Like the return of the swallows to the mission at San Juan Capistrano each year, the annual procession of La Conquistadora is eagerly awaited by many faithful Santa Feans.

This past Sunday, members of La Cofradía de la Conquistadora and parishioners of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe carried America's oldest Madonna from the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi to Rosario Chapel. Approximately 1.5 miles long, the procession takes place each year during the first week in June. It is believed that La Conquistadora was brought to Santa Fe from Seville, Spain, in 1625 by Padre Fray Alonso Benavides. The custom of processions — religious retinues that solemnly move from one location to another in spiritual contemplation — began in the Southwest in 1598, when Juan de Oñate brought founding families from Spain with their European traditions.

Connie Hernández, 82, has strong ties to the procession venerating La Conquistadora. "When my late brother, Dr. Joe Hernández, did our family genealogy, he found out that an ancestor of ours named Amadeo Sena served as the mayordomo for La Conquistadora 250 years ago," she says. "That's when I told my brother, 'No wonder we love her so much.' "

Hernández, the daughter of Miquelita Sena and José Hernández, was born at the family home Aug. 26, 1925. Today she runs the Old Santa Fe Trail Gift Shop in the same family home. Since 1978, she has provided the community with religious articles as well as items for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and First Holy Communion.

According to Hernández, she has walked in about 350 processions. In addition to La Conquistadora, she has also participated in the Corpus Christi and the Santa Fe Fiesta Candlelight processions. "I began walking in processions with my older sisters when I was 5 years old," she says. "I used to throw rose petals in front of La Conquistadora as she proceeded down the street."

The custom of lining the path with rose petals for La Conquistadora continues to this day, with her faithful followers donating the rose petals.

"When I grew older, I became a member of Las Niñas de María," Hernández says. "The greatest thing that has ever happened to me was when I was asked to carry Our Lady. It was such an honor!

"While going to Rosario Chapel she was quite light, although we walked part of the way on a sandy road. But coming back to the cathedral, she was very heavy. People said that occurred because she did not want to leave Rosario Chapel."

Throughout the years, Hernández has been involved in caring for La Conquistadora. As she says, "I was fortunate to serve as her sacristana (caretaker), secretary and treasurer throughout the years with La Cofradía de la Conquistadora."

The upkeep of La Conquistadora has become a tradition for the Hernández family. "When my mother, Miquelita, was orphaned at the age of 9, she went to St. Vincent Hospital to see her little sister, who was being treated after a burn accident," she says. "My mother would walk over to spend time with Our Lady at the chapel at the cathedral. Later she became her sacristana and dressmaker. She made her a processional cape of light-blue brocade lined with blue satin. People gave her their precious filigree and gold jewelry, which were sewn on the cape."

Three years ago, Hernández started having foot problems, so she no longer walks in the annual procession. But on Sunday, she was back at Rosario Chapel to greet Our Lady. "It's wonderful," she says. "It's so beautiful to see her coming in, back to her little chapel."

Ana Pacheco is the founder and publisher of La Herencia, a culture and history magazine (www.herencia.com, 505-474-2800). Her weekly tribute to our community elders appears every Tuesday.