Catholic New World: Newspaper for the Archdiocese of Chicago

Steps on the Guadalupe Pilgrimage to DesPlaines

Photo editor Karen Callaway spent the last four years documenting the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe from groups leaving their parishes and making the pilgrimage to the shrine in Des Plaines and back to their parishes again. This slideshow shows what goes on through the night during a pilgrimage that draws tens of thousands of people each year.

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Eva Villanueva, from St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish in Little Village, carries the torch representing her parish that will be carried back to the church by dozens of runners through the night. Hundreds of Catholics representing Hispanic parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago carried torches as part of the “Antorcha Guadalupana” or Guadalupe torch run during the eve of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The faithful braved rain, snow and frigid temperatures to participate in the opening Mass and events celebrating the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Des Plaines on Dec. 11, 2010. More than 100,000 were expected to arrive for the two-day event.

Photo: Karen Callaway / Catholic New World