The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Catholic place of worship in Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
The Church is located in the center of the town square. It was built between 1930 and 1940. It is not based on a sophisticated design, but is a summary of the ideas of the parish priest and the rustic urban landscape of the past. It has a neoclassical structure, and the crown sitting on the main building is indicative of European Baroque-style temples.
The original crown of the church was eroded due to the weather and was restored in 1981, however, in 1995 it was damaged by a strong earthquake and replaced by a temporary fiberglass structure. In 2009, Carlos Terres, a Jalisco artist, sculpted and rebuilt a replacement for the crown. The church towers reflect the Renaissance era. In parish documents, Father Luis Ramirez refers to the Church as “an expression of the art of the people, symbolizing the authentic urban aspect of Puerto Vallarta.
It is open daily, with English services available on Saturdays and mass in Spanish and English on Sundays. The Church, built in the 1930s, stands on the original foundations of a chapel initially dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1901. The Church is dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, also known as the Virgin Mary, patron saint of Mexico and considered a religious symbol of the Catholic faith and female empowerment. December 12 is her feast day, coinciding with the date of her first appearance.
To celebrate this festival, many people in the Mexican community display altars in their homes, with paintings of Our Lady of Guadalupe surrounded by flowers, candles, and individual touches. During these dates, members of many churches, including the church in Puerto Vallarta, Fireworks are set off after the evening rosary before December 12, commemorating the same day in 1531 when Our Lady of Guadalupe had her first interaction with a Mexican man named Juan Diego, essentially establishing Catholicism in Mexico.
She is depicted as a dark-skinned woman whose dialect is Nahuatl, Juan Diego’s native language. Originally classified as a symbol of religion and faith, her importance today outweighs her role in Catholicism. Today, some see her as a figure of Mexican patriotism and liberation.
Our Lady of Guadalupe and her great crown
The Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the crown of downtown Puerto Vallarta, being a tourist icon of the city.
The Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe began its construction in 1903. Under the orders of the first priest of the parish: Francisco Ayala. As a curious fact, it is said that the body of this priest rests under the foundations of the church.
The place was chosen because since 1883 there was already a small chapel there in honor of the Guadalupana. A simple brick facade that over time and its progress sought to impose itself with its mix of different types of architecture: neoclassical, baroque and Renaissance.
Due to the Cristero war, the construction was stopped for several years, continuing with the upper dome and the organ choir, celebrating the 420th anniversary of the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe according to the Mexican Catholic tradition. Today it is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is a tribute to the Basilica of Mexico City. Inside the parish there is an oil painting of the Virgin of Guadalupe made by the artist from Guadalajara, Ignacio Ramirez. In addition to beautiful paintings, Saints, Virgins and Christs.
The parish has different religious art pieces that decorate its walls and its white marble altar. The confessionals are carved in wood. Each element of the Guadalupe Parish demonstrates the faith of the parishioners.
The construction was finished in 1960 and its original crown was the finishing touch in 1963. Among the people of Vallarta it is known as the Cathedral, but it is important to distinguish that to have that title you need to have an appointed bishop.
The Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe stands with its great crown
The original design of the crown was made of concrete and it is mistakenly said that it is a replica of the jewel of the monarchy used by the Empress Carlota, wife of Maximilian of Habsburg, Emperor of Mexico from 1864 to 1967. The reality is that the design was a creation of different parish priests and that Carlota never used a crown, but rather an empress tiara.
With erosion and the passage of time it suffered obvious damage, it was restored until 1981. In 1995 with the earthquake that occurred in Colima and that had an aftershock in Puerto Vallarta, the great crown was completely damaged. A second version of fiberglass was placed in the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe, but due to the weight and type of material it was crushed.
In 2009 Carlos Terres was in charge of the new crown respecting the original design but adding new elements. This is the crown that we have today.
Guadalupe pilgrimages
The first days of December are a time of celebration and joy. Pilgrimages are made along the main street of the center to the parish, prior to the celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Dances, music, good food, lights and games are the main characteristics of the celebration.
Our Lady of Guadalupe with her large crown has the doors open to Vallarta residents and tourists throughout the year.
During the rest of the year the bells ring constantly, in this beautiful Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe various ceremonies take place. Weddings, baptisms, communions and much more. Local and foreign people reaffirm their faith. There are bilingual masses for our tourist friends.
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