I dedicate this retablo to Saint Nicholas because we bought a property just before the quarantine began. When there is nowhere to go we kept us sane breaking our backs every weekend in our beloved “quarantine garden”.

Napa Valley, California, 2020

I offer this retablo to give thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for looking after my daughter when she stopped going out on the streets of East LA wearing the gang colors protesting over George Floyd’s death. She changed this idea after meeting neighbor kids playing soccer. She loves playing soccer with them, so she changed her clothes and stayed playing with the kids.

June 1, 2020

To the Holy Virgin of San Juan, I dedicate this retablo thanking for protecting me from the immigration police when they were running after me. I entrusted myself to her and was able to get to Rio Bravo, hide myself and cross it. With her blessing, I came to California and got a job. I saved good money and opened my tacos shop here in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco.

Your devoted Isidro O.
June 17, 1990

My uncle Pancho and I live in California. One day I returned with groceries for the quarantine and I almost had a heart attack seeing my uncle going to drink a bottle of disinfectant. I thank the Holy Child of Atocha because I arrived in time to stop him, otherwise he would have ended up in the hospital with poisoning, following Donald Trump’s advices.

2020

Thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for protecting us from the immigration police so we could hop over the wall, got to San Diego, California, and found there jobs as builders. Pancho, my son Juan and I are fulfilling our promise with this.

Mexico, 2016

I love dancing Argentinian tango and practiced very hard for a tango competition. At the same time I have a stage fright during competitions. I thank Saint Nicholas with this retablo that I had a very talented tang partner to practice for a few months, my tango skills improved and the competition got canceled.

San Francisco, 2020

I used to wok as a taxi driver at the Los Angeles airport, California. One day I was waiting for a passenger and saw, with excitement, Elvis Presley arriving in his limousine. When he got out his car I saw his wallet falling off and he didn’t notice. I went to pick it up and gave it back. I thank Saint Patrick because, for this good deed, my rock idol gave me a photo with his autograph which I still keep.

Juventino Flores

We thank you, Virgin of Guadalupe, for helping us to get to the United States when we were crossing Rio Bravo. The current was strong, and the river was dragging us so we couldn’t swim. But you helped us, and we got to USA to find job and earn some money to live.

The Martinez family
Los Angeles, California, July 20, 1940

I, Timoteo Rodriguez Garcia, and his relatives dedicate this retablo because we almost drown in the strong current trying to cross the Rio Bravo following the American Dream before Donald Trump would build the wall. Crazy fucked up gringo, racist, ku-klux-klan, his whole country is Mexico, bald fatso. Long live the Mexican workers!

Los Angeles, California
June 18, 2017

I thank God and Jesus Malverde for all their benedictions and for protecting my children, my husband and all our family.

From Sinaloa to California
Grateful family, 2000

I thank Jesus Valverde for saving me from dying. When we arrived to California (USA), my guide got mad because of being heavily drugged. I entrusted my life to him [Jesus] and could escape. In this retablo, I show this miracle.

Jose P.
Navolato, Sinaloa, 1990

Once there was such a terrible heat in California, that all the corn dry and fell out of mealies. And the old Billy Dorset’s bull decided that it was snow and froze to death. I am grateful to the Holy Virgin of Zapopan for this idea occurred only to the bull.

Virgin of Guadalupe, I ask you, from the bottom of my heart, do not let mr. Osama bin Laden to attack U.S. again, especially with nuclear bombs, because my children work there, in Los Angeles, California. Let the piece reign and no war, My Holy Mother.

Silvia Hernandez
September 11, 2001