LOS ANGELES — Jorge Duron brought a bouquet of flowers to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe because he said she always guides him and his family and takes care of them.

Duron was one of many Catholics who visited images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego, which have been blessed by the pope, at Winnetka. The images are making a tour through cemeteries and parishes throughout the tri-county archdiocese of Los Angeles. The tour of the images started on Catalina Island on Oct. 22, and at every stop, they are honored with dancing, music and prayer.

Duron said it is an opportunity to ask for blessings and miracles. He typically asks for protection over his family. The sacred images are an exact digital reproduction of the originals kept at the basilica in Mexico City. 

Catholics believe the images of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the basilica in Mexico are proof the miraculous appearance to Juan Diego, a man of Aztec descent, 500 years ago.

“We don’t actually worship Mary, we venerate her. We honor her. God alone do we worship so there’s that misconception sometimes but in actuality we ask her to pray for us and intercede on our behalf,” said Father Beto Villalobos, who is the priest at St. Joseph.

For Duron who has volunteered to lead the church choir for more than 20 years, his performance is especially important because he is not only performing for his fellow parishioners but for Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego.