Our Lady of Guadalupe Pilgrimage Set for Dec. 12

CATHEDRAL CITY — Organizers of Our Lady of Guadalupe Pilgrimage this week are asking the City Council to approve a special use permit for the beloved annual event.

The Diocese of San Bernardino and Riverside is conducting the Annual Virgin de Guadalupe Procession on Thursday, Dec. 12.. The procession begins in Palm Springs and flows through Cathedral City along East Palm Canyon Drive to Rancho Mirage and eventually ends in Coachella CA. It is roughly a 32-mile trek that many have been making for years. The procession will stop at St. Louis Catholic Church as a resting spot and provide water for the walkers.

For many pilgrims, the decision to visit Guadalupe is rooted in a deep desire to reconnect with their faith, according to CatholicJourneys.com. This journey is not merely a religious obligation but a personal commitment to walking closer to God. In a time where you are constantly bombarded with messages of success, wealth, and productivity, the act of setting aside time to focus solely on spiritual matters can be profoundly healing.

Besides, a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe allows you to reflect on your values, reconnect with your faith, and consider your place in the larger narrative of God’s love and mercy. After completing your journey, you can report feelings of peace, gratitude, and humility. So, this personal transformation is one of the most significant reasons why the pilgrimage continues to thrive in modern times.

The Diocese has provided insurance naming the City as an additional insured. It also has paid the Special Use Permit fee of $510 and will reimburse Public Safety costs of approximately $1,200 for Cathedral City Police Department motor patrol escort of the procession as soon as they enter the city limits of Cathedral City from Palm Springs until they exit the city as the procession enters Rancho Mirage. Separately, the applicant contracts with Tops N Barricades to aid as the procession moves through town.

The City of Cathedral City will recover all expenses associated with the procession. The applicant has already provided a check for the $510 Special Use Permit fee.

Ryan Hunt, Communications & Events Manager for the city, is recommending approval.

As part of its five-year strategic plan, Cathedral City wants to promote additional community events and celebrations.

 

Photo courtesy of The Diocese of San Bernardino and Riverside