Thousands travel to Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines for annual Catholic pilgrimage
Cold temperatures and concerns about the ongoing federal immigration crackdown in the Chicago area did not stop thousands of Catholics, mostly Latinos, from making the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday in Des Plaines.
Thursday was the start of the two-day celebration of the Virgin Mary, and the pilgrimage to Des Plaines is the largest celebration to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe in the United States.
Thousands of believers braved the cold to leave flowers, light candles, pray, and sing at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
This year's pilgrimage was a first for Carol Lopez and her daughter, Marina.
"I love her, I love the Virgen de Guadalupe," Lopez said. "We're really believers, because my grandma and grandpa used to teach us how to pray, and I just love her."
Lopez said being at the shrine brings back a lot of those childhood memories.
"They had a big statue of her in their bedroom. He had, like, a shrine of her, and I just love her," she said.
The pilgrimage has been a tradition in Des Plaines since 2014, but the history of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe dates back to 1531, when Catholics believe the Virgin Mary appeared before Saint Juan Diego in Mexico, leaving an image of herself on his cloak.
Lopez's daughter, Marina, said everyone coming to the shrine deserves to feel safe.
"We were afraid that ICE was going to be here, actually. So that's kind of scary to know that all these people are risking themselves right now to come visit her," Marina said.
Arcelia Maya and Noelia Vargas have made the pilgrimage to Des Plaines for several years. They said the event, which is normally packed, felt less so this year.
Vargas said some who normally make the trip have said they're staying home this year, that they're scared about the federal immigration crackdown.
Many visitors said there's been a growing fear that federal agents could show up in Des Plaines.
"It's very sad, but I think that also affected a lot of people coming, and that's why they're mostly watching it through the TV and just celebrating at home in the way they can," said Ashley Ramirez, of Chicago.
Despite challenges and hardships both personally and in her community, Ramirez said she came out to express gratitude.
"I'm just very thankful for the blessings that we've had over the year," she said.
But after months of heavy immigration enforcement in the Chicago area, her thoughts and prayers also ask for change.
"With everything going on with ICE, I think I'm very thankful that my mom is still with me. But at the same time, I'm hoping for things to get better, and praying that things with ICE and everything calm down so we can live again like we once did, and we don't have to live in fear," she said.
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE does not target churches or places of worship.
Meantime, the two-day celebration continues on Friday for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.