About Basilica Of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine · San Juan, Texas
The Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle – National Shrine is a Roman Catholic minor basilica and national shrine in San Juan, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. It draws more than one million pilgrims a year, making it one of the most-visited Marian shrines in the United States. The site originated as a humble 1920 mission chapel of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.), grew into a regional shrine after 1949 under Rev. Jose Maria Azpiazu, O.M.I., and was famously rebuilt after a small airplane crashed into the original church during Mass on October 23, 1970. The present church, dedicated on April 19, 1980 before an estimated 50,000 faithful, was designated a National Shrine in 1998 and elevated to minor basilica status by Pope John Paul II on June 12, 1999.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Our Lady of San Juan del Valle (BVM, title of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos)
- Rector
- Rev. Jorge A. Gómez (Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brownsville (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
This is one of the most-visited Marian shrines in the United States, drawing more than a million pilgrims each year to its forty stained-glass windows, life-size bronze Stations of the Cross, and the venerated statue of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle. Bilingual daily Masses, long daily confession hours, and Friday all-day Eucharistic Adoration make it easy to root a prayer life here, while the St. Eugene de Mazenod Renewal Center offers 30 bedrooms, conference halls, and a private chapel for retreats. Onsite hospitality — the Basilica Hotel, Religious Gift Shop, and free guided tours (in English and Spanish) — and major annual feasts such as the February 2 Fiesta and the December 11–12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe make the parish both a true parish home and a national pilgrimage destination.
Mass times at Basilica Of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Saturday: 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 1:30 PM and 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Bilingual priests available daily in the Reconciliation Chapel
Adoration times
- Friday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, following the 8:00 AM Mass
Our History
The story of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle reaches back to a 1623 miracle in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico, where a child killed in an acrobatic accident was restored to life through the intercession of the Virgin. Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate brought that devotion to South Texas in 1920 with a small wooden chapel in San Juan. In 1949 Rev. Jose Maria Azpiazu, O.M.I., commissioned a replica of the famous statue in Guadalajara and installed it in the chapel, transforming it into a regional pilgrimage site. The first dedicated shrine opened on May 2, 1954, with Bishop Mariano S. Garriaga's approval, and grew until the catastrophic October 23, 1970 airplane crash destroyed the church and killed only the pilot — widely seen as miraculous protection. Bishop John J. Fitzpatrick oversaw the construction of today's much larger basilica, groundbreaking November 27, 1976, and dedication April 19, 1980 before 50,000 faithful, with Cardinal Humberto Medeiros present.
- 1920 – Rev. Alfonso Jalbert, O.M.I., founds wooden mission chapel
- 1949 – Rev. Jose Maria Azpiazu, O.M.I., brings the replica statue from Guadalajara
- May 2, 1954 – First shrine dedicated under Bishop Mariano S. Garriaga (Diocese of Corpus Christi)
- October 23, 1970 – Airplane crash destroys the original church; only the tower survives
- 1972 – Bishop John J. Fitzpatrick separates the shrine from St. John the Baptist parish
- November 27, 1976 – Groundbreaking for the present basilica
- April 19, 1980 – Dedication with Cardinal Medeiros and an estimated 50,000 pilgrims
- October 16, 1993 – Outdoor Stations of the Cross with 30 bronze figures dedicated
- February 2, 1995 – Exterior mosaic 'Jesus Presents His Mother' blessed
- March 24, 1998 – Designated a National Shrine by the NCCB
- June 12, 1999 – Elevated to minor basilica by Pope John Paul II
Feasts, Novenas & Special Devotions
The Basilica's liturgical year revolves around Marian feasts, the most important being the February 2 Feast of Our Lady of San Juan (with a nine-day novena January 25 – February 2) and the December 11–12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with mariachis, matachines and Midnight Mass. Other annual events include the Jesus Heals bilingual retreat, the Men's Priesthood Discernment Retreat on the Sacred Heart, and the Feast of the Assumption.
- Novena to Our Lady of San Juan del Valle – January 25 – February 2
- Feast of Our Lady of San Juan – February 2
- Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe – December 11–12 (with mariachis, matachines, norteño bands, Midnight Mass)
- Feast of the Assumption
- Jesus Heals Retreat (annual, bilingual)
- Men's Priesthood Discernment Retreat – Fatherhood & the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Architecture & Sacred Art
The present basilica, completed in 1980, seats approximately 1,800 and is built on the land adjoining the surviving tower of the 1954 church destroyed in 1970. Its most distinctive interior feature is a cycle of forty stained-glass windows: twenty depicting Martyrs of the Church (such as St. Maximilian Kolbe) and twenty depicting the Mysteries of the Rosary. On the exterior wall, the mosaic mural 'Jesus Presents His Mother' was blessed on February 2, 1995, and a three-quarter-mile Way of the Cross with 30 life-size bronze statues, dedicated in 1993, surrounds the grounds.
- Capacity: ~1,800
- 40 stained-glass windows: 20 Martyrs + 20 Rosary Mysteries
- Mosaic mural 'Jesus Presents His Mother' (blessed 1995)
- 30 life-size bronze Stations of the Cross along a 3/4-mile path (dedicated 1993)
- Surviving 1954 bell tower (south of the new basilica)
Pilgrimage & Visiting
The Basilica welcomes visitors of all faiths and offers free guided tours for individuals and groups in English and Spanish. Pilgrims can plan a day visit, an overnight pilgrimage at the Basilica Hotel, or a multi-day retreat at the Renewal Center.
- Free guided tours — call 956-787-0033 and ask for Sr. Rose Carmel
- Religious Gift Shop open seven days a week
- Free pilgrim parking surrounds the Basilica and Plaza
- 15 minutes east of McAllen on US-83; 25 minutes north of Reynosa
- Text-to-Give line: 956-275-1311
St. Eugene de Mazenod Renewal Center
Named for St. Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Renewal Center sits on the Basilica grounds and offers 30 bedrooms, conference halls, meeting rooms, a dining area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a private chapel for retreats and days of reflection. The center accommodates up to 90 overnight guests and is available for men's, women's, and youth retreats. Customizable catering, sound systems, fine linens, and 24-hour security staff are provided.
- 30 bedrooms / capacity for 90 guests
- Conference halls, meeting rooms, dining area, full kitchen
- Private chapel on-site
- Customizable catering and event support
- 24-hour security and hospitality staff
Basilica Hotel & Religious Gift Shop
The on-site Basilica Hotel offers simple, restful rooms for pilgrims and families who want to stay overnight on the shrine grounds. The Religious Gift Shop, open seven days a week, carries handmade rosaries, medals, devotional books, statues of Our Lady, and gifts 'touched to the Shrine.'
- Basilica Hotel — reservations 956-787-0033 ext. 223
- Gift Shop hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Sat–Sun 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Staff & Leadership
The Basilica is led by Rector Rev. Jorge A. Gómez (ordained at this Basilica in 2004 and appointed Rector in 2017) and Assistant to the Rector Rev. Mario Castro. The lay staff and religious include Sr. Rose C. Garay, MCDP (Pilgrim Outreach Director), as well as department leads in administration, finance, HR, worship, physical facilities, technology, security, the Renewal Center, and the Hotel.
- Fr. Jorge A. Gómez — Rector / Pastor (appointed 2017)
- Fr. Mario Castro — Assistant to the Rector
- Sr. Rose C. Garay, MCDP — Pilgrim Outreach Director
- Frida Hioe — Comptroller
- Melinda Singleterry — Human Resources
- Daniel McGuffin — Technology
- Sandra Reyna — Worship
- Martin Lopez — Physical Facilities
- Victor Lemus — Security
- Mary Huerta — Renewal Center / Hotel coordinator
Giving & Support
The Basilica is supported by the generosity of more than one million annual pilgrims. In addition to in-person offerings, donors can give by text message (956-275-1311), through the Shelby Next Giving app on iOS/Android, or through wills, bequests, and memorial gifts (flowers, vestments, altar necessities in memory of a loved one).
- Text-to-Give: 956-275-1311
- Shelby Next Giving app (iOS/Android)
- Wills, bequests and memorial gifts
- Office contact: 956-787-0033
Diocese of Brownsville
The Basilica is under the direction of the Diocese of Brownsville, whose current ordinary is Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores (since 2010). The Diocese of Brownsville was erected in 1965 by Pope Paul VI, taking its territory from the Diocese of Corpus Christi; the area was part of Corpus Christi when the original 1954 shrine was built. Bishops of Brownsville have included Adolph Marx (1965), Humberto Sousa Medeiros (1966–1970, later Cardinal Archbishop of Boston), John Joseph Fitzpatrick (1971–1991), Enrique San Pedro (1991–1994), Raymundo Joseph Peña (1994–2009), and Daniel E. Flores (2010–present).
- Diocese of Brownsville (est. 1965)
- Current Bishop: Most Rev. Daniel E. Flores (2010–present)
- Diocese website: cdob.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Alfonso Jalbert, O.M.I.1920
Founded the original wooden mission chapel in San Juan as a mission of St. Margaret Mary Church, Pharr.
- Rev. Jose Maria Azpiazu, O.M.I.1949
Pastor of St. John the Baptist parish, San Juan; commissioned a replica of the Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos in Guadalajara and installed it in the chapel, sparking devotion that led to the 1954 shrine.
- Rev. Patricio Dominguez, O.M.I.1970 (at time of plane crash)
Helped rescue the statue of Our Lady from the burning shrine; led the community in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
- Rev. Ron Anderson1970 (at time of plane crash)
Diocesan priest who saved the Blessed Sacrament from the fire.
- Rev. Basil Onyia1999–2001
Nigerian priest assigned as assistant pastor of the Basilica (1999); removed and recalled to Nigeria in 2001 amid abuse allegations.
- Rev. Jorge A. Gómez2017–present
Ordained at this Basilica in 2004; appointed Rector in 2017.
 "Basilica Of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine")