Thousands expected at Catholic feast in Des Plaines

More than 100,000 Catholics, mostly Hispanics, are expected to make the pilgrimage to Des Plaines this weekend to celebrate anniversary of the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of Mexico's most iconic religious images, recalling the date when the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to the peasant Juan Diego outside Mexico City in 1531.

The Rev. Miguel Martinez, who is in charge of the shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe for the Archdiocese of Chicago, spends months preparing for the celebration and expects to be up for about 30 hours straight this weekend.

“We don't sleep. We just stay up,” he said.

The shrine is on the Maryville Academy campus on River Road.

While the event includes nine Masses, music, dance, a procession and food between noon Saturday and 10 p.m. Sunday, the heart of the event begins with the opening Mass at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, followed by the blessing of the flares about 10 p.m., followed by fireworks at midnight and the most heavily attended Mass at 1 a.m. During the night, walkers and runners arrive in groups from churches throughout the Chicago area, and depart for those churches.

Des Plaines Police, who have assigned 30 officers and 12 volunteers to provide traffic control for the event, recommend avoiding River Road this weekend and warn that Central Road will be closed to through traffic Saturday and Sunday evenings.

With many people arriving at night on foot from other towns or walking from remote parking lots, pedestrian safety is a major concern for Martinez and police.

“We keep our fingers crossed every year,” said Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini, who couldn't recall any major accidents. Police provide escorts when they know that groups of walkers or runners are arriving from churches outside the city, he said.

In advance of the event, Martinez said, “I'm worried, nervous, but very, very excited. I'm nervous because it's a huge responsibility. I worry about weather and safety.”

But the event itself is very moving, he said.

“I see a lot of great sacrifice, great joy, people express,” he said. “It's a spiritual pilgrimage.”

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Here's the schedule of events at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 1170 N. River Road, Des Plaines.

Saturday, Dec. 11:

Gymnasium

Noon Solemn Mass

6 p.m. Rosary

7 p.m. Cultural Dance

8 p.m. Solemn Mass

10 p.m. Solemn Mass

11:30 p.m. Procession with the Blessed

Shrine

Noon Cultural Dance & Music

10 p.m. Blessing of Flares

11:45 p.m. Blessing of the Holy Sacrament

Sunday, Dec. 12

Gymnasium

Midnight Mañanitas to the Virgen of Guadalupe with mariachi (Coraima Ortigoza)

1 a.m. Solemn Mass

5 a.m. Mass with Rev Miguel Martinez

7 a.m.: Music

8:30 a.m. Cultural Dance

9 a.m. Solemn Mass

12:30 p.m. Cultural Dance

1 p.m. Solemn Mass for the Sick

3 p.m. Solemn Mass

5:30 p.m. Solemn Mass

7 p.m. Rosary

7:30 p.m. Cultural Dance

8 p.m. Closure Mass (Raffle) with the Rev. Miguel Martinez & the Rev. Jose Maria Garcia

Shrine

Midnight Mañanitas

1 a.m. Solemn Mass with Rev. Marco Mercado

4:30 a.m. Welcoming to the Pilgrimage of Our Lady of St Lourdes

12:30 p.m. Crowning of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Music, Rosary, Cultural Dance, Prayer and

Testimonies