Thousands arrive at Des Plaines shrine for Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe opening mass

DES PLAINES, Ill. (WLS) -- Thousands of faithful Catholics made the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines Wednesday.

It was freezing Wednesday night, but people told ABC7 they've braved all kinds of weather conditions here over the years, so this year was no different.

Worshippers bundled up as they came together to pray.

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Silent acts of faith on display before the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines.

Processions made their way to Des Plaines in recent days, with the celebration now officially underway with prayer and an opening mass Wednesday evening.

"We can feel it in the air it's in the we feel everybody's intention and devotion to the virgin and like we said we're very happy to be here," worshipper Robert Terriquez said.

"We've been coming despite snow rain, anything, we've always been here so it's really special for me to be here despite whatever weather," worshipper Emilly Arellanos said.

The annual Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe honors Jesus' mother, Mary, and marks reported visions of her in Mexico City in 1531. It is a sacred and holy ritual for thousands of people across the country and around the world.

"It means love, it means spirituality, it means coming together, gratitude," Veronica Galindo of Chicago said.

"You feel warm," Galindo said. "I mean it's cold. It's ready cold, but the warmth is here in your heart."

Galindo said her family's been making the pilgrimage here for as long as she can remember.

"The faith is everlasting," she said. "That's the spirituality that moves people to come celebrate and honor and just keep the memory alive."

For many who visited the shrine, it's about giving thanks.

"Every time I come here is because I have to thank my Virgin, because everything because they take care of my family in Mexico and my family over here," worshipper Magda Munoz said.

Church officials said about 300,000 people could make the journey on Wednesday and Thursday to the Des Plaines' shrine located on the the Maryville Academy Campus in the northwest suburb.

With frigid temperatures expected to hit single digits Thursday, Father Esequiel Sanchez said earlier this week that it's the strength of their faith that's keeping these strong believers warm.

"What trumps the cold for us is what's going on in them," Rev. Sanchez said. " What's going on in their hearts. If they are coming in 20 degree temperatures here, that must be something a lot more intense going on in the heart."

"I feel better. For some reason, I've been feeling a little bit of pressure for the last month," worshiper David Morales said. "It just feels better being here."

The opening mass began at 8 p.m. followed by a fireworks show later on, all of it taking place with temperatures expected to be in just the teens.

"Last year we put our rose and it went up into Juan Diego's hand and we had a miracle happen so we're here to say thank you and pay our respect," worshipper Dawn Marie said.

The festivities will continue with a midnight mass scheduled and more events planned Thursday, with thousands of additional people expected to visit.

Wednesday afternoon, the faithful left roses, like the ones seen the robe of what is considered a powerful symbol of Mexican identity and faith.

"We believe in the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe," Gloria Romero of Chicago said. "She has blessed us. It's a ritual to come here and thank her."

Romero's family is originally from Ecuador and now living in Chicago and said they aren't bothered by the icy temperatures, but are moved by love.

"Anything is possible when you have faith," Romero said.

For the Kutrumanes family, the celebration was also a tradition of faith.

"So we come here every year on the feast day of our year of Guadalupe," worshiper Maria Kutrumanes said. "We have such great devotion to her. Anytime there's anything going on in our lives, we always come here and pray to her."