At 69 years of age, Father Raymundo Reyna Esteban—better known as “Father Rayito”—completed the 31st edition of his Guadalupan pilgrimage, defying the wear of time and the hardships of life.

Speaking with emotion and a voice tinged with nostalgia, he recalled that he began the first pilgrimage at the age of 39, in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. His goal was to replicate a tradition more commonly seen in southern Mexico, where faith is expressed with deeper devotion through pilgrimages involving hundreds of worshippers who visit Marian shrines such as San Juan de los Lagos and Talpa, among others.

Moved by personal initiative and as an act of faith and devotion, Father Rayito launched the pilgrimage 31 years ago across various municipalities in Baja California, seeking to help the faithful understand the spiritual meaning of the Christian journey.

“There were criticisms—Father Rayito isn’t always well received—but we must live as we preach. Difficult times are coming, and the only thing that can sustain us is prayer and sacrifice. What have I felt? I’ve felt the body grow weaker, but I repeat: it is the heart that lifts you up,” the priest said.

He noted that the number of pilgrims walking alongside him has not declined. On weekdays, as many as 80 worshippers join him along the different routes, with the largest turnout taking place on the final day, when the pilgrimage concludes at Monte María in the 3 de Octubre neighborhood of Tijuana.

The priest said his motivation to continue this long-standing pilgrimage comes from the encouragement of the faithful and from witnessing new generations take part—young people walking the routes, entire families participating, and women who once prayed for the miracle of conceiving and later experienced the tangible miracle of life in their wombs.

“It’s truly inspiring. People become enthusiastic, and that also gives you strength. New generations are coming—there’s a young man who was once a child pilgrim; his mother carried him in her womb, later pushed him in a stroller, and now he walks alongside his siblings. In the Venustiano Carranza area, I have many godchildren who are now between 15 and 27 years old, all conceived by the grace of God,” he shared.

The pilgrimage, which takes place in Tijuana and Tecate and extends from Primo Tapia to downtown Rosarito, remains deeply rooted among the faithful. Participants fulfill religious promises, offer thanksgiving for blessings received, or pray for specific intentions.

“God’s works will always be challenged,” the priest reflected, quoting Father Charles Murr. “On one side is God, and on the other is the devil. We have also had many different experiences.”

Over the past 31 years, Father Rayito and his companions say they have encountered paranormal experiences along the journey. He described sensing souls lingering along the roadside—some seeking only prayers to help them leave the earthly plane.

Among the experiences he recalled was an incident in Puerto Nuevo, where a woman wearing a pink blouse and black pants asked to use the portable restroom in the pilgrims’ support vehicle. When she did not come out, they knocked on the door to check on her. The door opened, and no one was inside. He said this is just one of several encounters with spirits along the highways as the group walks, praying, reciting the rosary, and singing hymns to Our Lady of Guadalupe.

In closing, the priest urged the Catholic community to remain steadfast in prayer. “Our point of reference must always be Jesus Christ. Everything we do for the Kingdom of God will be rewarded. In these difficult times, we must remain in prayer—the Holy Mass and the Holy Rosary should never be neglected.”