News and Events

News Releases

The Archdiocese of Chicago to host the 2017 Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe at The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines from December 11-12

Dozens of Parishes throughout the Archdiocese to join in the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe - (Please refer to attached list for a sampling of those activities)

Des Plaines, IL (December 11, 2017) -- The annual celebration honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, will begin today, Monday, December 11 and continue through Tuesday, December 12 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 1170 North River Road in Des Plaines.   

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the Chicago-area and beyond are expected to arrive at the Shrine to pay homage to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, who appeared to Saint Juan Diego in Mexico City on December 12, 1531. 

Pilgrims make the annual journey to the Shrine on foot, bike, bus, and car to fulfill or make their “mandas” or promises to Our Lady, which they make for a specific need or concern in their lives, such as: loss or lack of employment, physical and emotional health, immigration issues, and family unity.  

The two-day celebration will begin with an Opening Mass at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 11, celebrated by Very Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, Rector of the Shrine. Afterwards, Masses will be offered every two hours until the Closing Mass at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12.   

“Las Mañanitas,” the traditional serenade to Our Lady of Guadalupe, will begin at 10 p.m. on December 11 with music performances by special guests and local artists. Additional music and folkloric dance performances by choirs, groups, and pilgrims from around the Midwest are scheduled for throughout December 12.  

The Feast of Guadalupe has been celebrated in Des Plaines since 1986. This year, the community and friends of the Shrine launched a $5 million campaign for the construction of the first worship space for the Shrine—a chapel with seating for over 1,100 for year-round liturgical and sacramental celebrations. The Chapel of St. Joseph will be the third Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago built largely by the Latino community. Over $4 million have already been raised. The chapel is expected to be completed by the spring of 2018 and is the first project of a larger development plan for the Shrine. The pilgrims who have been coming to the Shrine for decades are seeing a dream finally becoming reality—a cause for joy and expectation as everyone gathers to celebrate this year’s Feast of Guadalupe.      

For the Spanish version of the release, please click here.