Hundreds of Catholics from across the Chicago area gathered Wednesday to see the Pilgrim Mother, a life-size statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The holy sculpture, which was blessed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, arrived at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines for the first stop in a spiritual tour.

The statue will then embark on a worldwide journey, with planned stops in the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Colombia and other countries, culminating in the 500th Anniversary Jubilee of her apparitions in 2031.

The faithful in the Chicago area got the first glimpse of the Pilgrim Mother following a Mass Wednesday evening.

Beatriz Medina, of Hanover Park, had tears in her eyes as she gazed at the sculpture and said she felt grateful to be in the Virgin Mary’

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