Welcome to the Basilica

First, I would like to thank you for all that you do for the Basilica; what you do and what you give does not go unnoticed.

I have been amazed by the generosity of the people that venerate la Virgencita and honor the Basilica with their presence. Experiencing the devotion of the pilgrims has been a wonderful experience that strengthens my spirituality and increases my devotion to Our Blessed Mother.

​The Basilica is a place where people experience God in different ways. They experience God through His Word proclaimed at every Mass. They find God in other pilgrims that come to the foot of Our Lady of San Juan with a wounded soul, and rest in seeing Her, and in being seen by Her. They find God in the sacrament of reconciliation, and in receiving the Eucharist, which is the source and summit of our faith. Many encounter God through the beauty of our campus, walking around the Stations of the Cross or contemplating the art and colorful stained-glass windows.

These encounters and religious experiences would not be possible without your prayers and contributions, which help us maintain the Basilica functioning and beautiful. We do our best to preserve the Basilica as a place of encounter with God and with others. Please pray for the thousands of pilgrims that visit La Virgencita every week, and help us with your generosity to facilitate those encounters with God through Mary.

Being the Rector of such an important Shrine is a blessing accompanied by a significant challenge; your prayers are greatly appreciated, God brought me here and He knows why. I entrust my future and the future of the Basilica to God’s providence.

Thank you once more for your generosity and remain assured of my prayers for you and your loved ones. Make plans to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle in the near future.

 Fr Jorge A. Gómez
Rector