Chetumal’s Virgin of Candelaria Festivities Begin February 1

Chetumal, Quintana Roo – Religious festivities in honor of the Virgin of Candelaria are ready to begin next Sunday, February 1, in the city of Chetumal, where ecclesiastical authorities are finalizing the last details to welcome families and faithful. The activities will take place at the Santuario Mariano de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, known as the Iglesia de la Guadalupana, one of the most representative religious spaces in the state capital.

According to the program, the official start of the celebrations will be with the traditional Mañanitas dedicated to the Virgin, which will be sung at the end of the 7:00 p.m. mass. This act marks the formal beginning of a festivity that each year brings together believers from different neighborhoods and nearby communities.

The activities will continue on Monday, February 2, the date on which the Day of the Virgin of Candelaria and the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord are celebrated, considered one of the most important commemorations in the Catholic calendar. Starting at 5:30 p.m., the prayer for the raising of the Child God will take place, a tradition that remains alive among Chetumal families.

Subsequently, minutes before 7:00 p.m., the blessing of the candles, a symbol of light and Christian faith, will be performed. Later, the Holy Mass will be celebrated, and upon its conclusion, the blessing of the images of the Child God will take place, inviting the faithful to bring them prepared in accordance with religious tradition.

The parish priest of the sanctuary, Father David Martín Leal, emphasized the importance of preserving these customs that strengthen the faith and cultural identity of families. He highlighted that these celebrations also foster family coexistence, especially with the custom of sharing tamales, and invited the community to participate with respect and devotion in this Marian festivity.