What is a Pilgrimage? A pilgrimage is a journey of a person or persons to a shrine or holy place. It is usually to ask for a favor or to thank God for blessings in their lives.   Who is a Pilgrim? A Pilgrim is a wanderer, a wayfarer; one who travels from home to visit a holy place.   For generations Native American Indians, the Hispanics of the Southwest and people who have faith in Pilgrimage have traveled to El Santuario de Chimayo, located in Northern New Mexico, to ask for a healing for themselves, for others, and to offer prayers of petition or prayers of thanksgiving for favors received.

Santuario means Santuary and El Santuario has been called, "The Lourdes of America" because of the many healings that have taken place there. People traditionally traveled there by themselves or as a family or group. The First Official Pilgrimage   Many New Mexican soldiers who were members of the New Mexico National Guard were sent to the Philippines during World War II. When Japan attacked many were taken prisoners and forced to walk 60 miles in what today is called the Battan Death March. Many prisoners did not survive the forced walk. Some of those who did survive the walk made a promise, if they lived and

returned home alive, they would make a pilgrimage to El Santuario.   In 1945 there was an organized pilgrimage by many of the survivors. Some did walk 100 miles from as far as Albuquerque and others because of the physical limitations drove to Chimayo. There they were welcome by Archbishop Byrne who blessed them and celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving. This began the tradition of an organized or planned pilgrimage for many people.