ScottsdaleAZ.Gov

MIRACLE of the ROSES PAGEANT returns to Old Town Scottsdale on Saturday December 13, 2008 and the Old Adobe Mission celebrates its 75th anniversary. The Old Adobe Mission, on the southeast corner of Brown Avenue and First Street, in Old Town Scottsdale will present the Miracle of the Roses festival and pageant, on Saturday, December 13, 2008. Last year, the pageant was presented for the first time in 41 years, and volunteers are planning to once again, make this an annual event, as it was from 1953 through 1966. This event is a celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron saint of the Americas and the diocese of Phoenix, whose Feast Day is December 12. The program will begin at 4 p.m. with a procession of participants, from Second Street, on Brown Avenue, to the Mission. Father Thomas Hever, Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, will extend a welcome and present miniature replicas of the Mission, to special honorees. The honorees will include: Mexican Consul, Carlos Flores; Scottsdale Mayor, Mary Manross; Chairman of the Scottsdale Historic Preservation Commission, George Hartz; and City of Scottsdale Preservation Planner, Don Meserve. Additional honorees will include Margaret Medina Valenzuela, Edna Medina Mosqueda and Ruby Corral Peck, all of whom played the role of the Blessed Virgin, from the early days of the pageant. The Scottsdale International Club Dancers will entertain prior to the presentation of the pageant.

The pageant is a portrayal of the appearance of the Virgin Mary, to the peasant Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, at Tepeyac, near Mexico City from December 9 through December 12, 1531. The cast of characters includes descendants of families, who were original parishioners of the church, which was the first Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Scottsdale. The Old Adobe Mission celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year. There will be bleacher seating available and free parking in the Civic Center parking garage, directly behind the Mission. The public is cordially invited and there is no charge. Following the conclusion of the play, all are invited for refreshments served on the north side veranda, of the Mission. For more information contact

Georgene Erickson at (602) 573-9812 or by e-mail at gerickson10@cox.net