Saint Juan Diego Pilgrim House
Retreat House · Conference Center · Convent
Hospitality & The Pilgrim House
Hospitality, throughout Sacred Scripture, is a moral institution, from Abraham in Genesis 18 inviting three strangers to a lavish meal, to Lydia in Acts 16 beseeching Paul and Timothy to stay in her home. That moral institution has been upheld by the Church for the past two millennia. Egeria’s Diary of a Pilgrimage chronicles Christian hospitality offered in the fourth century to pilgrims seeking holy places and splendid liturgies. Saint Benedict devotes the 53rd chapter of his monastic Rule to the merit of hospitality: “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matt 25:35).” Even to this day, the apostolate of Catholic hospitality can be seen thriving throughout Europe along the various pilgrimage routes of the Camino de Santiago, leading to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe recognizes the importance of establishing an apostolate of hospitality to pilgrims. Each year, over 100,000 pilgrims come on pilgrimage to the Shrine. Numerous pilgrims have expressed a desire to spend many days at the Shrine, as if on retreat or attending a conference, in order to deepen their spiritual life and their relationship with Our Lord with the help of His Virgin Mother, Our Lady of Guadalupe. To fulfill this apostolate of hospitality at the Shrine, plans are underway to build the Saint Juan Diego Pilgrim House, located behind the Shrine Church.
Retreat House
That care and accommodation will be realized in a triune mission in one building.
First, the Pilgrim House will be a place that provides the opportunity to stay for extended periods of time near the Shrine Church, the spiritual center of the grounds.
Convent & Chapel
Second, in this same building will be a convent for religious sisters whose apostolic work will be fulfilling the Shrine’s hospitality outreach as well as offering prayers for guests, pilgrims, and the Shrine’s mission.
There will also be a chapel for the pilgrims on retreat as well as the religious sisters.
Auditorium Halls & Dining Room
Third, in addition to being a retreat house and a convent, this building will also offer a large hall for major spiritual conferences and for hospitality during major events at the Shrine, a smaller conference room, and a meeting room which will also serve pilgrims their meals—and all in a setting of beauty and holiness.
The Pilgrim House
The world as it is today is very far away from God. Those who hear the voice of God calling them to Himself—“come with me by yourselves to a quiet place for some rest” (Mk 6, 30-31; Cf. Lk 9, 10)—are seeking a place where they can have a truly intimate encounter with Our Lord through Our Lady. The Shrine is responding to that summons by building a place of intimate encounter with Jesus Christ in the Pilgrim House.
Support the building of the Saint Juan Diego Pilgrim House Mission
Questions?
If you have any questions about the Saint Juan Diego Pilgrim House, please contact the Communications Department at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
