CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Below-freezing temperatures did not keep Catholics from visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines throughout Wednesday night and into this morning.
They come bundled in hats, gloves and blankets, thousands of people carrying flowers to add to the massive pile on the grounds of the outdoor shrine.
Martha Rodriguez told CBS News Chicago she didn’t walk the five or six miles from her home parish like she did last year, but came earlier and stayed longer.
“To deal with this weather and this wind, it’s hard,” Rodriguez said.
A warming tent provided respite for people who worshiped and waited in line in the bitter cold.
Organizers of the annual feast to commemorate what they believe was the appearance of the Virgin Mary in Mexico nearly 500 years ago said some pilgrims consider the weather another challenge to overcome.
The celebration continues until a final mass at 7 p.m. tonight.
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