Marian Mexico & Cristero Pilgrimage

ITINERARY

Day 1. Wednesday, December 9, 2026: flight to Guadalajara, Mexico

Welcome to Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco and one of the largest cities in Mexico! Upon arrival, take an independent transfer to your hotel, where the group will be gathering for Mass, an introductory conference, and dinner. Overnight in Guadalajara. (D) 

Day 2. Thursday, December 10, 2026: Zapopan & Guadalajara Downtown

Begin your day with a visit to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Zapopan, also known as “La Generala”, the “Queen of Jalisco” and the “Star of the Evangelization”. Tradition relates that luminous rays issued from the little image when it was being worn around the neck of a Franciscan missionary in the 16th century. The previously hostile natives were so impressed by this phenomenon that more than 6,000 were converted in one day. The image has been carried out of the church in procession and has tamed terrible epidemics and plagues on various occasions. She also brings relief from natural catastrophes. Continue for your visit to Guadalajara’s downtown, where time permitting you will enjoy the following visits. See the beautiful Cathedral of Guadalajara housing a glass cabinet displaying the bones of 23 martyrs for the Cristero War and the tomb of Archbishop Francisco Orozco y Jiménez, who heroically led protests against the secularization decrees imposed upon Mexican clergy in 1918 and supported the Cristeros. Then, visit the Capilla de Jesus (Templo del Dulce Nombre de Jesús) housing relics of Blessed Anacleto González Flores, Jorge and Ramón Vargas, and Ezequiel and Salvador Huerta , as well as a museum dedicated to them. Continue to the Church of San José de Analco, dating back to 1543 with the relics of Luis Padilla, great companion and aid to Blessed Anacleto, who was also killed for his Catholic faith. Then in the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray before the relics of Blessed Anacleto Gonzalez Flores, leader of the Religious Freedom movement in Mexico during the Cristero persecution. Finally, render homage to Father David Galván in the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary; he was a pre-Cristero martyr killed in 1915. Return to your hotel in Guadalajara for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

Day 3. Friday, December 11, 2026: Guadalajara – Sahuayo – Guadalajara

After breakfast, depart for Sahuayo, Michoacán to render homage to St. José Sánchez del Río, the youngest of the Cristero martyrs. He was canonized on October 14, 2016. Visit the church where he was taken prioner by the federal troops, and pray before his relics. Continue to the cemetery where St. Joselito bravely declared his loyalty to Christ. While being tortured, he cried out “long live Christ the King!” and died at only 14 years of age. In the Church of the Sacred Heart, see the catacombs that were the original resting place of St. Jose Sanchez del Rio, and home to the tombs of several Cristero martyrs. The remains of the 27 Martyrs of Sahuayo killed on March 21, 1928 lie underneath the church altar. Return to Guadalajara for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

Day 4. Saturday, December 12, 2026: Guadalajara – San Juan de los Lagos – Guanajuato

This morning travel to San Juan de los Lagos, Jalisco. Visit the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos, the second most visited Catholic site in México, after the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Pray before the miraculous image of our Lady, venerated with great devotion after the first miracle took place in 1623. Blessed Anacleto Flores lived in San Juan de los Lagos for five years while he attended the Seminario Auxiliar de Guadalajara, and he was very devoted to Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos. A few steps from the Cathedral is the Church of St. John the Baptist, which houses the relics of Fr. Pedro Esqueda, vicar of San Juan de los Lagos who was captured, tortured and shot on November 22, 1927 for celebrating Holy Mass secretly. Continue to Guanajuato for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

Day 5 Sunday, December 13, 2026: Guanajuato

This morning, journey to Cerro del Cubilete, an emblematic site for the Cristeros. Being bombed in 1928 by the Mexican government, it lead to the famous slogan of the Cristero war: Long live Christ the King, Viva Cristo Rey! It was rebuilt in 1944 and finished in 1950. Christ the King monument weighs 80 tons and is 120 feet tall. At the foot of the hill, visit the Sanctuary of St. Mary of the Martyrs, to pay homage to the relics of three Cristero martyrs: Fr. José Trinidad Rangel, Fr. Andrés Solá y Molist, and Leonardo Perez Larios. Continue to the city of Guanajuato, stroll through its colorful narrow streets and admire it architecture, churches and squares. Dinner and overnight in Guanajuato. (BB, L, D)

Day 6. Monday, December 14, 2026: Guanajuato – Querétaro – Mexico City

This morning, head to Mexico City. En route, stop at the colonial city of Querétaro for a visit to the Franciscan Monastery where Father Junípero Serra began his evangelization and founded the Franciscan Missions. See the Cross Tree: According to tradition, one day, when returning from preaching Fr. Antonio Margil de Jesús, planted his cane on the ground in the garden adjacent to the monastery. After several days, sprouts began to grow and it became a tree which grew a series of small thorns, each in the shape of a cross. Time permitting, also visit St. Philip Neri Cathedral, also Querétaro Cathedral, erected between 1786 and 1804, and the 18th-century Baroque Church of St. Rose of Viterbo, where the Sisters of St. Rose were expelled by the Mexican government in 1861. Continue to Mexico City for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

Day 7. Tuesdayday, December 15 2026: Mexico City – Teotihuacan – Mexico City

Begin the day with a visit to the Church of the Holy Family to pray before the relics of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, a Jesuit Martyr of the Cristero War. Next to the church, visit a small but inspiring museum dedicated to the life, mission, and sacrifice. During the Mexican Revolution, Fr. Pro was exiled due to widespread religious persecution. However, he courageously returned to Mexico and assisted many people in their spiritual and temporal needs. He was arrested and executed on November 23, 1927. After your visit, journey to Teotihuacan, one of the most impressive cities of the ancient world. A colossal urban center once housed up to 125,000 people and covered over eight square miles, and was destroyed in 650 AD. Admire the imposing pyramids of the Sun and of the Moon, and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. Return to your hotel in Mexico City for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D) 

Day 8. Wednesday, December 16, 2026: Mexico City: Our Lady of Guadalupe

A day of many graces and the climax of your pilgrimage! Render homage to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of all the Americas, at her shrine on Tepeyac Hill where she appeared to St. Juan Diego in 1531. There, pray before the miraculous Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Within the complex, visit the original chapel built on the exact site of the apparitions to St. Juan Diego (Chapel of the Little Hill); the Old Basilica consecrated in 1709, where the miraculous image was kept during 262 years; the Baroque Chapel of the Pocito (Chapel of the Little Well) which was built in the 18th century where a miraculous source of water appeared (today it is dry); and the Chapel of the Indians, where in 1531, the first small chapel was built to honor Our Lady and where St. Juan Diego lived to take care of the Holy Image. Have time for private devotions and to buy souvenirs. Time permitting, visit the colonial neighborhood of Coyoacán, including its 16th-century St. John the Baptist Church housing the relics of Maria de la Luz Camacho Gonzalez, Servant of God, who was shot and killed on December 30, 1934 in the atrium of this church, as she was defending it from being set on fire by a violent communist group. The last words to be uttered by her lips were “Viva Cristo Rey!” (BB, L, D)

Day 9. Thursday, December 17, 2026: Mexico City Downtown

Spend the day visiting Mexico City’s historical center. Visit the Church of Santo Domingo, built on the site of the first Dominican Church. Then, at the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square, visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, housing the main relics of the first Mexican saint, St. Felipe de Jesús (1572 - 1597), a Franciscan missionary who became one of the 26 Martyrs of Japan. See the National Palace and the ruins of the main Aztec Temple. Stroll along the beautiful Madero pedestrian alley, home to notable colonial and contemporary buildings such as the House of Tiles and the Church of San Francisco, home to the first twelve Franciscan monks who came to Mexico in 1524 to evangelize the Viceroyalty of New Spain. See the Palace of Iturbide, built between 1779 and 1784 and which was the Imperial Palace of Mexico in the early 19th century. Finally, visit the splendid Baroque Church of San Felipe Neri, commonly known as “La Profesa”, founded by the Jesuits in the 16th century. Tonight enjoy a farewell dinner with Mariachis. Overnight in Mexico City. (BB, L, D)

Day 10. Friday, December 18: 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.