On December 9, 1531, the Blessed Mother appeared to a peasant named Juan Diego on a hill near what came to be known as Mexico City. During an apparition the Blessed Virgin Mary asked Juan Diego to build her a sanctuary. The great miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe was the face of the Virgin Mary that was left on the tilma (cloak) of Juan Diego, which today is as beautiful and as intact as it was on the day of the miracle. The tilma is displayed today in the glass case behind the altar in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Today, Our Lady of Guadalupe is designated as the patroness of both North America and South America.

DAY 1: DEPART U.S.A.: Today we board our flight to Mexico City. You will be met at the Airport by our English-speaking Tour Guide and escorted to your hotel for a Welcome Reception. En route to the hotel, stop and visit the Templo de San Hipolito.

DAY 2: SAN JUAN DIEGO’S FEAST DAY: Today we have a full day of sightseeing. We celebrate Mass at the shrine of Bl. Miguel Pro in the Church of the Holy Family. Continue to the Zocalo and visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest in North America and the Palace of the Archbishop where the Tilma was presented to the Bishop. We will stop at the Plaza of the Three Cultures in Tllatelolco – where Saint Juan Diego was baptized in 1529, and visit the Temple of Saint James the Apostle. Continue to Tulpetlac, to visit the Shrine of the Fifth Apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe, where St. Juan Diego’s uncle was miraculously healed at the same time Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego at Tepeyac Hill and insisted he visit the Bishop and prove Her Apparitions.

DAY 3: SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: Today is a full day at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Upon arrival at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the guide will give an introductory tour of the Basilica, where the Tilma of Juan Diego is located, and the surrounding grounds including the hilltop Chapel of Tepeyac where the history of Our Lady’s visit to Guadalupe will be related. At the Shrine, the group will participate in Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady. We will Visit the Old Basilica, climb Tepeyac Hill, where the miracle of the Roses happened, and visit the Chapel of the Hill. On the way down we will visit the Chapel of the Well and the Parish of Indians.

DAY 4: CUAUTITLAN / SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: In the morning celebrate Mass at Los Remedios. Continue to Cuautitlán, to visit the Church of the Little Hill, which was built over the remains of St. Juan Diego’s house, and visit the underground museum. En route back to Mexico City, we stop to visit the Shrine. At night we celebrate Vigil Mass at the Basilica.

DAY 5: SHRINE OF GUADALUPE: Depart in the morning to the Shrine to celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Farewell dinner and overnight in Mexico City.

Optional Mexican Ballet at the Palace of Fine Arts in the evening (approx. $85 per person)

DAY 6: MEXICO / USA: Morning is free to browse the local market. Later we bid farewell to Mexico City as we depart for our flight home.