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Flagstaff community holds traditional Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration

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Photos by Frank X. Moraga / www.AmigosNAZ.com ©2025

FLAGSTAFF — Early morning temperatures in the low 20s didn’t deter parishioners or supporters of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration held at the historic Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in Flagstaff on Dec. 12, 2025. The chapel will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year, with a variety of events planned.

About 100 Luminarias, placed by members of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, lit the way for the more than 100 churchgoers who took part in the event that included a Rosary led by Sociedades Guadalupanas, a Mañanitas Serenade to Our Lady of Guadalupe, a bilingual mass with a blessing of new new Guadalupana members.

Pan dulce, coffee and Mexican chocolate, served by members of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, greeted attendees who went downstairs to the meeting hall in the basement.

The celebration officially began on Dec. 11 when participants met in front of the chapel prior to the traditional procession to San Francisco de Asis Church, which featured a performance by Danza San Francisco de Asis, followed by a Reenactment of the Apparition and Consecration to the Virgin Mary.

The play tells the story of the beautiful dark-skin Virgen de Guadalupe, who first appeared to Juan Diego on the slopes of the hill of Tepeyac as a vision of the Virgin Mary.*

Please see more photos below:

Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration on Dec. 12, 2025

Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration Procession on Dec. 11, 2025

* In Mexico, many thousands of the faithful arrive in Mexico City to make a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe to view the image of la Virgen Morena (the Dark Virgin). It is said to be the most visited Catholic pilgrimage destination in the world. By car, bus, bicycle and by foot, they all arrive, with many making their way to the basilica on their knees to show their devotion. According to one story, the name Guadalupe is believed to come from the native Nahatl word Coatlaxopeuh. The beautiful dark-skin Virgen de Guadalupe first appeared to Juan Diego on the slopes of the hill of Tepeyac as a vision of the Virgin Mary on Dec. 9. Speaking to him in Nahuatl, she asked Juan Diego to have a church built at the top of the hill. He then told his story to the Spanish archbishop, who told Juan Diego to return to the hill and ask her to provide a miracle. Upon his return on Dec. 12, she told Juan Diego to gather flowers at the top of the hill, and carry the flowers, Castilian roses, in his tilma or cloak to the archbishop. Upon opening his cloak in front of the archbishop, the flowers fell to the floor with the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe imprinted on the fabric. It is this image that can be found at the Basilica of Guadalupe.

** Luminarias are thought to have originated in New Mexico, but have spread throughout the U.S., including Flagstaff’s annual Luminaria Walk in the Coconino Estates Neighborhood starting at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17. Click here or here for more information from the Arizona Daily Sun.

Please see photos and stories of previous Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebrations: