Chants and prayers will echo through the streets of Peekskill on Saturday, September 13, as the image of the Virgen del Cisne is carried in procession through the city. The walk, set to begin at 5:30 p.m., will start at Orchard Street and follow a route along Nelson Avenue, Central Avenue, and Union Avenue, concluding at 131 Union Avenue.
The pilgrimage will extend until 6:45 p.m. and will take place with authorization from the Peekskill Common Council. The necessary permits were included in the September agenda. The request was submitted by event organizer José Villa and met all administrative requirements, including the payment of overtime costs for the Police Department.
City officials reviewed the planned route and coordinated temporary street closures to ensure the safety of attendees. Streets along the procession route will be closed in advance of its start. A similar celebration was held last year, ending at Riverfront Park.
Devotion to the Virgen del Cisne is deeply connected to the Ecuadorian community, which holds annual celebrations in multiple cities across New York State, as well as in New Jersey and Connecticut. In Peekskill, the procession draws large crowds. Worshippers often incorporate traditional dances and music as expressions of faith in honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
The Archdiocesan Committee of Our Lady of El Cisne and the Office of Hispanic Ministry of the Archdiocese of New York also support local Marian celebrations in honor of the patron. The statue of the Virgen del Cisne, affectionately known as “La Churonita,” has even been featured in masses at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan.
In Ecuador, the Virgin attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims each year during the historic pilgrimage from the El Cisne Sanctuary to the city of Loja.
No detailed schedule of masses or complementary activities has been announced for Saturday’s event. However, the procession is planned to last one hour and fifteen minutes. Peekskill, home to an estimated 3,600 Ecuadorian residents, continues to serve as a gathering place for events that highlight the region’s cultural diversity.
