Photos

Hundreds of thousands flock to shrine in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe

A mountain of flowers brought by thousands of pilgrims through the night are placed by statues at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, on Dec. 11-12, 2018. Over 200 staff and volunteers made preparations for over 300,000 pilgrims to visit the shrine in the two-day celebration this year. The shrine is the most visited U.S. shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the second most-visited in the world after Mexico’s basilica in her honor. (Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
A family prays before the outdoor shrine on Dec. 12. (Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
A volunteer stacks the flowers brought by pilgrims. (Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
Dancers in ethnic dress perform at the shrine Dec. 11. Throughout the two days, ethnic dancers make their own visits to the shrine and perform in the crowds or before Masses. (Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
Pilgrims bring statues and images of Our Lady to the shrine. (Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
Father Manuel Padilla, the shrine’s vice rector, blesses torch runners from St. Jerome Parish before they make their way on foot back to the church, located at 1709 W. Lunt Ave. (Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
A man lights a candle he brought to the shrine. (Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
A man kneels before the outdoor shrine. (Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
Some people leave images of loved ones at the shrine. (Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)
(Karen Callaway Chicago Catholic)

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