Mexican mariachi musicians honor patron saint with serenade, procession and Mass at basilica
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Mexican mariachi musicians have celebrated their patron St. Cecilia with songs and a church Mass.
About 300 musicians serenaded their patron saint at Plaza Garibaldi, the legendary home of Mexico City's mariachi bands.
They then carried a shrine of St. Cecilia decorated with flowers and palm leaves on a long procession to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica while playing their instruments. The musicians' relatives carried balloons and waved Mexican flags.
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Everyone filed into the basilica for the Mass in honor of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of musicians.
Mariachi musician Tomas Villar says that for him Thursday's celebration was a chance to thank St. Cecilia for this year's work and to ask her for work in the coming year.