Hundreds of pilgrims walked in prayer through neighborhood streets in Northeast Washington, D.C., on Dec. 13 during the annual Walk with Mary, carrying banners and statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Bundled against the cold, overcast day, families pushed strollers as traffic slowed and passersby paused to watch.
At the center of the procession, a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe was carried on a flower-adorned platform framed by roses and surrounded by flags representing the nations of the Americas.
Clergy, religious, and lay faithful from across the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington joined the public Marian walk, which began at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart and moved toward the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The walk paused at five designated points for prayer and reflection before concluding with the praying of the rosary and the celebration of Mass in observance of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Leading the pilgrimage, Washington Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar invited prayers for those unable to participate, including immigrants who remained at home out of fear or caution and families affected by detention or deportation.
“Let us pray for those who live in fear,” he said, asking God, through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, to grant peace, hope, comfort, and a renewed sense of security.
He also referenced the Jubilee Year of Hope proclaimed by Pope Francis, noting that while the jubilee year is nearing its conclusion, hope remains central to Christian life.
“May the Virgin Mary accompany us as we walk together on this journey,” he said.
As the procession moved through residential streets, neighbors stepped outside to watch, wave, or offer greetings. Along the route, the bishop walked among the pilgrims, pausing for photos, brief exchanges, and words of encouragement.
During the walk, Bishop Menjivar reflected on Mary’s role as a model of discipleship, pointing to the Visitation as an example of walking with Christ by carrying Christ to others.
“Walking with Christ means also being ready to serve,” Bishop Menjivar said. He added that Mary’s accompaniment of Jesus along the Way of the Cross continues to speak to those who carry heavy burdens today, noting that Mary “keeps walking with us, especially those who carry heavy crosses.”
The bishop said Mary’s closeness to the faithful also offers a model for clergy. Reflecting on his own ministry, he emphasized the clergy are not set apart from the Church, but belong to it.
“We are members of the Church. We’re not different. We are not separated,” he said. “The Church is one. We are part of the Body of Christ.”
Father Benedict Radich, a parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Parish in Landover Hills, Maryland, said the pilgrimage represents a public witness of faith that speaks both to Catholics and to the wider community.
He reflected on Mary’s presence throughout the Christian story, noting her accompaniment encompasses both joy and suffering.
“Joy is not the same as happiness,” Father Radich said. “Joy is something stable and durable that does not depend on our feelings. It depends on the Lord.”
Lusia Mahoney, a parishioner of St. Bridget Parish in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, and originally from Indonesia, traveled to Washington for the pilgrimage..
“I have walked with Mary my whole life,” she said, noting that the pilgrimage coincided with her birthday and felt like a reminder of Mary’s presence.
Young adults also took part in the pilgrimage, including members of Tira la Red, a Catholic charismatic renewal group within the archdiocese. Bruce Arbuto, a 19-year-old parishioner of Christ the King Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland, said the group aims “to bring a revival to the way we celebrate our Catholic faith.”
The pilgrimage concluded at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with the praying of a multilingual rosary and the celebration of Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, served as the principal celebrant. Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, concelebrated, along with Auxiliary Bishops Roy Campbell Jr., Juan Esposito, and Evelio Menjivar, who preached the homily.
At the start of the liturgy, Msgr. Walter Rossi, the basilica’s rector, welcomed the faithful in Spanish to “the house of Mary.” Cardinal McElroy followed, calling the celebration “a day of joy for our entire country,” noting Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of all the Americas. The cardinal invited prayers in solidarity with migrants, pointing to suffering caused by government policies that he said “stand in contradiction to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
During the opening rites, drums echoed through the nave, punctuated by the rhythm of maracas, as Mexican folk dancers advanced up the center aisle. Dressed in jewel tones of red, green, blue and gold, their embroidered garments shimmered beneath the basilica lights. Feathered headdresses rose above the dancers’ heads, and gold and silver accents flashed with each turn. Images of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared throughout the regalia, stitched into vests and skirts or carried on feather-adorned ceremonial shields.
Incense drifted through the basilica, softening the light as it settled into the space. Along the aisles, members of the faithful leaned forward, some raising phones to capture the moment, others watching in silence as sound and movement filled the church.
Following the dancers, a reenactment of St. Juan Diego presenting his tilma with the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on it unfolded along the main aisle. A man portraying Juan Diego carried the tilma to the sanctuary and, standing before Cardinal McElroy, opened it, releasing rose petals that fell to the sanctuary floor. The tilma then was displayed near the altar.
In his homily, Bishop Menjivar reflected on the pilgrimage and the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, urging the faithful to consider Mary’s role as a mother who gathers people of every origin and language into one family of faith.
Preaching in English and Spanish, he said Our Lady of Guadalupe’s apparition reveals a God who draws near rather than remains distant. “God draws near. He becomes close,” Bishop Menjivar said. “He does not abandon his children in their struggles, but rather becomes involved.”
Referencing Mary’s appearance to St. Juan Diego at Tepeyac, he said God’s closeness is made visible through Mary’s maternal presence. “Mary is the mother of all,” he said, “and she embraces us all with the same tenderness and the same love, no matter where we are.”
Drawing on the Gospel account of the Visitation and the words of the prophet Zechariah, Bishop Menjivar described the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe as a continuation of God’s promise to dwell among His people. “What a marvelous message to proclaim on this Guadalupan day,” he said, “when we celebrate the visit of God to this continent through Mary.”
Bishop Menjivar also cited Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te, highlighting the Church’s call to reflect Mary’s closeness in its own life and mission. Quoting the pope, he said the Church, “like a mother, walks with those who walk,” and that the Gospel is made credible through gestures of closeness and welcome.
The Prayers of the Faithful were offered in Vietnamese, Swahili, American Sign Language, English, Polish, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, with petitions for Church leaders, peace, care for the poor and vulnerable, migrants and refugees, respect for human life, and the dead.
At the conclusion of the Mass, Cardinal McElroy thanked those who helped make the celebration possible, including Cardinal Pierre, noting his previous service as apostolic nuncio to Mexico. He also expressed gratitude to the auxiliary bishops and offered particular thanks to Bishop Menjivar for his leadership, saying he had “marched with fervor today and preached with grace,” prompting applause from the congregation.
From the first steps of the pilgrimage to the final prayers of the liturgy, voices rose in Spanish, echoing a refrain heard throughout the day: “Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe,” “Viva Cristo Rey,” and “Viva America.”
