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On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Tradition in Action hosted a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Bethlehem at Mission Carmel, the 2^nd Mission established by Frey Junípero Serra in 1770. The life size statue of Nuestra Señora de Belén accompanied Fr. Serra on the Holy Expedition of 1769, when the coast of Alta California was conquered for God and Catholic Spain. She stands 5' 2” – the same height as Fr. Serra – and is the oldest Marian statue in California, and the second oldest statue of Our Lady in the United States.

The grand Basilica San Carlos Borromeo was graciously opened to our more than 100 pilgrims from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so that we could assist at a Holy Mass, pray the Rosary before Our Lady of Bethlehem and serenade the Queen of Heaven and her Divine Infant. This allowed the pilgrims also to spend time in prayer before her in the side chapel dedicated to her.

Afterwards we lunched in the Carmel Shared Space Meeting Room. Shorts talks were given by Fr. Jacob Hsieh and Mr. Nicholas Bassirpour on the history of Our Lady of Bethlehem and her special role – past and future – in California.

The next morning pilgrims met again at the lovely Carmel Beach for a Rosary walk, as we processed up the hill where the first Cross was placed in northern California during the 1769 overland expedition that sought to find Monterey Bay.

We invite you to accompany us on our blessed pilgrimage days.

The procession

The morning of August 19, 2025, found the group of pilgrims gathering at the Mission Ranch Hotel ground, prepared to begin the short quarter-mile march up the hill to the Carmel Mission grounds.




The Mass

Pilgrims processed through the Our Lady of Bethlehem side chapel into the magnificently restored San Carlos Basilica. Under a moving Crucifixion scene in the reredo’s center, Fr. Jacob said the ancient Premonstratensian Rite, used by the Norbertine Order from the 12^th century, which its priests are still allowed to say as a privilege of the Order.


In his sermon Fr. Jacob told how the date of the pilgrimage providentially fell on the 19^th of the month, which was a special day for the Franciscans and especially for Fr. Serra.

During the difficult beginning days, the Expedition was also abandoned: On the expedition north Governor Portola and Fr. Crespi had been unable to discover Monterey Bay, and there was not sufficient food to continue. The supply ship had eluded the because of lack of supplies.

Fr. Serra begged that the date of departure for Mexico be delayed until March 19^th, the feast of St. Joseph, patron of the Expedition. Before sunset on the 19^th the supply ship was sighted and the Expedition was saved.

For the rest of his life Fr. Serra celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving on the 19^th of each month.

From Heaven the Saint was surely pleased to see essentially the same Mass he would have said being celebrated on the Altar of the Sanctuary where his remains are buried.

Rosary & serenade


After the Mass, pilgrims entered the Our Lady of Bethlehem Chapel to recite the Rosary and chant the Litany of Loreto.  Then, small groups came and went, so all might have a special time before the Holy Virgin of Bethlehem during the Serenade.

Many of the pilgrims stated that this times in front of the Virgen de Belem were the most moving moments of the pilgrimage, for the statue seemed to come alive and her expression would change.

The talks

One of the great gifts given to the pilgrims who traveled so far to see Our Lady of Bethlehem – most coming from San Diego and Los Angeles & a group from Dallas – was the lunch provided by Carmel’s Miss Barbara Dimond.

When Barbara heard about the pilgrimage, she asked, “What are you doing for lunch that day?” The answer was that each pilgrim had to find their own meal or snack before we reconvened in the Carmel Meeting Space in town, a few miles from the Mission.

“Absolutely not,” she responded. “Carmel must offer hospitality. I will provide the lunch for all.” And this is what she so kindly did in the same Meeting Space. There were sandwiches, wraps, fruit and vegetable plates, as well as water and drinks. She and Mr. Clark Herbert, another Carmel resident and member of the Mission parish, each addressed the group, welcoming us and providing interesting information on the parish history.

This warm welcome from Carmel parishioners was followed by talks given by Fr. Jacob and Mr. Nicholas Bassirpour.

Fr. Jacob set out the history of Our Lady of Bethlehem, explaining how she accompanied Fr. Serra throughout his life as he established the first nine Carmel Missions until his death On August 28, 1784, at age 70.

Mr. Bassirpour emphasized the role of Our Lady of Bethlehem and the missions for our times. The Missions are not relics of the past, of what could have been, but a message for the future. It is a preview of the glory that we pray Our Lady will one day establish in California, a seed planted that needs to be nourished so that it might give the fruit God desires.

One way to pursue this noble aim is to foster devotion to Our Lady of Bethlehem, who has been here from the beginning when the first Catholic roots were established in these lands.

Let us, then, all maintain hope and fervor for this land,  for Our Lady of Bethlehem who holds the key to the future and who will direct the way for those who turn to her with hope and confidence.

A question and answer session with Fr. Jacob, Mr. Bassirpour and Dr. Horvat, who introduced the speakers and related several of the interesting California Mission legends (which you can read here, here, and here)

She and Mrs. Judy Mead, who was present for the pilgrimage with several friends from Dallas, are the authors of the first book written about the statue, titled Discovering Our Lady of Bethlehem: Her journey with Fr. Serra, which you can purchase here.



To be continued

Volume I	Volume II	Volume III
Volume IV	Volume V	Volume VI
Volume VII	Volume VIII	Volume IX
Volume X	Volume XI	Special Edition

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