Horseback riders make pilgrimage to Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
DES PLAINES, Ill. (WLS) -- More than 100 horseback riders made their way to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines on Saturday.
This is the Archdioceses of Chicago's Eighth Annual Horseback and Annual Trailer Pilgrimage in honor of the Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas.
The riders are members of the Club Los Vaqueros Unidos or United Cowboys Club.
They started their nearly four-hour ride at the Forest Preserve, Dam No. 1 in Northbrook.
Their cavalcade concluded with a special blessing at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The shrine which hosts a digital replica of image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the most-visited in the world after Mexico's Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Her annual feast is celebrated by Catholics around the world every December 12.
The horseback pilgrimage is the unofficial start of festivities at the shrine which concludes with 24 hours of masses Thursday.
