Hometown of faith
Since 1855, each January 14th, the Divina Pastora (Holy Mary) statue is carried by men and women believers from the Santa Rosa church to the Metropolitan Cathedral in Barquisimeto (a walk of approximately 8.5 km). It is one of the largest catholic pilgrimages in the world. More than 2 million people attend this procession.
I grew up in Barquisimeto, Venezuela in the middle of a catholic family and this is why the question of faith is particularly important to me. From 2014 I am documenting all the process of the most important day in my hometown. I wanted my project "Hometown of faith" to document those particular moments lost in the middle of the crowd kept through 160 years of sacred, honest and spontaneous spiritual experience through the Divina Pastora virgin procession.
Pilgrims sleep outside the church the night before the 8 km walk from the village church until the Cathedral. Barquisimeto. Venezuela.
Pilgrims praying in front of the Holy Mary image inside Santa Rosa church. Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
A group of people watch the holy mother image. Barquisimeto. Venezuela.
Believers around the Holy Mary image inside the church of the village a night before the pilgrimage. Barquisimeto. Venezuela.
A catholic believer wears as the Holy Mary image. Barquisimeto Venezuela
Candles lighted by catholic pilgrims. Barquisimeto, Venezuela
A woman inside her house in Santa Rosa village. Barquisimeto. Venezuela
Woman talks with a cancer patient around a confessional. Barquisimeto. Venezuela
Catholic and Holy Mary souvenir store. Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Stand with Holy Mary and religious items. Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Believers carry on the Holy Mother image. Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Believers carry on the Holy Mother image during the procession. Barquisimeto, Venezuela