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

I dedicate this to the Virgin of San Juan thanking her for delivering me from dying drowning in Rio Bravo. Thanks to David and Miguel, two Salvadorians, who saved my life. Together we managed to get to the United States and achieve the American dream.

Angel
Jalisco, Mexico, May 10, 2011

Virgin of Guadalupe, we thank you for we met each other 10 years ago in New York and made our love official. But today, after knowing about Donald Trump winning the US presidency, we decided to return to Mexico in fear of being deported and humiliated by his threatening and discriminatory ideas.

Ramon & Rosa, Puebla, 14–11–2017

Immigration police caught me when I was working without documents. They accused me of stealing and threw in a jail in Dallas, Texas, US. Finding myself in this trouble I implored the Protectress of the Mexicans, Our Lady of Guadalupe for my freedom. She worked me the miracle of proving my innocence. Now I give thanks and keep on working as it should be.

Facundo P. T.
July 4, 1960

We wholeheartedly thank Saint Toribio Romo for helping my little brother and me to cross the border. We wanted to see our mother again, because few years ago she went to work in United States leaving us with our grandmother. Thanks to his divine mercy we survived the tough desert and can reunite with our mother again.

Teodoro y Jacinto Rios — Sonora, Mexico

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

Pedro gives infinite thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe for letting him return back to Mexico safe and sound after he was beating till unconscious in the Arizona desert when the immigration police caught him trying to cross the US border only to earn some dollars to support his family.

January 25, 2001

Thank you Virgin of Guadalupe for my son and I are together again. We were separated by the zero tolerance policy—he was sent to Texas and I was deported. I asked to protect him and to let me come back for him. And that happened 49 days later.

Grateful Honduran, 9–8–2018

I dedicate this retablo to Jesus Christ because the great city of New York approved my project for the Elvis Presley memorial next to the Statue of Liberty.

Señor Daniel and his son Pedro thank the Lord of Chalma for giving them strength to cross the Arizona desert and arriving to U.S. to fulfill their American dream and earn some money to support their family in Mexico.

1985

I dedicate this humble retablo to the Virgin of Guadalupe with eternal gratitude for saving the life of my son Manuel. He worked as a waiter in a restaurant in the World Trade Center, but on that September 11 he woke up sick and didn’t go to the work. Thanks to this miracle the Virgin saved him for me. My mother, I ask you for eternal rest for those innocent souls who died on that tragic day.

Socorro Alvarez