More than 200 members of Club Los Vaqueros Unidos (United Cowboys Club) from the Chicago area make their way to place roses at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 1, 2018. The annual horseback pilgrimage leads up to two days of festivities Dec. 11-12, when more than 100,000 people make a pilgrimage to the shrine for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The feast celebrates the appearance of Mary to indigenous peasant St. Juan Diego in 1531 near present-day Mexico City.
Pandemic alters feast day celebrations at Guadalupe shrine Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, celebrations for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe were cancelled at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines.
Pope says Catholics can receive plenary indulgence for Guadalupe devotion With the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe closed for her feast to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Pope Francis said Catholics still can receive a plenary indulgence Dec. 11 and 12 for their Marian devotion if they follow certain conditions.