The Community of Faithful at the Santuario de Nuestro Señor de Esquipulas in Chimayo welcomes individuals, families and delegations from all faiths and walks of life to join in our first annual Pilgrimage of Hope on Sunday September 14, 2025. The pilgrimage, less than half a mile long, will include a procession led by our Hermanos Penitentes de Jesus Nazareno from the Potrero Campo Santo (Community Cemetery at 94 A Los Potreros Road Chimayo) to the Santuario Garden of the Madonna.
This year is a Jubilee year in the Catholic church, also known as a Holy year and a time to focus on forgiveness, reconciliation, and renewal. Our late Pope Francis designated the 2025 Holy Year as a time to renew ourselves as "Pilgrims of Hope." On September 14th the church also celebrates the Triumph of the Cross, which has become a day to ritually burn our prayers in offering as a community. The thousands of prayers left at the Santuario by visitors and pilgrims have long been burned on this day, but we wish to transform this into a larger regional gathering with an additional annual pilgrimage.
A pilgrimage is an interior journey enacted externally (usually walking) seeking grace, transformation and proximity to God. In this Jubilee year Catholics are able to receive a "jubilee indulgence" which is a gift of divine mercy, available to those who participate and complete a pilgrimage to a Holy Door (unless you are physically unable), adoration of the Holy Eucharist, sacramental confession, Holy Communion, prayer for the Holy Father's intentions, and the performance of acts of Mercy. The door of our Adoration Room at Santuario has been designated as a Holy Door.
The Community of the Faithful at Santuario de Chimayo encourages you to reflect on Pope Francis' call to look for "signs of hope" during the Jubilee year, including a focus on peace, openness to life, and support for those in need. Other social justice themes of any Jubilee year including debt forgiveness, honoring creation (environmental justice), addressing systemic inequalities and promoting a more just and equitable society by caring for the least amongst us.
"The Santuario de Chimayo is the most significant pilgrimage site in the United States, so we encourage people to use pilgrimage as a way of praying. On pilgrimage people are changed by the grace of God through the simple act of walking. Parking is available either at the cemetery or at Santuario de Chimayo. The pilgrimage will be followed by a noon mass (outside), celebration of the Triumph of the cross with community gathering to collectively offer up our prayers. Light refreshments will be served following the celebration.
