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Catholics in the city and suburbs are preparing to honor and celebrate the Virgin Mary despite fears of immigration enforcement actions.
The Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe will take place over two days this week in Des Plaines, drawing hundreds of thousands of people.
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WATCH HERESome of the faithful have expressed concerns about attending given the recent immigration enforcement in the Chicago area, but Father Esequiel Sanchez is still getting ready to welcome Catholics around the world for the special celebration.
“We continue to the celebrations of course the circumstances are a little bit different with the weather and all kinds of other things,” he said.
The two-day celebration will feature numerous masses and cultural events, all commemorating the Virgin Mary’s apparition to Saint Juan Diego in 1531. During this time, faithful Catholics pray to her for blessings, guidance, and protection.
Sanchez said the pilgrimage has already started.
“A pilgrim doesn’t only concern his own needs or her own needs,” he said. “We’re concerned about our people all of us we’re praying for our nation we’re praying for all of us.”
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Given the recent immigration enforcement, Sanchez believes it’s going to have an effect on turnout.
“Many immigrants and many stripes come here, and they all expressed their concerns they’re absolutely terrified,” he said.
One woman told Telemundo Chicago she’s skipping out the celebrations this year in person. Just yesterday federal agents clashed with residents in Elgin.
Witnesses reported that agents deployed tear gas and pepper spray resulting in 7 people being treated for chemical exposure. Police said they received about 30 calls related to the operation.
“We’re praying that whatever hostility there are politically, they can be healed,” he said. “That parties have to speak we can’t do this—we can’t do this like that.”
While Sanchez knows that some people may be too scared to attend in person, he said mass will be streamed online. He reassured attendees that agents will not be allowed on church grounds without a warrant.
When asked about possible enforcement during the religious gathering, DHS in a statement told NBC Chicago in part, “ICE does not raid churches—regardless of it is a holiday season or not.”
As for the celebration, the opening mass is scheduled for Thursday night at 8 p.m. Click here for the full schedule.
