The Annual Virgen de Zapopan Pilgrimage
took place Sunday July 13th in Chapala.
"The Chapala government expected around 12,000 people to attend the festivities, centered on offering prayers for a favorable rainy season. The cherished Queen of the Lake will remain in Chapala overnight and returned to Zapopan on Monday."
"Every July, the Virgin of Zapopan, which is one of Mexico’s most important Catholic icons, makes an annual visit to Chapala. She travels with an escort of dancers, bikers and clergy from her home in the basilica in Zapopan, located in the suburbs northwest of Guadalajara, for a procession and mass. As Lake Chapala’s reina (queen), she visits Chapala each year to bless the lake and bring good fortune to those who earn their livelihood from its waters."
History of the Virgin of Zapopan
Our Lady of the Expectation of Zapopan, Our Lady of Zapopan, or the Virgin of Zapopan is one of the most venerated images in the state of Jalisco. She is also known as La Generala, The Queen and Mother of Jalisco, The Star of Evangelization, among other names given to her by the people of Jalisco.
The devotion to the venerated image of Our Lady of Zapopan has its roots in the evangelization process of the 16th century. In 1530, the Franciscan friar Antonio de Segovia arrived in the Atemajac valley, carrying on his chest a small image of the Immaculate Conception. The image had been made by indigenous hands, near Lake Patzcuaro, using the technique employed by the Purepecha people, that is, kneading corn cane with orchid honey, and with that paste making figures. It is a small image, barely thirty centimeters, that was part of the missionary’s pedagogical material.
Over time, it has become a symbol of faith and hope for thousands of devotees. The image, known for its small size and serene face, has witnessed countless miracles and is the object of deep devotion.
