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For centuries, communities of women across México and Latin America and have held unique and powerful bonds to the saint known colloquially as Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe. The bond can be seen at the tradition of the annual pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe that has taken place just outside of México City since 1754.
Forming small communities that unite then disband, populations of women travel together—often from great lengths—in order to participate in the tradition and pay personal respects to the Virgen de Guadalupe. This resulting work explores the historical values of celebration, survival, and tradition. The following photographs represent a selection of work from the original story pitched to National Geographic. View the published work here.
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![One Hundred Women Arrive for the Virgen, 2019. A portion the Hijos de Maria community pose for a group portrait in traditional white Maya dresses at the base of Tepeyac Hill in México City. The women traveled 840 miles by bus]()
A 103-member pilgrim group known as "Hijos de Maria," traveled by bus from the Yucatán to attend the feast day celebrations.
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![This scene of statues warmed by the sun will forever reenact the Virgen of Guadalupe’s apparition. Just steps away from the top of Tepeyac, a historic hill where the Virgin first appeared to Juan Diego, the particular fountain is called “La Ofrenda” or th]()
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![Shysel Catalina Chona Galvai visits the Virgin on December 12, 2019 from Cuauhtémoc, MX as a proud a Colombianx. She recalls the first time she visited the Virgen last year where she arrived by train, on her knees as an offer]()
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![Maria del Pilar Hernandez [pictured left] has come to visit la Villa with her daughter Ingrid, and extended family. Arriving from Lázaro Cárdenas of Tabasco, a town in the State of Mexico, they have planned to spend time with the Virgin well before her of]()
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![A view of what visitors experience, passing the Tilma by way of four automatic conveyor belts, which offer the most efficient way to view it for oneself. Located below and behind the Basilica’s mass altar, for many this is the closest they will be to her.]()
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![From the point of view within a permanent alcove labeled Bendiciones, a crowd gathers close to receive official priest sanctioned blessings. The action of is indefinitely ongoing, with a verbal prayer and holy water blessing repeated every five to ten min]()
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![Crowd in Praise and Bendiciones/Crowd in Search of Fresh Bendiciones, 2019. Beneath a permanent alcove labeled Bendiciones, a crowd gathers close with a variety of belongings to receive official Basilica of Guadalupe sanctioned blessings. Offered during t]()
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![The family of Garduño Esquivel has traveled from Barrío Calvarío, a small town in San Felipe del Progreso near their state capitol of Toluca, Mexico. Living over six hours by away by ground transportation, they planned to visit the Virgin early and will n]()
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![The top of the Hill of Tepeyac symbolizes for many an arrival at their spiritual destination. The devoted take in their view just outside of the Chapel of Tepeyac, between the statues of the Archangels Gabriel and Uriel. As the sun sets on December 12, 20]()
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![Three Generations in Strength, 2019. The family of María Clara Torres Tierrablanca supports her in her first time arriving to the Virgin at her knees. After a life of devotion, she traveled from Tecámac, Mexico last year for the first time with her husban]()
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![Daylight illuminates the caverns of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, 2019 in México City. The structure, known formally the New Basilica and locally as La Villa, was designed by architect Pedro Ramírez Vásquez and has remained open si]()
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![. In the final minutes before midnight, on December 11, 2019, two custom decorated portraits of the Virgin remain held high, amongst a crowd of thousands alike. The community of pilgrims previously asleep, are now awakened to the calm, communal singing of]()
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![In the final minutes before midnight, on December 11, 2019, candle altars are made to accompany the songs and continual gifts to the Virgin within a community of tents. The pilgrims previously asleep, are now awakened to the calm, communal singing of Las]()
![Maria del Pilar Hernandez [pictured left] has come to visit la Villa with her daughter Ingrid, and extended family. Arriving from Lázaro Cárdenas of Tabasco, a town in the State of Mexico, they have planned to spend time with the Virgin well before her of](https://format.creatorcdn.com/ecebfc9e-ab92-4741-8bb7-3d2c30926dc1/0/0/0/0,0,3240,2592,3240,1200/0-0-0/15230432-0208-443a-ba1a-da73ec6e9809/1/1/MariaIngridPortrait_01.jpg?fjkss=exp=2017637115~hmac=e099ab3874fcb62a4d44cf631a2b701ffe32940ed5092a4c359a20c9c2313673)
