I thank the Virgin of Zapopan for looking after me and helping me to come back to my family. I went to the USA for work, and I’m happy to be back in my home country. Now I’m selling cotton candy at the town square, and the things are going well.

Meliton Cordova, Zapopan, Jalisco, 1957

My father and I went to work to the United States and worked as carpenters. We give infinite thanks to Saint Martin the Cavalryman for we returned to our country. With all the money we made, we opened our own carpentry shop in our town, and we have a lot of work.

Artemio and Pedro Velasco ~ Chignahuapan, Puebla

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

Holy Virgin of San Juan, I dedicate this retablo to you for letting my sons, Juan and Pedro, cross the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande) and get to USA, in spite of one of them being nearly drowned.

A grateful mother
Jalisco, 1983

I thank the Merciful Lord who wouldn’t let me die freezing on my way to USA where I went for a job but got caught in a blizzard.

Arturo Gonzalez Solis
January 11, 1974
San Miguel Allende, Gto.

With all my heart, I ask the Saint Lord of Chalma to bless our way so we could get to the USA, without being caught by the immigration police, and to fulfill our American dream to work honestly and to earn some dollars to support our family which stays in Mexico.

Sr. Antonio and his sons Pedro and Pablo
January 25, 1985

Mercedes Ramirez wholeheartedly thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe for the miracle that her husband Juan came back from the United States to spend Christmas and New Year with her and their two little kids. He was gone for entire year, and they couldn’t see him and missed him very much.

Puebla, Mexico

Mercedes Salazar wholeheartedly thanks the Virgin of Guadalupe for the miracle that her husband Alberto came back from the United States to spend Christmas and New Year with her and their two little kids. He was gone for entire year, and they couldn’t see him and missed him very much.

Puebla

I thank the Virgin of San Juan for helping me to get safe and sound to the United States, because we crossed the desert.

Sr. Nicolas Prieto Arredondo Salano
August 10, 1977, Morelia, Michoacan

Señor Daniel and his son Pablo thank the Virgin of Guadalupe for giving them her support and helping to go on crossing the Arizona desert and arriving to U.S. to fulfill their American dream and earn some money to support their family.

January 25, 1985, Mexico City

May you be blessed, Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, for helping me to get back to Mexico alive. The migration police beat me till I lost my senses in Arizona desert which I had crossed to earn some dollars.

El Beto, 2009

I dedicate this retablo to the people of the United States, for all those innocent died on September 11, 2001. Virgin of Guadalupe, send them your comfort, let there be peace and no war, and leave Mother Earth in peace.

From Mexico to the World
Alfredo Vilchis Roque, neighborhood artist

I dedicate this humble retablo to Saint Jude Thaddeus asking him for the eternal rest of hundreds of firefighters died trying to save people on that tragic September 11, 2001. I’m also asking for nothing of this kind would happen ever again.