Our Lady of Guadalupe's Pilgrim Statue Comes to Des Moines – Antonio Banuelos – 07/28/2026

Meet the Pilgrim Mother Statue Antonio Banuelos, who helps lead the Diocese of Des Moines' Office of Hispanic Ministry alongside his wife, introduces the "Pilgrim Mother" (Madre Peregrina) statue — a natural-sized sculpture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, complete with real hair and glass eyes, that has been touring dioceses worldwide ahead of the 500th anniversary of her 1531 apparition to Saint Juan Diego in 2031. Where to See Her in the Diocese of Des Moines Saint Ambrose Cathedral, Des Moines — through August 4 Our Lady's Immaculate Heart, Ankeny — August 6-13 Saint Boniface, Waukee — August 15-21 Saint Bernard, Osceola — August 23-September 2 Corpus Christi, Council Bluffs — September 4-11 Full event details: St. Ambrose Cathedral statue visit | Ankeny statue visit | Waukee statue visit What to Expect Each stop offers a roughly half-hour "pilgrim experience" covering the story of the apparitions, a decade of the Rosary, and the chance to venerate third-class relics touched to the original tilma in Mexico City. Visitors can write prayer petitions on white ribbons, which are carried to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe for a special Mass celebrated by Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Mexico City. The 500th Anniversary In 1531, Our Lady appeared to Saint Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill outside Mexico City, leaving her image imprinted on his tilma — an event Antonio Banuelos calls the most successful missionary moment in the history of the New World. The Church marks the 500th anniversary of that apparition in 2031. #OurLadyOfGuadalupe #PilgrimMotherStatue #DioceseOfDesMoines #CatholicFaith #SaintAmbroseCathedral #CatholicPodcast Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm. ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show. 🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKSYou can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio:Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & DevotionsThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.