Join Fr. Javier Ruiz Velasco FSSP on this beautiful journey through Mexico to visit the shrines of Our Lady and to follow in the footsteps of the Cristeros. Spend three nights in Mexico City to visit the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the historic city center, and more. Take an excursion to see the ancient Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan and visit the relics of Blessed Father Miguel Pro. Visit Guanajuato and experience colonial Mexico at its best, as well as Guadalajara, the shrine of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos, and Our Lady of Zapopan. Visit the town of Tequila where the famous liquor is made. Render homage to Cristero martyrs, Blessed Miguel Pro, St. Pedro Esqueda Ramirez, St. Toribio Romo Gonzalez, Blessed Anacleto Gonzalez Flores, and St. Jose Sanchez del Rio. Shop for artisanal souvenirs In Tlaquepaque, and much more. Benefit from daily Mass celebrated in the Traditional Latin Rite, and enjoy the safety and ease of group travel with fellow Catholics in beautiful historic Mexico!

HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE

Daily Mass: in the Traditional Latin Rite

Mexico City: Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Old Downtown, Metropolitan Cathedral, El Zocalo, Aztec Templo Mayor, Government Palace, Holy Family Church with the remains of Blessed Father Miguel Pro.

Teotihuacan: pyramids of this ancient Mesoamerican city.

Guanajuato: Cubilete Hill statue of Christ the King, Guanajuato city sites.

Guadalajara: sites associated with Cristero martyrs Saint Pedro Esqueda Ramirez and Saint Toribio Romo Gonzalez, Basilica of Our Lady of Zapopan, Cathedral of Guadalajara.

San Juan de los Lagos: Shrine of Our Lady

Tequila: House of Saint Toribio Romo, Sites around town, Tour of Tequila factory.

Tlaquepaque: handicraft and artisanal paradise.

Sahuayo: Sites associated with teenage Cristero Saint Jose Sanchez del Rio and 27 other Cristeros.

ITINERARY

Day 1. Monday, September 25: Transatlantic flight

Upon arrival into Mexico City, private transportation from airport to hotel. Tonight, mingle with your travel companions at a welcome dinner. (D)

Day 2. Tuesday, September 26: Mexico City

This morning after breakfast, visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in 1531 and asked for a chapel to be built on that site. It is visited by more than 12 million pilgrims a year. Pray before the famous Tilma of St. Juan Diego, where Our Lady of Guadalupe’s image is miraculously imprinted. Then, enjoy a walking tour of Mexico City’s downtown that includes the Cathedral, the Aztecs’ main temple, and the Government Palace. Dinner and overnight in Mexico City. (BB, L, D)

Day 3. Wednesday, September 27: MEXICO CITY - EXCURSION TO TEOTIHUACAN

Before heading to Teotihuacan, visit the Holy Family Church that houses the relics of Blessed Father Miguel Pro, a Mexican Jesuit priest executed in 1927 on the false charges of bombing and attempted assassination of former Mexican President Álvaro Obregón during the Cristero War. Next to the church, visit a museum of Father Pro. Then, drive out to Teotihuacan, one of the most impressive cities of the ancient world. A colossal urban center once housed up to 125,000 people. Admire the imposing pyramids of the Sun and of the Moon, and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. Return to Mexico City for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

Day 4. Thursday, September 28: MEXICO CITY - CUBILETE HILL - GUANAJUATO

Leave Mexico City and travel northeast to the Cerro del Cubilete, a 8,900 ft tall mountain-hill, to render homage to Christ the King. Erected in 1950, the statue of Christ is considered the largest in the world made of bronze, it is 65 feet high and weighs 80 tons. The first monument dedicated to Christ the King was bombarded on January 30, 1928, during the Cristero War. Continue to colonial Guanajuato, one of the most picturesque cities in Mexico. There, enjoy a guided walking tour of the downtown with its beautiful, narrow streets. After dinner, you may join a “callejoneada”, a traditional alley-walking route with student guides, showcasing folk costumes, songs & stories. Overnight in Guanajuato. (BB, L, D)

Day 5 Friday, September 29: GUANAJUATO - SAN JUAN DE LOS LAGOS - GUADALAJARA

On your way to Guadalajara, stop at one of the most visited shrines in Mexico, Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos (Our Lady of St. John of the Lakes), which is widely known for the jeweled regalia offered by its devotees all throughout Mexico. In 1542, a Spanish priest brought the statue of the Virgin Mary to San Juan de los Lagos. In 1623, a girl was restored to life after touching this statue and the shrine was constructed. In the presbytery, render homage to Saint Pedro Esqueda Ramirez, a priest and Cristero martyr, who was tortured and shot by the Mexican Army on November 22, 1927. Continuing towards Guadalajara, stop at Teocaltitan de Guadalupe for a visit to the place where Saint Pedro Esqueda was killed. A shrine was built to honor the saint. Close by, visit Santa Ana de Guadalupe, where the shrine to the Cristero martyr Saint Toribio Romo Gonzalez was built to enshrine his relics. Fr. Romo was born here, and he is considered the patron saint of the immigrants. Arrive in Guadalajara for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

Day 6. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30: GUADALAJARA - EXCURSION TO TEQUILA

In the morning, visit the most important shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Guadalajara. Our Lady of Expectation, Our Lady of Zapopan, Pregnant Virgin, The General, The Queen and Mother of Jalisco or The Star of the Evangelization are just some of the names by which the Virgin of Zapopan is known. Her image was brought in 1540 when the Franciscans came to evangelize the region. According to tradition, this image converted more than 6,000 indigenous people when a light shown from her, convincing the natives to follow her. Afterwards travel to Tequila, the city that bears the name of the famous liquor, to visit the house where Saint Father Toribio Romo was killed. Close to this house, visit the sanctuary built to venerate this martyr. Then, enjoy the opportunity to visit one of the factories where tequila is produced. Return to Guadalajara for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

Day 7. SUNDAY, October 1: GUADALAJARA - EXCURSION TO TLAQUEPAQUE

Today, enjoy a panoramic tour of Guadalajara’s downtown beginning with a visit to Guadalajara’s Cathedral. Finished in 1618, the Cathedral houses the relics of 28 Cristero martyrs and is the burial place of one of the great Cristero heroes, Archbishop Francisco Orozco Jimenez, banished five times from his archdiocese. Then, visit Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, which houses the tomb of another great martyr of the Cristero War, Blessed Anacleto Gonzalez Flores. He was an attorney and an organizer, supporter of peaceful resistance against the anti-Catholic regime of Mexican President Plutarco Elias Calles. Afterwards, take an excursion to Tlaquepaque for some free time to browse this lovely town known for its beautiful Mexican handicrafts. Return to your hotel in Guadalajara for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

Day 8. Monday, October 2: GUADALAJARA - EXCURSION TO SAHUAYO

This morning, travel east to Sahuayo, a town housing the relics of the brave teenage Cristero, Saint Jose Sanchez del Rio, who was portrayed in the movie “For Greater Glory”. Visit the places related to Jose’s martyrdom. In Sahuayo also, on March 27, 1928, a massacre of 27 Cristeros took place in the atrium of the parish baptistery. They were shot one by one. The martyrs were lined in two rows on the pavement of the atrium and photographed with the assassin. After rendering homage to these heroic Mexican martyrs, return to Guadalajara for a farewell dinner with mariachis to celebrate the end of a beautiful pilgrimage. (BB, L, D)

Day 9. Tuesday, October 3: HOMEBOUND FLIGHT

This morning, transfer to Guadalajara airport for your flight back to the USA.

(BB) Buffet breakfast; (L) Lunch; (D) Dinner

* In case of unforeseen events, this itinerary is subject to change.

CHAPLAIN

Fr. Javier Ruiz Velasco FSSP

Father Javier was born in the city of Guadalajara in 1987 into a Catholic family with Cristero roots. By the grace of God many of his ancestors were involved in various ways in the Catholic resistance. Before entering the Seminary he had an intense apostolate in retreats, camps and missions. He studied at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska and was ordained a priest in 2020 at Lincoln Cathedral, NE. He is a member of the Fraternidad Sacerdotal San Pedro, a community of Catholic priests who celebrate the ancient form of the Mass, preaching and teaching traditional Catholic doctrine.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations for this pilgrimage are in first-class hotels:

Mexico City: Sheraton Maria Isabel or similar.
Guanajuato: Holiday Inn Express or similar.
Guadalajara: Hilton Doubletree Centro Historico or similar.

Rooms in double occupancy are for two people to share; they have two twin beds or one double bed. Rooms in single occupancy have a single bed and are for one person to occupy; a “single supplement fee” is added for single occupancy rooms.

TRIP PACE

The pace for this pilgrimage is moderate. There is daily walking and standing. Pilgrims must be in active enough condition to walk 3-4 hours and stand for 2-3 hours per day. We strongly recommend preparing oneself by walking before the trip, building up to at least 2-3 miles per day.

Sometimes walking is up or down slopes, and at times sidewalks and terrain will be uneven. Pilgrims must have full mobility and be able to climb several stairs, since many of the visited places have no other access. A certain pace must be kept by all pilgrims in order to cover the scheduled sightseeing.

Also see the “PHYSICAL HEALTH & FITNESS” section in the General Terms & Conditions. (Specific Terms & Conditions for this trip will be listed in the online registration form.)

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Accommodations in first-class hotels, with daily buffet breakfast, lunches, and dinners according to the program
Daily Holy Mass celebrated in the Traditional Latin Rite
Private motor-coach services for transfers and sightseeing
Services of a professional English-speaking tour escort during the entire trip
Entrance fees where necessary, according to the itinerary
Porterage for one suitcase per person at the hotels
Government taxes and fees
Whispering system with individual headphones

What’s not included:

Air Transportation.
Travel insurance which we strongly recommend and offer additionally.
Gratuities to tour escort, long-distance motor-coach driver, and church stipends. The suggested tip for the tour escort is 5 USD per day and for the driver 3 USD per day per person.
Items of a personal nature, private transportation, or other expenses not included in the itinerary.
Also see the “NOT INCLUDED” section in the General Terms & Conditions.

PRICING INFORMATION

Land-only pilgrimage price in double occupancy: $2,895 per person
For individuals wanting a single bedroom, the supplement is $745.
Non-refundable initial deposit of $250 pp is due by: June 30, 2023
Balance due by: August 1, 2023

Important notes: Some destinations fill quickly before the listed final registration deadline. We recommend that you promptly register in order to ensure your place in line. Before the registration deadline, you may cancel within 15 days of your initial deposit for a full refund. Copies of passports are required no more than 60 days before departure but registration can be completed without passport information.

REGISTER ONLINE

TRAVEL INSURANCE

TERMS/CONDITIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS