The Archbishop will present hundreds of prayers from faithful across southern California, collected at Masses celebrating the Inaugural Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Feast, and Immigrant Spirit of America  

For the second year and under the spiritual leadership of Archbishop José H. Gomez, 140 faithful of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will begin a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, in Mexico City on Thursday July 5, 2018. 

The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe houses the original tilma (or cloak) of Juan Diego, which holds the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe that appeared in 1531.

Archbishop Gomez and pilgrims will be joined by Auxiliary Bishop Edward Clark for Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region, Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell for San Gabriel Pastoral Region, Fr. Brian Nunes, priest-secretary to Archbishop Gomez, Fr. David Gallardo, pastor of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and Fr. Paul Sustayta, pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Pasadena.

“We need this pilgrimage right now. It has been a year of heartaches and sorrows for many of our brothers and sisters,” said Archbishop Gomez. “But we know the joy that comes from being children of God who loves us as his own. So, we go in love and with confidence as one family to present our cares and hopes to the Virgin of Guadalupe. We go to seek her maternal intercession and inspiration as we continue to follow Jesus and spread the good news of his mercy and love.”

Archbishop Gomez will celebrate the pilgrimage Mass at the Basilica of our Lady of Guadalupe on Saturday, July 7 at 8 a.m. PST (10 a.m. CST). The Mass will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/embed/r-epyvYwMHQ?rel=0. 

During the Mass, Archbishop Gomez will present handwritten prayers for the intercession of Our Lady Guadalupe from faithful across Southern California collected at Masses celebrating the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Memorial and recognizing the contributions of all immigrants in the U.S. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles.

For nearly 500 years, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been the symbol of hope, peace and love, uniting peoples around the world as one family of God. The Basilica at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world. 

The Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles is home to the only known relic of the tilma outside of Mexico City. The relic is a small piece that was detached from the tilma and given to Archbishop John Cantwell of Los Angeles by the Archbishop of Mexico City, Luis Maria Martinez in 1941.