Parishioners of San Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio Parish to Celebrate the Arrival of the Statue of Our Lady of San Juan de Los Lagos on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019 at 10 a.m. at Humboldt Park, Corner of North Ave. and Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL (Sept. 11, 2019) – Parishioners of San Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio Parish will gather to celebrate the arrival of the statue of Our Lady of San Juan de Los Lagos from Jalisco, Mexico on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 10 a.m. at Humboldt Park, on the northwest side of the park near North Avene and Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, with a prayer service. A special message will be read welcoming the statue and acknowledging the contributions of immigrants to this country.
“We want to use this moment to acknowledge the immigrant community as a blessing to this country as well as recognize and rejoice in the diversity of cultures,” said Rev. Gary Graf, pastor, San Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio Parish. “Furthermore, we can learn from their values and, particularly, their faith life,” he added.
At the end of the prayer service, the statue, which is made of wood and stands less than two-feet high, will be carried in procession west to North Ave. toward Maternity BVM Church, 3647 W. North Ave., where masses, confessions and other traditional devotions will take place. On Friday, Sept. 13, a procession west on North Ave. then south on Hamlin, west on Augusta Blvd. to Kostner Ave. will bring the image to St. Francis of Assisi Church, 932 N. Kostner Ave. On Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6 pm the image will be carried in procession north on Kostner Ave. and then east onto Kedvale Ave. to St. Philomena Church, 1921 N. Kedvale Ave.
Between masses and until 7 pm, there will be daily devotional activities. A closing Mass for this year’s West Humboldt Park pilgrimage will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 15 at 7 pm. The statue will depart to its next visit site on Monday, Sept. 16.
San Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio Parish is the name of the united parishes of St. Philomena, Maternity B.V.M., and St. Francis of Assisi. The three churches remain active worship sites. Announced on May 12-13 of last year, the parish was among the first created as part of the Renew My Church process.
About the Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos
The devotional pilgrimage site of the Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos in the State of Jalisco in Mexico is the second most popular religious observance after the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Since 1978, a “Pilgrim Image” has visited parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago. For the second time, this year’s itinerary will include the new parish in West Humboldt Park at its three worship sites.
