Faithful stay close to roots

The Rev. Miguel Martinez makes no qualms about it --staying up for 30 hours to bless and tend to his parishioners for the feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe is exhausting.

But that's nothing, he said, compared to the feats some people accomplish in their devotion to Mexico's Catholic icon, to be celebrated Tuesday night.

Two years ago, a man crawled on his hands and knees for nearly six hours from his home in Bensenville to Martinez's church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, on the grounds of Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, he said.

Last year, a pregnant woman showed up for the midnight celebration, only to begin experiencing contractions and have her baby at a hospital a few hours later, he said.

"I have the energy to go through it and I don't really think about being tired because of the people, and what I see of their faith," Martinez said.

Each year, tens of thousands of Latinos -- mostly Mexicans -- in churches across the area honor the Virgin of Guadalupe with early-morning religious songs, poetry and dance followed by Masses throughout the day.

But it is the all-night, two-day celebration at the Des Plaines church that attracts the biggest crowds with about 80,000 people showing up last year, according to estimates from the Des Plaines Police Department.

According to tradition, the Virgin Mary -- called the Virgin of Guadalupe -- appeared to an indigenous native named Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin outside Mexico City from Dec. 9 to Dec. 12, 1531.

Although innumerable portraits and statues of the Virgin of Guadalupe adorn Catholic churches and shrines throughout the United States, the Des Plaines church is the only one in the country recognized as a sanctuary, said the Rev. Claudio Diaz, director of the Hispanic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He will be among those celebrating Mass in Des Plaines.

A sanctuary is a place of devotion where the faithful can express their wishes, Diaz explained. "No matter where we come from, Our Lady of Guadalupe is our mother, especially when you are out of your country -- she serves as a consolation for those who want to continue being in touch with their religious beliefs," he said.

On Wednesday, people from parishes in Wheeling and Prospect Heights and others will make runs from the Des Plaines church holding lit torches throughout the night. The torch runs symbolize spreading the message of the Virgin.

About 80 bicyclists will make the trek from Round Lake to Des Plaines, Martinez said.

The largest pilgrimage sets off every year from Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Chicago's North Side. About 1,000 people walk through the night to Des Plaines, where they arrive in time for 5 a.m. Mass.

Among them will be 15-year-old Stephanie Mazariegos, a sophomore at Buffalo Grove High School, who participated in the pilgrimage last year with her older sister and other relatives.

"At the end I couldn't even feel my legs, I was so cold and numb," she said. "But I did it because I wanted to get more close to the Virgin of Guadalupe. She does so much for us that seven hours of walking for her is nothing."

Celebration schedule

Here the schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday at Our Lady Of Guadalupe, 1150 N. River Road, Des Plaines:

• 8 p.m.: Opening Mass

• 10 p.m.: Fireworks

• 10:30 p.m.: Torch blessing, candlelight procession

• Midnight: Mañanitas with mariachi and other music

• 12:30 a.m.: Mass

• 1:45 a.m.: Re-enactment of the apparition of the Virgin

• 2:30 to 5 a.m.: Prayers, music and dance

• More Wednesday Masses: 5 a.m., 8 a.m., noon (for the sick), 3 p.m., 5:30 p.m. (for kids) and 8 p.m.