A horseback pilgrimage — which had 800 riders, according to the archdiocese — was the “unofficial start” of activities at the Des Plaines shrine for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which Catholics celebrate Dec. 12.
Jose Trujillo’s horse with Our Lady of Guadalupe on its fur before the Archdiocese of Chicago’s 13th Annual Horseback Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Dam No. 1 Woods Forest Preserve in Wheeling on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Juan Hernandez, a rider from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos, gets ready for the annual horseback pilgrimage at Dam No. 1 Woods (East) Forest Preserve in Wheeling Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
Nicole Garcia, right, and husband Saul Candelaría, from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos, prepare their horse named Alazan for the Archdiocese of Chicago’s annual horseback pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Club Los Vaqueros Unidos riders begin the horseback pilgrimage on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Our Lady of Guadalupe appears on a blanket as riders from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos head to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
Riders from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos begin the Archdiocese of Chicago’s 13th annual horseback pilgrimage at Dam No. 1 Woods (East) Forest Preserve in Wheeling on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Club Los Vaqueros Unidos riders begin the horseback pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Riders from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos arrive at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
A horseback rider from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos is sprayed with holy water after the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Hoseback riders from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos are sprayed with holy water at the shrine as they finish the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Rogelio Pinzon, 18 mo., a rider from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos, finishes the Archdiocese of Chicago’s 13th Annual Horseback Pilgrimage in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
A rider from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos holds a rose to leave at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe as they finish the horseback pilgrimage at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)A horseback rider from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos is sprayed with holy water at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)Riders from Club Los Vaqueros Unidos finish the Archdiocese of Chicago’s 13th Annual Horseback Pilgrimage at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Dec. 7, 2024. (Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune)
