Every year, hundreds of thousands of Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. As in year’s past, many made personal pilgrimages to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 11-12, 2025. Some began weeks earlier like Club Los Vaqueros Unidos (United Cowboys Club) of Wadsworth who made their pilgrimage to the shrine on horseback on Dec. 6, 2025. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A rider holds on while her horse jumps near the icon to pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Hundreds of horses carrying members of Club Los Vaqueros Unidos (United Cowboy Club) make their way to place a rose at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 6, 2025, as part of a pre-celebration for the feast day on Dec 12. The pilgrimage begins at a Cook County Forest Preserve along the Des Plaines River south of Dundee Road and the riders and horses make their way along the forest preserve bridal path to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines, a journey of more than 5 miles. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders on their horses doff their hats as they make their way toward the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders on their horses make their way toward the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Members of Club Los Vaqueros Unidos carry the U.S. and Mexican flags along with a banner of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the opening procession. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Esequiel Sanchez, rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, kisses a rose before placing it near the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A couple dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus made an appearance at the shrine leading cheers of "Viva Our Lady of Guadalupe" (Long Live Our Lady of Guadalupe). (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders on their horses make their way toward the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A rider kisses his hand after making the sign of the cross as he approaches the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A horse bows in front of the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Priests and deacons from the shrine greet riders on their horses as they make their way past the icon of Our Lady. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders on their horses remove their hats as they make their way toward the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A horse dances as it and its rider approach the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A family watches the horses as they pass by the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A rider removes his hat as passes the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A rider holds the reins of his horse and carries a rose during the procession. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A father helps his son make the sign of the cross as they approach the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders on their horses make their way past the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Spectators watch and take photos and video of the hoses as they make their way through the shrine. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Riders on their horses make their way toward the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A rider holds on while his horse jumps near the icon to pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Members of a mariachi band play as the horses pass by the icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Thousands of faithful pilgrims braved frigid temperatures to attend a two day celebration and place flowers, candles and pray on the eve of the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 11, 2025, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines. The shrine draws thousands of people within a 24-hour period to celebrate the appearance of Mary to indigenous peasant St. Juan Diego in 1531 near present-day Mexico City. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers reenact the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego before Mass. They celebrate Mary’s miraculous 1531 apparition to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill and the image left on his cloak. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Volunteers place flowers along the rocks of the grotto that people brought to pay tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A volunteer relights candles from pilgrims near the icon after the wind extinguished them. Pilgrims bring candles to pay honor to Mary. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
A volunteer takes candles from a pilgrim to place near the icon. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Parishioners from St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish walk by the statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego as the parish group enters the grotto. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Dancers perform before they escort the gifts to the altar. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Dancers perform before they escort the gifts to the altar. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Father Esequiel Sanchez, rector of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, celebrates the opening Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Deacon Salvador Medina incenses the altar during the opening Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
An altar server holds a candle during the Gospel. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Pilgrims, some who walked miles to the shrine, pray during Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Priests and deacons listen to the homily during Mass. Temperatures were bitter cold for this year’s celebrations. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Fireworks light up the shrine after the opening Mass. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Torch runners representing dozens of parishes hold onto their torches after lighting it from the flame at the shrine. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
Pilgrims, some who walked miles to the shrine, hold candles during the torch ceremony. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)
