Mount Cristo Rey Pilgrimage Officially Cancelled

Those who were counting for Mount Cristo Rey to be reopened in time for the annual pilgrimage scheduled for October 25 to take place will have to make other plans as organizers announced the cancellation of this year’s event.  As of now, an alternate date has not been announced and it is quite possible that the next pilgrimage won’t be held until October of 2021.

Officials with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Las Cruces and the Mount Cristo Rey Restoration Committee made the decision in light of the rapidly increasing COVID number in the area.  The fact that thousands of people typically take part of the pilgrimage would make it difficult if not impossible to ensure that proper social distancing would take place.

As it is, Mount Cristo Rey has already been closed for several months but no doubt many were hoping that the pandemic situation would be contained enough by now to allow for this event which is sacred to some people to take place.

The holidays are also fast approaching, and the pattern has been that of a surge in positive cases after a holiday.  If the El Paso area can get a handle on the rising COVID numbers prior to Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas/Hanukkah, etc. hopefully events such as the Cristo Rey pilgrimage and others that have been a staple of life for El Pasoans can resume.  I think it’s safe to say that we’re all weary of “these uncertain times” and long for a return to simple, precedented, times.