Our Lady of Guadalupe and Shrines of Mexico with Fr. Steve Pawelk - 26JA09MXLM

Our Mexico adventure and spiritual journey begin as we depart the United States on our flight to Guadalajara. Upon arrival in Mexico, we will be welcomed by our local English-speaking guide. We board the bus and drive to Our Lady of Zapopan. Our visit includes Tlaquepaque and the downtown area of Guadalajara, highlighting the Cathedral, Plaza Tapatia, and many other interesting sites and buildings connected with the Colonial era. Mass will be celebrated. Overnight in Guadalajara. (D)* Today’s activities depend on flight times.

Following breakfast, which is included each morning, we depart for our visit to the Santuario de Santo Toribio Romo, built for one of the 25 Mexican Martyrs killed by soldiers during the persecution of the church in the mid-1920s. The Sanctuary is in a small town called Santa Ana de Guadalupe. The Santuario draws vast numbers of pilgrims, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. It is not unusual for fifty thousand people to attend Sunday services. St. Toribio’s (also known as the Saint of Immigrants) remains are housed in a special urn located above the main Altar and are visible from both the Santuario and a small Chapel behind it. We pray before the remains of Santo Toribio and reflect upon the various murals depicting his life, ministry, and murder during the Mexican persecution. He was ordained at age 22 and suffered martyrdom at age 27. Santo Toribio continues to be invoked by today’s migrants, immigrants, and refugees. In a nearby small town, the Remains of San Pedro Esqueda are buried with a new Chapel built over the site. The soldiers had attempted to tie him to a large mesquite tree and burn him alive, but the tree would not catch fire. Getting angry, the soldiers shot him. Mass will be celebrated. Overnight San Juan de los Lagos. (B.D)

Today, we explore San Juan de los Lagos, famous for its Basilica of the Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos. There is great devotion to Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos in Mexico. We see the magnificent wooden image above the main Altar. When the Spanish missionaries arrived in Mexico in 1542, one of the priests placed a statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception in the local chapel. Per local tradition, a young girl performing in a circus fell and died. When the statue was placed on her, she was miraculously healed and came back to life. As a result, thousands began to come to the Chapel seeking healing for themselves or others. It is the second-most-popular pilgrimage site after the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The number of annual visitors is estimated at over 9 million pilgrims. Devotion has spread not only throughout Mexico but also across much of the U.S. Southwest. Pope John Paul II visited here in 1990 when he celebrated Mass for an estimated 6 million people. Father will be our guide today, showing us several smaller but beautiful churches, including the birthplace of San Pedro Esqueda. Mass will be celebrated. Overnight in Guanajuato. (B.D)

After a city tour of Guanajuato, our journey continues to Cristo Rey to see the gigantic statue of Christ. The Guanajuato statue of “Cristo Rey” is the world’s second-largest statue of Christ the King. The largest is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Mexican statue weighs 80 tons and stands 22 meters tall, but its height is accentuated by its position atop the domed church. The statue of “Cristo Rey” in Guanajuato depicts Christ with his arms extended and open, flanked by two angels. One angel holds the royal crown, and the second carries the crown of thorns. The “Cristo Rey del Cubilete” statue is a popular pilgrimage destination for Mexicans, though no holy apparition or miracle has ever occurred here. Pilgrims perform acts of devotion and sacrifice in the hope that their prayers are answered. Mass will be celebrated. Overnight in Querétaro. (B.D)

This morning, we have a guided visit to the beautiful historic center of Querétaro. We stop at the Church of Santa Cruz de Los Milagros, where the spine tree grows in the form of a cross, and where Juniper Serra stayed. Here, we celebrate Mass before our departure to the Sierra Gorda (a 4-hour drive). It took Father Serra and his nine Missionaries 17 days to make the journey we are making today. In the remote Sierra Gorda, all military expeditions had failed, and other religious orders had given up evangelizing. Slowly, the indigenous people began to trust the Franciscans. Besides teaching them to plant crops and raise livestock, the friars instructed the women in spinning and weaving. We arrive in Jalpan, the site of Father Serra’s first mission and the administrative center of the region. We have dinner and spend the night in Jalpan. (B.D)

The Missionaries built five churches, all in the Romanesque style, with identical floor plans, but each facade is different, reflecting the skills of unknown artisans who worked with stone, mortar, and paint, using not only religious symbols but also flower, animal, vegetable, fruit, and shell motifs. The missions are still used as parish churches, open from early morning until dusk. The missions are about 20 miles apart and can be visited in any order. We visit Misión de Santa María de la Purísima Concepción del Agua, in Landa. The Misión de San Francisco de Asís in Tilaco was the last to be built and is the most elaborate of the missions. The Misión de San Francisco de Asís in Tilaco is in an exceptionally idyllic setting. Mass will be celebrated at one of the above missions. (TBC). Dinner and overnight in Jalpan. (B.D)

This morning, we visit the Misión de Santiago in Jalpan, with its impressive ornate façade. Here we celebrate Mass with the locals. The mission in Jalpan was constructed between 1751 and 1758, and dedicated to Saint James the Greater as the defender of the faith. It was the first of five missions built to evangelize the area. We then visit the Mission of Tancoyol, dedicated to Our Lady of Light. It is thought to have been built by Friar Juan Ramos de Lora, who resided in the community between 1760 and 1767. Continue to Querétaro for dinner and an overnight stay. (B.D)

We board our motorcoach and begin our journey to Mexico City. Upon arrival, we visit the Plaza of the Three Cultures and the site where Juan Diego was baptized. Continue to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the holiest place in the Western Hemisphere, for a guided tour of the Basilica and the surrounding grounds, including the old Basilica, Tepeyac Hill Indian Church, the Church of the Well, and the Monument of the Offerings. Mass will be celebrated. Overnight in Mexico City. (B.D)

This morning, we visit Tulpetlac to celebrate Mass. This is the site of the 5th apparition to Juan Diego’s uncle, Juan Bernardino, and the Monastery of Acolman. We proceed to Teotihuacan to visit the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, complete with a guacamole-making demonstration. Tonight, we have a farewell dinner at a restaurant while enjoying Mariachi music. Overnight in Mexico City. (B.L.Special dinner)

After breakfast, we are transferred to the airport for our flight back to the United States. (B)