Welcome to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe! As you prepare for your visit and pilgrimage to the Shrine, please know that our staff is ready to help make this a special encounter with Our Lord and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our prayer is that you will have a wonderful and memorable experience with us here.
Due to the limited availability of priests today, pilgrim groups often come to the Shrine unaccompanied by a priest. We are happy to provide such groups that wish to include the celebration of Holy Mass or other sacraments. The priests and deacons at the Shrine can be made available to provide sacramental support for your group given advanced notice. This is normally arranged upon registering your visit with our Shrine staff.
Very Rev. Esequiel Sanchez, Rector
Fr. Esequiel Sanchez, has been at the Shrine since March of 2016 where Cardinal Blase J. Cupich appointed him. He has served in various capacities in the Archdiocese and has 25 years of ministerial experience as a priest serving in both, the Hispanic and non-Hispanic Catholic communities. Fr. Sanchez has served on various boards and committees in the Archdiocese and is currently a member of the Sabbatical Board, a Dean for Vicariate I, and a Board member for Presence Holy Family Hospital. His last parish was St. Bede the Venerable Church in Chicago’s South Side. He is fully bilingual (English and Spanish).
Rev. Manuel Padilla, Vice-Rector
Fr. Manuel Padilla has been serving here at the Shrine since July of 2016. Fr. Manuel joins us after his service at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish on Chicago’s North Side. Fr. Manuel has over 19 years of priestly experience in various parish ministries. Most notably at Maternity BVM (Now San Jose Sanchez del Rio Parish), Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and other ministries. His passion is to teach catechetic instruction and leadership. He is fully Bi-Lingual (English and Spanish).
Rev. Jose Sequeira, Associate Rector
Rev. Jose Sequeira is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago with more than 15 years of priestly service and experience. He comes to the Shrine with a plethora of talents and experiences that will help build the spirituality and faith life of our community. Fr. Jose began his ministry at St. Collet in Rolling Meadows and served as Associate Pastor. He then was named Pastor of Our Lady of Charity Parish in the Cicero, IL. He then was named Pastor of St. Nicholas of Tolentine on Chicago’s South Side where he continued to serve the community with distinction. Fr. Jose’s next assignment was to become Pastor of St. Simeon Church in Bellwood, IL where he attended to the spiritual needs of a diverse community of African American, Anglo, and Hispanic Catholics. Prior to being assigned to the Shrine, Fr. Jose served as Pastor of Annunciata Catholic Church in the South Chicago.
Rev. Jesus Puentes, Associate Rector
Fr. Jesus Puentes attended elementary school in Chiquinquira, Colombia. He attended the University of Bogota and the University of St. Thomas of Aquinas, also in Bogota. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Tibu, Colombia, in 1986 by Blessed Pope John Paul II during a papal visit. He incardinated into the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2009. He served as associate pastor (1999-2003) and administrator (2004-07) of St. Bratislava. He also served as administrator of St. Philomena (2007-09) where he served as pastor from 2009-2019.
Groups bringing their own Priests or Deacons:
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is open and available to all pilgrims. We would like to make a special invitation to all priests and deacons to bring their parishioners and community members for a special visit. If a priest from the Archdiocese of Chicago would like to celebrate the Eucharist with his community, he only needs to inform our parish office upon making the arrangements for their visit. We will make all of the necessary arrangements, e.g. vestments, chalices, Missals, etc. We have Missals available in English, Spanish, and Italian.
Groups who visit us from outside the Archdiocese of Chicago are also welcome. We invite all clergy who wish to celebrate the Eucharist here at the Shrine to please provide the requisite “Letter of Good Standing” from your diocese prior to your arrival in order to make your visit special with your pilgrims.
If you have any questions regarding requesting the services of our priests or helping arrange a visit with your parish community, please contact Cenia Jaimes, our Office Manager, at 847-294-1806