Walk with Mary
Walk with Mary | Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe
All are invited to join in our annual archdiocesan celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe! Each year, we honor Our Lady through a pilgrimage in December through the streets of Washington, D.C. Our pilgrimage begins at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart and concludes at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where together we pray the Rosary and celebrate Mass.
The apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego impacted the history of our continent in significant ways. For centuries the miraculous image of Our Mother has called Catholics back to the faith and moved others to embrace the faith. Today, Our Lady continues to empower our evangelization efforts with her constant proclamation of the Gospel. Most importantly, as the Patroness of the Americas and the Star of the First and New Evangelization, she calls us to encounter and accompany the stranger in our midst.
Visiting Tilma
The tilma was hand-embroidered by the nuns of the Convent of the Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament in the city of Morelia in Michoacán, Mexico.
This special tilma used during our annual archdiocesan celebration is available to visit your parish! The encased tilma can be displayed in your church for up to two weeks. This invaluable gift provides an opportunity to engage the faithful in learning about the significance of the image, its historical roots, and Mary’s message to welcome the stranger seeking a home and place of rest in our Church and communities.
For more information or to host the tilma at your parish, contact Claudia Bartolini at 301-853-5335 or [email protected]
Miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Chronology of Events
1525 — The Indian Cuauhtlatoatzin is baptized by a Franciscan priest. He received the Christian name of Juan Diego.
1531 — Year of apparitions to Juan Diego.
1567 — The new church ordered by Archbishop Montúfar is completed.
1666 — A formal inquiry and investigation was conducted by the Church from 18 February to 22 March in order to give authority to the tradition.
1946 — Pope Pius XII declared Our Lady to be the Patroness of the Americas.
1976 — Dedication of the new basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, located four miles from central Mexico City.
1988 — The liturgical celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 12 December was raised to the status of a solemnity in all dioceses in the United States.
1999 — Pope John Paul II, during his third visit to the sanctuary, declared the date of 12 December as a Liturgical Feast for the whole continent.
* Timeline from EWTN
Learn more about the tilma
The visual details in the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe are rich in meaning. Explore this interactive guide from the Knights of Columbus to learn more about this incredible image. You can also download this one-page guide from Steubenville Press, which explains the meaning behind each detail in the tilma.
Use this bilingual reflection guide, titled “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord,” as you prepare for Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast day.
Activities for Kids
Make your own tilma using this step-by-step guide (click here for the guide in Spanish), or use these coloring book pages to create your own artwork featuring Juan Diego or Our Lady of Guadalupe!
Videos
All are invited to join us in pilgrimage and worship as we Walk with Mary this December!
Watch the reenactment as Juan Diego presents the tilma at the National Shrine.
For more information, contact the Office of Cultural Diversity and Outreach.