About Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe · Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Santuario de Guadalupe) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is the oldest extant shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in the United States, built between 1776 and 1796 as a tiny adobe chapel by Spanish colonists along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe and comprises both the historic 18th-century adobe Santuario chapel and the larger modern Our Lady of Guadalupe Church next door, dedicated in 1961, as well as a Perpetual Adoration chapel, outdoor shrines to Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, and the Divine Mercy, and the El Cerro de Tepeyac devotional path. The parish is bilingual (English and Spanish), serves a diverse community of lifelong parishioners, newcomers, visitors, and a large Spanish-speaking immigrant population, and welcomes pilgrims from across the country who come to venerate its famous 1783 altar screen by Mexican baroque painter José de Alcíbar — the largest painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the United States.
- Established
- 1776
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Rector
- Rev. Tien-Tri Nguyen
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Why belong here
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe offers the rare combination of a living, diverse bilingual (English/Spanish) parish anchored to the oldest surviving Guadalupe shrine in the United States — a place where you can attend a weekday Mass in the original 1777 adobe chapel, spend an hour before the Blessed Sacrament in a Perpetual Adoration Chapel, walk the El Cerro de Tepeyac devotional path through six mosaic stations, and venerate the great 1783 Alcíbar altar screen. The parish is known for warmly welcoming lifelong Santa Fe parishioners, newcomers, visitors, and a large Spanish-speaking immigrant community, and the Shrine complex also ministers to historic mission churches in Tesuque, Rio en Medio, and San Ysidro — making it a true spiritual crossroads of New Mexico for anyone seeking authentic devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Mass times at Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration available in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel (access limited to committed adorers)
- First Fridays 1:00 PM – 5:45 PM in the Main Church, ending with Benediction at 5:45 PM
History of the Santuario de Guadalupe
Built between 1776 and 1796 along the banks of the Santa Fe River, the Santuario de Guadalupe is the oldest surviving shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in the United States. A 1775 letter from the Bishop of Durango in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe archives already grants 'licensia' for the 'Guadalupe of Santa Fe,' and the celebrated José de Alcíbar altar screen was painted and signed in 1783 after being transported in sections from Mexico City. The church served as the spiritual center of the south end of Santa Fe — particularly for farmers along El Camino Real — and was visited by Vicar-General Fernandez San Vicente in 1826, who found it 'not fit for use as a house of God.' After decades of limited use (the feast of December 12 was its main day), the building was rescued in 1881 when Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy gave it to the English-speaking congregation under Father Defouri. A disastrous fire on June 27, 1922 destroyed the roof, spire, and frescoes but spared the adobe walls and altar screen; it was rebuilt in Mission Revival style. The 1973 transfer to the Guadalupe Historic Foundation (under Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez) saved it from demolition and funded the 1976–78 restoration, and in 2005 the Santuario was returned to the parish and re-dedicated on August 5, 2006.
- 1775: Bishop of Durango licenses the 'Guadalupe of Santa Fe' chapel
- 1776–1796: Adobe church constructed on cruciform plan with three-foot-thick adobe walls
- 1783: José de Alcíbar's monumental altar screen installed (largest Guadalupe painting in the U.S.)
- 1817 & 1826: Canonical visitations find the chapel in poor repair
- 1881–1884: Remodeled under Archbishop Lamy and Father Defouri (pitched roof, spire, mock-Gothic windows)
- 1922 (June 27): Fire destroys roof and steeple; rebuilt in Mission Revival style
- 1961 (Dec 17): New Our Lady of Guadalupe Church dedicated next door; Santuario closed for regular worship
- 1973: Deeded to non-profit Guadalupe Historic Foundation for restoration
- 1976–78: Exterior restored closer to original adobe appearance
- 1989: Underground cemetery with 63 burials (c. 1820–1890) discovered during foundation work
- 2005 (July 30): Santuario transferred back to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
- 2006 (Aug 5): Re-dedicated as a place of worship by Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan
- 2008 (Aug 16): 12-ft bronze statue by Doña Georgina Farias unveiled in courtyard
Architecture & Art
The Shrine's defining architectural feature is its 18th-century cruciform adobe construction, with original hand-hewn vigas, corbels, a packed-dirt floor, and a three-tiered bell tower — the timbers of which were salvaged from the earlier military chapel La Castrense. The 1880s additions of a pitched roof, spire, and mock-Gothic windows and the 1920s California Mission-style bell tower and stained-glass windows reflect evolving tastes; the 1976–78 renovation partially returned the exterior to its adobe simplicity while preserving some Mission details. Inside, the centerpiece is the 1783 full-body altar screen by Mexican baroque painter José de Alcíbar, the largest painting of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the United States.
- Cruciform Latin-cross floor plan with 3-foot-thick adobe walls
- Original vigas, corbels, and choir loft from La Castrense military chapel
- 1783 José de Alcíbar altar screen — largest Guadalupe painting in the U.S.
- Mission Revival bell tower and stained-glass windows (post-1922)
- 12-ft bronze 'Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe' (2008) by Doña Georgina Farias
Shrines & Outdoor Devotions
The Shrine grounds feature a small devotional garden with outdoor shrines dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, and the Divine Mercy, together with the El Cerro de Tepeyac walking path — six tile mosaics by artist Arlene Cisneros Sena illustrating the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego on Tepeyac hill. The 12-foot bronze statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe by Mexican sculptor Doña Georgina Farias (2008) greets visitors in the courtyard.
- Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (inside the historic chapel)
- Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes
- Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima
- Shrine of the Divine Mercy
- El Cerro de Tepeyac walking path with six mosaic stations
- Courtyard: 12-ft bronze 'Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe' (2008) by Doña Georgina Farias
Parish & Mission Churches
In addition to the historic Santuario and the modern church at 417 Agua Fría St, the Shrine parish ministers to three historic mission churches in the Santa Fe area, with Sunday Mass celebrated at the missions on alternating Sundays at noon.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Church / Santuario (parish church, Santa Fe)
- Tesuque Mission Church — Sunday noon (alternating)
- Rio en Medio — Our Lady of Sorrows (Sunday noon, alternating)
- San Ysidro Mission (supervised by the parish)
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The Shrine is pastored by Rev. Tien-Tri Nguyen, who led the parish's 'Rediscover the Soul of Santa Fe' initiative and the return of the Santuario to parish control in 2005, followed by its re-dedication on August 5, 2006 by Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan. Earlier pastors of record include Father Defouri (appointed July 20, 1881 by Archbishop Lamy for the English-speaking community) and Father H. P. M. LeGuillou, who was appointed in 1931 when the parish returned to full status.
- Rev. Tien-Tri Nguyen — current Pastor
- Father Defouri — pastor from 1881 (first pastor under Archbishop Lamy for the English-speaking community)
- Father H. P. M. LeGuillou — pastor from 1931
Planning Your Visit
The Shrine sits at the east end of Agua Fría Street at the corner of Guadalupe Street (often listed as 100 S. Guadalupe St.), within easy walking distance of the Santa Fe Plaza, the Guadalupe corridor shops, and the Railyard arts district. Agua Fría Street itself is the remnant of El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (the Royal Road to the Interior Land), later known as the Chihuahua Trail. The property is recognized by the U.S. National Park Service as part of the Santa Fe, El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, and Old Spanish National Historic Trails.
- Address: 417 Agua Fría St, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (corner of Agua Fría & Guadalupe)
- Phone: (505) 983-8868
- Website: santuariodeguadalupesantafe.com
- Walking distance from the Plaza and the Railyard
- NPS historic site on El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro / Old Spanish Trails
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Defouri (J. B. Defouri)1881–
Appointed by Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy on July 20, 1881 as pastor of the English-speaking people of Santa Fe and given charge of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Previously served as Vicar General for the English in the Diocese and Archbishop Lamy's private secretary. Made major repairs to the Santuario: installed pitched roof, spire, mock-Gothic windows, and a 575-pound bell (blessed March 23, 1884 in the name of Our Lady of Guadalupe).
- Father LeGuillou (H. P. M. LeGuillou)1931–
Appointed pastor in 1931 when Our Lady of Guadalupe returned to full-fledged parish status after serving as an auxiliary to the Cathedral. Served a 'memorable tenure' through the post-fire era.
- Rev. Tien-Tri Nguyen2005–present
Current pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish; received the Santuario de Guadalupe back from the Guadalupe Historic Foundation in 2005; led the 2006 re-dedication by Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan and chose the theme 'Rediscover the Soul of Santa Fe' to describe the community.