By By JONATHAN CLAYBORNE
Staff Writer
An estimated 250 to 300 people walked from Poorman’s Flea Market in Pitt County to Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in Washington on Friday night.
The walkers were on a pilgrimage as part of the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration.
“It’s the most important celebration for Mexicans who are Catholic,” said Father Arturo Cabra of the church.
Along the way, the walkers — some costumed, some not — moved briskly and with apparent purpose as traffic whizzed by on U.S. Highway 264.
A N.C. Highway Patrol car, its lights flashing, blocked off the right lane of the road for safety reasons.
On the night of Dec. 11, celebrants traditionally attend a post-walk mass honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe, Cabra said.
“On this day, they walk regardless of the weather,” he said.
In Mexico, the pilgrimages often lead to Mexico City, where the Virgin was said to have appeared to Juan Diego centuries ago, he said.
“Those who cannot go to the city, they do it in their own towns and they organize processions to go and celebrate,” Cabra commented.
Friday’s pilgrims trekked 9.5 miles in 27-degree weather before reaching the church, said Dana Lawson, church secretary.
“It has to have that pilgrimage feel that you’re actually journeying to the sacred place,” Lawson said.
The church rented a 15-passenger van in which Lawson’s husband, Steve, shuttled participants to the flea market and other drop-off points along the route.
Stella Olivares didn’t take part in the walk because she was at the church helping prepare coffee, tamales, chocolate and other treats for the walkers.
Olivares said her two children, 15 and 18 years old, did walk, adding that each was clad in traditional Indian costumes.
Once at the church, costumed walkers performed dances that could be traced back to Aztec origins, she said.
“It was very, very packed,” Olivares said, laughing. “We need a bigger church.”
After the mass, the revelers crossed Ninth Street to the church’s fellowship hall for refreshments, she said.
“There was a big crowd,” Olivares remarked. “Many, many people showed up.”
The celebration started with the walk about 7 p.m. and ended at about 2 a.m., Lawson said.
This is the fourth year that Mother of Mercy has held the celebration, she added.