Our Lady of Guadalupe

FINAL EDITION, INCLUDES DEDICATION CEREMONY

In the summer of 2008, Catholics from Northern New Mexico embarked on a journey from Mexico City with a 12-foot, 4,000-pound statue of the Patron Saint of the Americas - Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe - one of the most important symbols in Hispanic culture.

The statue, by renowned Mexican artist Georgina "Gogy" Farías, was to be placed in front of the Santuario de Guadalupe in Santa Fe, New Mexico where it was destined to be a Santa Fe landmark.

The journey to New Mexico by the three dozen pilgrims and their bronze statue followed El Camino Real, the historic route taken from Mexico City to the northern outpost of Santa Fe by early Spanish settlers.

The eye-opening cultural experience helped bridge the culture of Old Mexico and the people of New Mexico. They found they had many things in common. But one was especially important: devotion to Our Lady.

It was a journey of faith and one of discovery.