Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Juquila

About Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Juquila

📜 History

The devotion to the image venerated in this sanctuary has its roots in the colonial period, when a Dominican friar known as Fray Jordán de Santa Catalina gave a carved wooden figure, of Spanish manufacture, to a peasant from the locality of Amialtepec as compensation for his services. The image became the center of popular devotion in that community. In 1633, a fire caused by the burning of grasslands spread rapidly and destroyed the wooden church and the houses of Amialtepec; however, the sculpture remained standing, with its garments unburned, though slightly blackened by the smoke. Following this event, the inhabitants of Santa Catarina Juquila managed the transfer of the image to their community, where the sanctuary that houses it today was erected. Centuries later, the devotion to this image achieved pontifical recognition: in February 2014, Pope Francis granted the Pontifical Coronation, an act that was executed on October 8 of that same year by the apostolic nuncio in Mexico, Christophe Pierre.

🏛️ Architecture

The sanctuary is located in the center of Santa Catarina Juquila, in the coastal region of the state of Oaxaca, at an approximate altitude of 1,432 meters above sea level. The construction follows the typical scheme of colonial parish churches in southern Mexico, with a façade oriented toward the main plaza of the municipality. The main structure houses inside the three-dimensional image that measures approximately 30 centimeters in height and 4 centimeters in thickness, carved in wood. The image represents the Virgin Mary with a tunic over which falls a mantle that starts from the shoulders and is gathered under the left arm; the hair falls over the garments and the hands are joined over the chest. The enclosure has been adapted over time to accommodate the large influx of pilgrims, a condition that distinguishes this temple from others of the same size in the region. The architectural information available in documented sources does not specify construction dates, specific materials, or the names of architects or stonemasons responsible for the work.

⭐ Key Facts

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Juquila is one of the most visited Marian pilgrimage centers in Mexico. The image receives hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, coming from states such as Oaxaca, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Estado de México, Guerrero, Veracruz, and Quintana Roo, which makes Santa Catarina Juquila a destination of national reach. The Virgin of Juquila holds the title of second patron saint of the state of Oaxaca, with the Virgin of Solitude being the first. Its main feast day is celebrated on December 8, a date that corresponds to the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception within the Catholic liturgical calendar; during those days, traditional dances, music, and festivities typical of the region take place. The Pontifical Coronation granted by Pope Francis in 2014 and formalized on October 8 of that year by the apostolic nuncio Christophe Pierre, reinforced the institutional recognition of this devotion within the Catholic Church.

Santa Catarina Juquila receives pilgrims throughout the year, with greater concentration in the days before and after December 8. The sanctuary is located in the center of the municipality, accessible from Oaxaca by road. Those who arrive at the place join a tradition of devotion that spans several centuries and has united communities from different regions of Mexico around the same image.

✍️ Curated by Thomas Anderson · Last updated: 2025-07-24
Information verified by the EncuentraIglesias editorial team