Thousands of people wearing their Sunday best will flock today to the Home Depot Center, the site of a Major League Soccer game between Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Before a ball is dropped on the field, though, Chivas USA has arranged for an outdoor Catholic Mass that is expected to fill all 8,000 seats in a stadium next to the soccer field.
People will come to pay reverence to La Virgen de Zapopan, a small, 16th century statue of the Virgin Mary from the Mexican state of Jalisco that many believe has delivered miracles. The Mass will conclude an hour before the soccer game, then rivals Chivas USA and the Galaxy will play for the third time this season.
The Mass is among the first held in conjunction with an athletic contest by a modern-day professional sports organization. "It’s the right match between the beliefs of our fan base and the roots of our organization," said Antonio Cue, a Chivas USA co-owner. "The Virgin of Zapopan is very important to Jalisco as well as all Mexicans."
"Today" is Saturday – the article is from yesterday.
Read Previous Post