Thousands of Catholics walk across Coachella Valley to honor Virgin Mary in annual pilgrimage

Jonathan Horwitz, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·2 min read
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Monday marked the annual pilgrimage to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico.

Traditionally, the Catholic ritual to celebrate the Virgin Mary is celebrated by millions in Mexico and beyond, with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walking multiple days to pay homage to her shrine in Mexico City. Some will trek for miles on their knees in an ultimate plea to the Virgin Mary.

"The Virgin is a very important symbol in Mexico," said Bruno Sanchez of Desert Hot Springs. "She is the mother of all Mexicans, and she does miracles for many people."

Sanchez, originally from the Mexican state of Oaxaca, joined thousands of Mexican Catholics in the Coachella Valley on a 30-plus mile pilgrimage from the Our Lady of Solitude in Palm Springs to Our Lady of Solitude in Coachella. They began their journey around 6 a.m. and anticipated arriving in Coachella around 13 hours later. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department helped escort the mass of walkers along the route.

They battled cold weather, misty rain and wind but seemed unfazed.

"The rain is a blessing," said Javier Nuñez of Cathedral City, who like others interviewed spoke in Spanish.

In fact, the mood was joyous as men and women with megaphones shouted words of encouragement from atop truck beds, and the crowd sang along to "Las Mañanitas," a traditional song to honor loved ones and the Virgin Mary.

Fernando Ortiz walks along Highway 111 in Palm Springs with fellow Catholics on Monday during the annual 32-mile Our Lady of Guadalupe pilgrimage.
Fernando Ortiz walks along Highway 111 in Palm Springs with fellow Catholics on Monday during the annual 32-mile Our Lady of Guadalupe pilgrimage.

Still, many pilgrims battled through pain and fatigue along the long walk.

"The pain is an expression of our faith," said Enrique Garcia of Desert Hot Springs. "We must go forward."

The pilgrimage, both in Mexico City and locally, returned in 2022 after a multiyear hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The basilica in Mexico is widely considered the most-visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the world and the most visited religious site in the West.

"It is my dream to go there," Nuñez said.

Jonathan Horwitz covers education for The Desert Sun. Reach him at jonathan.horwitz@desertsun.com or @Writes_Jonathan.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Coachella Valley Catholics make Our Lady of Guadalupe pilgrimage for Virgin Mary