Saint Juan Diego

Saint Juan Diego, patron saint of indigenous people, is a symbol of the value and power of the immigrant. In December 1531, the Blessed Mother appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City and asked him to deliver a message to the Bishop. At that time, the indigenous people of Mexico were mistreated and disrespected. The Bishop did not believe that the Blessed Mother would appear to Juan Diego. He demanded proof. As a sign of proof, roses bloomed on the hill where the Blessed Mother first appeared to Juan Diego. He filled his tilma with the roses and raced back to the Bishop. When he emptied the roses from his tilma onto the ground, the image of the Blessed Mother was imprinted on his tilma. Now believing Juan Diego, the Bishop carried out the message that the Blessed Mother had given to Juan Diego and built the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. To this day, Saint Juan Diego’s tilma with Her image is preserved and displayed there.

Although almost 500 years have passed since Saint Juan Diego’s miraculous encounter with the Blessed Mother, the indigenous and the immigrant are still marginalized. As a school, San Juan Diego Academy embraces the immigrant, celebrates their culture, and educates them to succeed. The Blessed Mother used Saint Juan Diego to carry out God’s will, and we know that our students are worthy of that opportunity as well. That is why our mission is to educate students of immigrant families in the Catholic faith to be respectful, responsible, dependable, and aspire to graduate from high school, pursue higher education, and heaven. ¡Sí, se puede!