(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Archdiocese of Chicago is preparing for this week’s Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The annual event brings hundreds of thousands of pilgrims – and serious concerns this year.
With temperatures forecast to be below freezing during the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Wednesday and Thursday, the Very Reverend Esequiel Sanchez encourages pilgrims to be prepared.
“It will be a bit nippy but not impossible. We've been through this before, but we often tell people to remember lots of warm gear, lots of layering.”
He notifies those coming to Des Plaines there will be plenty of police, but their role is to help manage the flow of some 300,000 pilgrims over the two days.
“Not asking any questions about one's legal status for. This is a religious experience. This is an experience of hope and faith. It's also a moment of prayer.”
He says they have heard concerns about talk of mass deportations by the new Trump administration.
Rev. Sanchez said he is sensitive to the rhetoric around deportations as Roman Catholics prepare to come to honor the Virgin Mary, who is said to have appeared in Mexico almost 500 years ago.
“The one thing we don’t want is to people in anyway to feel that they can’t come out, because you don’t want people hiding. You want people to tell you what’s going on, how they are feeling, what they are going through.”
With temperatures expected to be below freezing Wednesday and Thursday during the Feast, he encourages pilgrims to travel in groups.
“Please make sure that you have some people around who can provide some support for you – whether you need heating, whether you need water, whether you need blankets.”
A large white tent is already up to provide a place for people to warm up during the masses, dancing and fireworks here throughout the night.
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