Nearly 300 pilgrims from across the Archdiocese of Los Angeles will travel to Mexico City next month with Archbishop Jose H. Gomez for the seventh annual archdiocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, it was announced Wednesday.
The July 10-11 pilgrimage coincides with the 495th anniversary of the reported apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill in 1531. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the consecration of the modern Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, according to the archdiocese.
“It is with great joy that we celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe as we approach the 500th anniversary of her apparition on Tepeyac,” Gomez said in a statement.
Gomez is scheduled to celebrate a Mass at the Basilica on July 11 that will be livestreamed by the archdiocese at lacatholics.org/pilgrimage. More than 15 priests, three deacons and four auxiliary bishops are expected to concelebrate the service.
During the Mass, prayer petitions collected from parishioners throughout the archdiocese will be presented at the shrine. Petitions will be accepted through Father’s Day at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Catholic Cemeteries & Mortuaries locations and online, officials said.
“In a special way, we will bring the petitions and prayer requests of many people from Los Angeles,” Gomez said. “We lay all our cares at the foot of the virgin and we ask for her intercession for all our needs.”
The archbishop will also celebrate Mass July 10 at Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral.
The archdiocese said the pilgrims are expected to come from numerous Southern California parishes, including Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood, Holy Family in Glendale, Presentation of Mary in Los Angeles, St. Anthony in El Segundo, St. John Fisher in Rancho Palos Verdes, St. John of God in Norwalk and St. Rosa of Lima in Maywood.
According to the archdiocese, 26 pilgrims from outside California, including some from New York City, are expected to participate. Pilgrims will also visit historical and religious sites in and around Mexico City.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe is considered the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world.