Hundreds of Mexicans in New York paid tribute this Friday to the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of their country, with ancient dances, music, flowers, prayers and processions, but above all with an unwavering faith in their virgin, defying the freezing temperatures and the fear of raids launched by the Donald Trump Administration.
The faithful attended the processions and Mass celebrated on Friday, December 12 in the Big Apple carrying images of the Virgin or wearing her in their clothing, as happened 494 years ago with the tilma of the Indian Juan Diego, to whom, according to legend, the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared in 1531 on Tepeyac Hill, Mexico.
The Virgin of Guadalupe is honored in New York City
🇲🇽| This morning GC @mbuciom accompanied the Mexican community to the traditional and colorful Guadalupana ceremony led by Cardinal @CardinalDolan at the iconic @StPatsNYC. pic.twitter.com/f0ynpTLLLuT
– Consulate General of Mexico in New York (@ConsulMexNuy) December 12, 2025
Mexicans carried pennants and flowers and were present, as every year, to thank the “Lupita” for a favor granted, fulfill a promise or ask for peace in the world and the welfare of their families, among other prayers.
This year, the event attracted especially young people thanks to the Guadalupana Torch Relay race, which has been held for 24 years.
The torch departed from the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico on August 30, led by giant paintings of the virgin and Juan Diego.
After visiting nine Mexican states, it crosses the Rio Bravo at Camargo, Tamaulipas, and heads for the United States.
As every year, the Virgin of Guadalupe and Juan Diego, accompanied by runners -as immigrants do- crossed the border and, after being received in several states, ended their journey in Central Park, where they arrived led by a U.S. flag and a Mexican flag with the image of the Virgin.
The ICE threat, also present
The event came close to not taking place because of fears expressed by many Mexicans of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, Joel Magallán, director of Tepeyac, the New York-based organization that organizes the race, told EFE.
However, thousands of young U.S.-born children of immigrants stepped forward and decided to run for their parents and all undocumented immigrants.
Nearly 8,000 Mexicans participated in the race from the Basilica to New York, a distance of 5,000 kilometers, with 67-year-old Lucia Romero carrying the torch, as she has done for 15 years, fulfilling a promise after the death of her son.
“Long live Guadalupe! Long live the Indian Juan Diego! Long live Mexico!” was heard in Central Park, where Mexicans paid homage to their Guadalupana with a pre-Hispanic dance and singing.
Then, one by one they approached the image of the virgin that crossed the border, touched it, knelt down and prayed before it.
Adolfo, a 20-year-old undocumented young man, came for the first time and assured EFE that he was not afraid of ICE “because of the faith” he has in the Virgin of Guadalupe: “Let it be what the little virgin and God says”.
Angel Lopez, one of the race captains, came with his undocumented parents and said he was afraid for them: “I know that God will protect us, they have faith in the Virgin and we know that nothing will happen to us,” he said.
According to Tepeyac, the objectives of the race are to carry a message of faith, hope and unity among peoples, to make visible the reality of migrants, to strengthen the spiritual connection with the Virgin of Guadalupe and ask for her protection and well-being, as well as to honor Mexican culture and tradition through faith.
Meanwhile, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where the altar dedicated to the Virgin was covered with flowers, especially roses, a mass was celebrated with mariachis at the end of the procession.
Mexicans filled the cathedral, and some attended with their children dressed as Juan Diego.
The religious service was presided over by the images of the Virgin from the main altar, where the children were blessed.
The virgin was fired with the Danza de los Matachines in front of the cathedral to the amazed gaze of New Yorkers and visitors.
With information from EFE
