Saturday marks the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, observed by Catholics throughout the Hispanic community, but South Bay civic leaders are calling on residents to hold their celebrations at home due to COVID-19.
For many, giving up this celebration will be yet another sacrifice in a year that’s already seen too many.
Nevertheless, Bishop Oscar Cantu with the Diocese of San Jose said these extraordinary pandemic times call for extraordinary measures.
He joined with other civic leaders to deliver this call for caution in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in San Jose, which most years would draw in thousands during this celebration.
This year, Cantu said, doing so is simply not safe.
“Even Pope Francis has encouraged people to stay home during this feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” the bishop noted.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge throughout the region, members of the Latino community have been hit especially hard, representing more than half of all cases in Santa Clara County.
