Thousands make pilgrimages to Our Lady of Guadalupe for feast day

Tens of thousands of people visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines for celebrations leading up to Our Lady’s feast day on Dec. 12, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Over 850 members of Club Los Vaqueros Unidos (United Cowboys Club) from the Chicago area make their way to place a rose at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 2, 2023 as part of a pre-celebration for the feast day on Dec 12. The horseback pilgrimage is the unofficial start of two days of festivities at the shrine where more than 200,000 people make a pilgrimage each year for event. The feast celebrates the appearance of Mary to indigenous peasant St. Juan Diego in 1531 near present-day Mexico City. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Visitors take pictures as riders make their way to the grotto to pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders make their way to the grotto. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Juan Ramirez directs riders making their way to the grotto to pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders make their way to the grotto. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A rider holds a rose he will soon place near the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Visitors take pictures as riders make their way to the grotto to pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders make their way through the plaza. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Visitors wave as riders make their way to the grotto to pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders make their way through the plaza. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders make their way through the plaza. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Visitors take pictures as riders make their way to the grotto to pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders make their way through the plaza. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders make their way through the plaza. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A rider tosses roses near the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A rider tosses roses near the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Deacon Leonardo Victor blesses horses and their riders as they approach the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A woman places roses near the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Over 200 semi-trucks decorated with images of Our Lady of Guadalupe make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 2, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Robert Duran decorates at truck before Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Over 200 semi-trucks decorated with images of Our Lady of Guadalupe make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 2, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Participants watch the trucks arrive. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Over 200 semi-trucks decorated with images of Our Lady of Guadalupe make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 2, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Over 200 semi-trucks decorated with images of Our Lady of Guadalupe make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 2, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Over 200 semi-trucks decorated with images of Our Lady of Guadalupe make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 2, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Over 200 semi-trucks decorated with images of Our Lady of Guadalupe make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 2, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Over 200 semi-trucks decorated with images of Our Lady of Guadalupe make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 2, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
On Dec. 11, 2023, Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Grob joined priests and deacons from the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines in blessing the restored outdoor Chapel of the Resurrected Christ after a devastating fire last May. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Joined by Father Esequiel Sanchez, rector of the shrine, Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Grob prays during the opening Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Thousands of pilgrims gathered for an outdoor opening Mass and on the eve of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 11, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Grob gives the homily. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey Grob raises the chalice during the Eucharistic Prayer at the opening Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Thousands of pilgrims gathered for an outdoor opening Mass and on the eve of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 11, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
The faithful place flowers, candles and pray. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Torch runners wait for a blessing and to light their torches. Afterward, they take them back to their parishes as part of the annual "antorcha Guadalupana" (Guadalupe torch run) on the eve of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 11, 2023. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Manuel Padilla, vice rector at the shrine, blesses torch runners who made their way through the crowds. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Worshippers raise their candles in the air, which were lit by the torch runners after the fire was ignited and blessed. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Pilgrims make their way towards the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the eve of the feast day. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Pilgrims make their way towards the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on the eve of the feast day. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Fireworks are the backdrop for a statue located in the plaza. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Advertising