Our Lady of Guadalupe pilgrims journey to shrine in Des Plaines

DES PLAINES, Ill. (WLS) -- Tens of thousands of people are expected to make the annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in suburban Des Plaines to celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Gabriel Serrano was speeding at 140 mph when his car hit a train two years ago. He walked away from the crash uninjured, and believes the Virgin of Guadalupe saved him.

"Every year now after that I come here. I thank her, I can't thank her enough. It's almost unreal what happened to me and how I walked away from it. I'm so thankful and so every time I come I just ask for more blessings," Serrano said.

Serrano is one of thousands who visit the shrine during this time of year to say prayers, leave flowers and light candles. The shrine of Our Lady Guadalupe in Des Plaines, Ill., is the only place outside of Mexico City's Basilica where Roman Catholics can offer promises to the virgin.

"I can't conceive. It's so hard for me. So I come and I tell her to give me a little faith and she gave me my daughter," Noemi Mercado said.

On Thursday night, Archbishop Blase Cupich made the journey and celebrated Midnight Mass outside at the grotto in the 1100-block of North River Road.

"These pilgrims who are here remind us that we are all walking away, and that we have to do this journey together," Cupich said during Mass.

"If you want the whole picture, you have to be here for the Midnight Mass. He said, 'I want to be there. If that's the time the people are going to be here, I want to be here.' So he's another pilgrim," said Father Marco Mercado, the shrine's rector.

The faithful have made the journey to worship in the north suburb for the last 26 years. The tribute dates back to 1531, when native Mexican Juan Diego saw her apparition several times.

"Five hundred years later, people are still inspired. They still have the spirit of God. That's the core thing driving a lot of people in their lives," said Jim Anderson, who lives in Wisconsin.

Masses are held at the shrine every 2 to 3 hours until 7 p.m. Drivers should expect congestion in the area.

Off-site parking with shuttle service is available. To the north, you can park in Prospect Heights at Plaza Palwaukee. In Mount Prospect, you can head over to the Northwest Assembly of God or St. Emily Parish. In Des Plaines, parking is available at St. Chong Ha Sang Korean Catholic Mission or Oakton Community College.