Forward in hope: 90th annual Guadalupe procession

On Sunday, Dec. 5, Catholics from around Southern California hit the streets of East Los Angeles for the 90th annual Guadalupe Procession and Mass, which returned as an in-person event after last year’s car-only procession due to the high number of COVID-19 cases at this time last year. (Victor Alemán)

Archbishop Gomez and several bishops and priests from the archdiocese led the procession.(Victor Alemán)

Archbishop José H. Gomez was accompanied by religious sisters while praying the rosary during the procession. (Victor Alemán)

A Guadalupe-themed float made by the Marriage Encounter Ministry at St. John the Baptist Church in Baldwin Park won a second-place award of $2,000. (Victor Alemán)

(Victor Alemán)

(Victor Alemán)

Students from Epiphany School in El Monte with their parish’s float, which won the contest’s first place $3,000 award. (Victor Alemán)

(Victor Alemán)

(Victor Alemán)

Local families were able to walk in the annual procession for the first time since the start of the pandemic. (Victor Alemán)

(Victor Alemán)

Junior members of the Ballet Folklorico from Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights process through the streets of East LA. (Victor Alemán)

Organizers estimated more than 8,000 people attended the outdoor Sunday Mass with Archbishop José H. Gomez at East Los Angeles College Stadium. (Victor Alemán)