Puerto Rican Catholics celebrate Mary

Members of the Puerto Rican Catholic community gathered for the annual Mass in honor of the feast of Our Lady, Mary Mother of the Divine Providence at Jesus, Bread of Life Parish, 2157 N. Humboldt Blvd., on Nov. 10, 2023. Our Lady of the Divine Providence is the religious, cultural and patriotic symbol for all Puerto Ricans. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Men carry the statue into Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Francisco Pagan Portalatin, associate pastor at San José Sánchez de Río Parish, incenses the statue of Our Lady, Mary Mother of the Divine Providence, at the beginning of Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Mia Rose Martinez crowns the statue at the start of Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Alena Gianna Melendez and Dalia Rios carry flowers to Our Lady before she is crowned at the beginning of Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Members of the choir lead the congregation in song. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Samson N. Mukundi, pastor of Jesus Bread of Life Parish, welcomes parishioners to Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners react during a cheer for Our Lady. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Francisco Pagan Portalatin accepts the gifts during Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Claudio Diaz, pastor of Our lady of Unity Parish, leads the Eucharistic Prayer with pastors from nearby parishes. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners pray during the Eucharistic Prayer. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The statue of Our Lady in the sanctuary. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners pray the Our Father during Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Claudio Diaz leads the congregation in a serenade to Our Lady, Mary Mother of the Divine Providence. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners sing as Diaz leads the congregation in a serenade to Our Lady, Mary Mother of the Divine Providence. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic
Father Francisco Pagan Portalatin lifts a relic of Blessed Carlos M. Rodriguez, Lay Apostle of Puerto Rico, at the end of Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

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