On Feb. 2, local Catholics commemorated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (also called the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Candlemas, or Día de la Candelaria in Spanish).
The day recalls the presentation of Jesus in the Temple by His parents and the end of the 40 days of purification for the Blessed Virgin Mary after giving birth, as described in Luke 2:22-40.
In Clemmons, members of the Hispanic community of Holy Family Parish celebrated a candlelight procession and recited the rosary.
At the start of the celebration, Father James Stuhrenberg, pastor, blessed candles and the “Niños Jesus” that people brought, part of a Hispanic custom to bring statues of the Infant Jesus to church for a blessing and to light candles signifying Jesus as the Light of the World.
Choir members then led a procession into the church as everyone sang a Marian hymn and placed candles and petitions in front of an image of Our Lady. The rosary concluded with a song to Our Lady.
In Charlotte, members of St. Ann Parish and the Charlotte Latin Mass Community commemorated the feast day with a special High Mass offered by Father Brad Jones, parochial vicar.
The celebration began with the blessing of candles and a candlelight procession inside the church.
After the procession, Mass was offered by candlelight and the laity held lit candles at various points during the Mass.
— Photos by Sergio Lopez and Mike FitzGerald | Catholic News Herald
