited in different languages. Those who attend are encouraged to dress in the traditional garb of their native countries.

After the procession, the chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited, and Bishop Oscar A. Solis will preside at a Mass. A small reception will follow. The chaplet and the Mass will be multilingual.

WHAT: Intercultural Marian Celebration

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 1, 3-8 p.m.

WHERE: St. Ann Catholic Church, 450 East, 2100 South Salt Lake City

Everyone is welcome.