Video: Our 2023 coverage of the walk to El Santuario de Chimayó.
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) — Holy week runs from April 13 to 20 this year. Here in New Mexico, residents are getting ready for the Good Friday pilgrimages to El Santuario de Chimayó and Tomé Hill.
What you need to know below:
El Santuario de Chimayó
Santa Fe County announced on Monday over 30 public safety agencies are preparing for more than 30,000 pilgrims to make the trek to El Santuario de Chimayó, a church about 30 minutes from Santa Fe.
Some of those agencies include the Santa Fe County Fire Department, the Santa Fe County Office of Emergency Management, and the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.
This year’s pilgrimage is scheduled for Friday, April 18, and runs through Easter weekend. Pilgrims, or “peregrinos,” taking part in the walk are encouraged to develop pre-planned routes, check-in locations, and pre-arranged pick-up/drop-off points. Cell phone service could be limited, depending on the carrier.
Drivers can expect delays on major routes, such as Highway 84/285, NM Highway 503, Juan Medina Road to Chimayó, and State Road 76 from Española to Chimayó. Some of the involved law enforcement agencies include:
- Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office
- New Mexico State Police
- The Española Police Department
- Rio Arriba Sheriff’s Office
- Santa Fe City Police Department
- Tesuque and Pojoaque Police Departments
- Los Alamos Police Department
- The Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Santa Fe County Animal Control
- Firefighters from several departments
The Santuario de Chimayó is a Roman Catholic church and shrine that was originally built in the early 1800s. The church is just over 25 miles away from Santa Fe.
Tomé Hill
Three crosses sit on a hill at Tomé Hill Park in Los Lunas. Every year on Good Friday, people make the trek up to that spot for the annual pilgrimage.
Tomé Hill pilgrims are asked to follow the rules below:
- No animals are allowed on the hill on Good Friday. This includes, not limited to, dogs, cats, horses, sheep and goats.
- Show respect for the sight by limiting the use of cell phones and other electronic devices.
- Do not leave additional crosses on the hill. Any crosses left will be removed by the land grant personnel.
- Use caution when going up and down the hill. The Town of Tome Land Grant is not responsible for any injuries sustained while on or around the hill.
- Vendors of any kind are not allowed on or near the hill and will be asked to leave by Land Grant personnel.
- Please keep the site clean by using trash cans.