Our Lady of Guadalupe makes her mark:

In the church since has been a replica of the Catholic icon, a life-size, iridescent picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, her hands held in prayer, framed in a heavy gold material. But the massive symbol was presented Sunday at the cathedral for the coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe as Queen of the Diocese of Tulsa.

The next coronation of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be in 100 years.

It took at least 10 men to lift the replica from the bed of a blue truck where it rode on a gold-plated pedestal surrounded by flowers. The men dressed in blue shirts, black ties and white gloves carried it into the cathedral for an honorary Mass as people clapped and took pictures with cameras and cell phones.

"Ave Maria" rang from church speakers clear to people poured into a parking lot 50 yards away. The crowd spread from the parking lot, into the street, up the cathedral stairs and into the church where a standing-room-only Mass was held. Some guessed 2,000 to 3,000 people were there.

Growing up with Mexican Catholic parents, 16-year-old Cristina Espino said the Virgin Mary and the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe were foundations of her household.

"Mexicans grow up and it’s part of our every day," she said. "(The Virgin Mary) that’s what we live for, to worship her."

Cristina said at least 20 pictures of the Virgin Mary are scattered through her home. And how many of Jesus? About the same, she said.

After the mostly Spanish-spoken Mass, people made a procession carrying the representation of Our Lady of Guadalupe, flags and flowers from Holy Family downtown to St. Francis Xavier at Admiral Boulevard near Lewis Avenue, a more than two-mile walk.