About the Event

The most important event in the evangelization of the New World occurred in December, 1531. Over the course of four days, the Virgin Mary appeared to an Indian named Juan Diego. As a result of this encounter, and the image miraculously imprinted by Our Lady on Juan Diego’s tilma (or cloak), millions of Native Americans embraced the Catholic faith and the Americas began to be transformed into “the Catholic hemisphere.”

The First International Marian Congress on Our Lady of Guadalupe, and its Guadalupe Festival, were a celebration of that great, hemisphere-changing event. The Festival featured speakers and performers from around the Americas and around the world. The celebration included music, Indian dancing, the Rosary, inspirational speeches, and a presentation on the history, meaning and importance of the appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego.

We invite you to explore this website, to learn about the apparition and its importance, and re-live a day of celebration and prayer in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.