“Am I not here, I who am your Mother? Is there anything else you need?”
~ Our Lady’s words to Juan Diego in Tepeyac Hill, Mexico
On a cold December morning in 1531, a humble indigenous man named Juan Diego was stopped in his tracks by a vision that would change the world forever. Our Lady appeared to him four times, asking that a church be built in her honor — but when Juan Diego brought her message to the Archbishop, his words fell on skeptical ears.
Then came the signs. His dying uncle was miraculously healed. And on December 12, Our Lady’s image appeared — not on canvas or stone, but pressed upon the rough fibers of Juan Diego’s simple cloak, his tilma, blooming like a rose in winter.
All doubt melted away. That sacred tilma, never faded, still hangs enshrined today at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe — a timeless reminder that Heaven often chooses the most humble souls to carry its greatest messages.
Embark on a pilgrimage to Mexico, home to some of the most breathtaking churches and shrines in all the Americas, culminating in a visit to the beloved Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Join Jescom and Pilgrimage Chaplain Fr. Fiel Pareja for this unforgettable journey of faith, September 6–16, 2026.
Your pilgrimage begins with a full-day journey through Mexico City, rich in history and faith. Journey to Tlatelolco to visit the Plaza of Three Cultures, where past and present meet beside the Temple of St. James the Apostle. Continue to the Church of Santiago de Tlatelolco, home to the baptismal font where Juan Diego received the sacrament of baptism—and where the Mother of God first appeared to him, setting in motion one of the most beloved miracles in the history of the Church.
Make your way to the historic Santo Domingo Plaza, where the Dominican friars built their first church and where the Inquisition once held court. Visit the Church of Santo Domingo, founded in 1576 and home to the beautiful shrines of Our Lady of the Rosary and Our Lady of Covadonga. Continue to the magnificent Metropolitan Cathedral, formally known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Assumption of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven—the largest church in Latin America. Inside, admire its many chapels and altars, including the ornate gold Altar of Forgiveness and the Chapel of the Kings. Then proceed to the National Palace, the official residence of the President of Mexico, to view Diego Rivera‘s celebrated mural, The History of Mexico, a sweeping artistic portrayal of the nation’s rich and complex past.
Visit Cuautitlan, the birthplace of Juan Diego. From there, spend a day in the presence of Our Lady at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where you will also celebrate Mass. Explore the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where Juan Diego’s original tilma hangs enshrined, its image as vivid and unexplained as the day it first appeared. See the bent crucifix, known as the Holy Christ of the Attack, which miraculously absorbed the impact of a dynamite explosion in 1921, leaving the image of Our Lady completely unharmed. Continue with a peaceful walk through both the old and new basilicas, up to Tepeyac Hill, the Chapel of the Well, and the beautiful gardens that surround this most sacred of places — where heaven, it is said, once bent low to meet the earth.
Travel to Ocotlán, renowned for the Blessed Mother’s apparition in 1541. Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Virgin of Ocotlán, which enshrines the miraculous image of Our Lady of Ocotlán. Continue to Cholula, a town like no other, where two worlds stand side by side in remarkable harmony. Here, the ancient Great Pyramid rises from the earth just steps away from the Franciscan Ex-convent of San Gabriel, one of the oldest convents in all of the Americas. Crowning it all, perched atop the pre-Hispanic pyramid, stands the Church of Our Lady of the Remedies.
Spend two nights in Puebla exploring its historic churches and landmarks. Begin at the Cathedral of Puebla, with its grand interior featuring 14 chapels and an octagonal altar. Visit the Church of Santo Domingo and its stunning Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary, often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World” for its gilded walls and ceiling. Explore the 17th-century kitchen of the former Convent of Santa Rosa de Lima, where the famous mole poblano was first created, and admire its exquisite Talavera decoration. End with a stroll along “Candy Street,” sampling traditional sweets, cookies, and old-fashioned confections.
En route to San Miguel de Allende, stop in San Juan del Río to visit the 18th-century Parish Church, crafted from pink quarry stone, and the elegant colonial-style Church of Santo Domingo.
Arrive in San Miguel de Allende, one of Mexico’s most enchanting colonial towns, known for its cobblestone streets and beautiful churches. Visit the iconic Parish of San Miguel Archangel, a neo-Gothic masterpiece unique to Mexico. Nearby, explore the Sanctuary of Atotonilco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its breathtaking Mexican Baroque murals. Often called the “Sistine Chapel of Mexico,” this sacred complex is also known as the National Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Return to Mexico City and conclude your pilgrimage with a visit to the historic Basilica of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, one of the country’s oldest Marian shrines.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City attracts millions of pilgrims each year and is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage destination in the world. Join this Pilgrimage to Mexico with the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe organized by Jescom with Fr. Fiel Pareja as Pilgrimage Chaplain, from September 6 to 16, 2026. May this sacred journey bring each pilgrim closer to Mary, who, like a Mother, looks upon her children with tenderness, mercy, and love.
