Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe)

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

(Our Lady of Guadalupe)

📍 Address: Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Santa Rita, Guam 96915

ABOUT OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

Dates: December 13, 2026 (Celebrated on the weekend closest to her actual December 12 feast day)

Location: Santa Rita (Santa Rita-Sumai)

Time: 9:00 AM

The Legacy of the Lost Village: The Fiesta of Santa Rita

Perched in the quiet, scenic hills of southwestern Guam, the village of Santa Rita—officially known today as Santa Rita-Sumai—gathers to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This mid-December fiesta carries one of the most profoundly emotional histories on the island. It is not just a celebration of the village's patroness; it is a living, breathing tribute to Sumay, a beautiful, thriving coastal village that was entirely lost to the devastation of World War II.

For visitors, attending this morning fiesta provides a powerful glimpse into the unbreakable resilience of the CHamoru people. Because it takes place in the morning rather than the evening, the atmosphere is bright, family-oriented, and steeped in a deep, enduring pride for a heritage that refused to be erased.

THE HISTORY OF SUMAY AND THE PARISH

Before World War II, the village of Sumay was the commercial jewel of Guam. Located on the Orote Peninsula, it was a bustling, affluent port town, the site of the trans-Pacific commercial cable station, and the landing spot for the famous Pan American Clipper seaplanes. Our Lady of Guadalupe was the beloved patroness of this vibrant coastal community.

Tragically, because of its strategic location and military installations, Sumay was the very first target of Japanese bombardment on December 8, 1941. The village was decimated. When the U.S. forces returned to liberate Guam in 1944, the ruins of Sumay and the surrounding peninsula were seized to construct Naval Base Guam. The residents were never allowed to return to their ancestral homes. Instead, the displaced families were relocated to the inland hills, where they painstakingly carved out the new village of Santa Rita. They brought the devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe with them, building a new church to house their faith and the surviving memories of the "Pearl of the Pacific."

FIESTA TRADITIONS: MORNING LIGHT AND MEMORY

Because this fiesta is scheduled for 9:00 AM, the flow of the celebration is beautifully distinct from the typical evening village fiestas.

The Morning Procession

Following the morning Mass, the procession of Our Lady of Guadalupe takes place under the bright, mid-morning sun. The faithful walk the quiet, elevated streets of Santa Rita, which offer sweeping views of the southern mountains and the distant ocean. Carrying the image of the Blessed Mother, the descendants of Sumay pray for their current community while honoring the ancestors who rebuilt their lives from nothing in the hills.

The Village "Gupot" (Party)

Since the spiritual honors conclude in the late morning, the "Gupot" in Santa Rita is a massive, spectacular lunchtime feast.

• A Southern Sunday Lunch: You can expect a sprawling, daytime spread of southern CHamoru comfort food. The tables are laden with traditional Red Rice, Kelaguen, roasted pig, and fresh local produce, feeding the crowds as the midday sun settles over the village.

• The Sumay Reunion: The atmosphere here is incredibly special. The fiesta serves as an annual reunion for the bloodlines of Sumay. Visitors are welcomed with legendary southern hospitality, and if you listen closely, you will hear elders sharing stories of the old coastal village, ensuring that the legacy of Sumay lives on through the vibrant community of Santa Rita.