Sep 7, 2026
Back to Galleries
Faithful of all ages arrived at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026, the vigil day before the annual feast of Our Lady of Charity, Sept. 8. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day.
This year marks the 65th anniversary since her image, a symbol of the Virgin Mary's enduring love, arrived from Cuba to Miami.
Before placing her own flowers, Melet Bustillo looks excitedly at all of the flowers gifted to the Virgin Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami Sept. 7, 2026.
Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion to her, visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8. This year marks the 65th anniversary since her image, a symbol of the Virgin Mary's enduring love, arrived from Cuba to Miami.
Pilgrims take photos with an image of the Virgin Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Pilgrims placed flowers near the image of the Virgin Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Faithful of all ages arrive to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026, the vigil day before the annual feast of Our Lady of Charity, Sept. 8.
Pilgrims gather for a moment of prayer at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Pilgrims light candles at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Iraida Lopez and Raynier Martinez stand with their daughter Natalia after visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami (seen left in the background) on Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Pilgrims visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026 select from sunflowers, yellow roses, yellow margaritas, and yellow chrysanthemums to place before the statue of the Virgin Mary. The color yellow is customarily associated with Our Lady of Charity, and her shrines are often adorned with yellow flowers.
Lauren Almeida (center), who manages Floreria "El Cobre" at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami, with her grandmother Ida Elena Garcia (left), helps pilgrims make floral decisions on Sept. 7, 2026. Pilgrims visiting the shrine often place flowers before the statue of the Virgin Mary.
Lauren Almeida (center), who manages Floreria "El Cobre" at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami, poses outside of her flower shop on Sept. 7, 2026. Pilgrims visiting the shrine often place flowers before the statue of the Virgin Mary.
Dayanara Guerra carries one-and-a-half year-old Briana
during their visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026.
A volunteer from the gift shop at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami restocks fans displaying the image of Our Lady of Charity, as pilgrims browse tables of religious items on Sept. 7, 2026.
A woman hands off her flowers to a volunteer to place them at the feet of the image of the Virgin Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami Sept. 7, 2026.
Pilgrims visited, prayed, and gifted flowers to the Virgin Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Various images of Our Lady of Charity were displayed for purchase at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami Sept. 7, 2026.
Pilgrims leave flowers as a sign of respect for the Virgin Mary Sept. 7, 2026, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami. A message is displayed on the wall: "Dios: Patria Y Vida" (God: Country and Life), accompanied by an image of the Virgin Mary standing between the Cuban and U.S. flags.
Volunteers rearrange the abundance of flowers placed at the feet of the image of Our Lady of Charity at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami Sept. 7, 2026.
A statue of Miami Auxiliary Bishop Agustín Román can be found looking out over the bay in Miami at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. The Cuban-born and exiled Bishop Román was the founding rector of the shrine, and also served as auxiliary bishop of Miami, becoming the first Cuban bishop ordained in the U.S.
Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion to her, visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8. This year marks the 65th anniversary since her image, a symbol of the Virgin Mary's enduring love, arrived from Cuba to Miami.
Pilgrims take photos with an image of the Virgin Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Pilgrims placed flowers near the image of the Virgin Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Faithful of all ages arrive to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026, the vigil day before the annual feast of Our Lady of Charity, Sept. 8.
Pilgrims gather for a moment of prayer at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Pilgrims light candles at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Iraida Lopez and Raynier Martinez stand with their daughter Natalia after visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami (seen left in the background) on Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Pilgrims visiting the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026 select from sunflowers, yellow roses, yellow margaritas, and yellow chrysanthemums to place before the statue of the Virgin Mary. The color yellow is customarily associated with Our Lady of Charity, and her shrines are often adorned with yellow flowers.
Lauren Almeida (center), who manages Floreria "El Cobre" at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami, with her grandmother Ida Elena Garcia (left), helps pilgrims make floral decisions on Sept. 7, 2026. Pilgrims visiting the shrine often place flowers before the statue of the Virgin Mary.
Lauren Almeida (center), who manages Floreria "El Cobre" at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami, poses outside of her flower shop on Sept. 7, 2026. Pilgrims visiting the shrine often place flowers before the statue of the Virgin Mary.
Dayanara Guerra carries one-and-a-half year-old Briana
during their visit to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026.
A volunteer from the gift shop at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami restocks fans displaying the image of Our Lady of Charity, as pilgrims browse tables of religious items on Sept. 7, 2026.
A woman hands off her flowers to a volunteer to place them at the feet of the image of the Virgin Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami Sept. 7, 2026.
Pilgrims visited, prayed, and gifted flowers to the Virgin Mary at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami on Sept. 7, 2026. Our Lady of Charity is known as the patroness of Cuba, and many Cubans living in Miami maintain a devotion, with thousands visiting the shrine year-round, especially during the days leading to her annual feast day, Sept. 8.
Various images of Our Lady of Charity were displayed for purchase at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami Sept. 7, 2026.
Pilgrims leave flowers as a sign of respect for the Virgin Mary Sept. 7, 2026, at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami. A message is displayed on the wall: "Dios: Patria Y Vida" (God: Country and Life), accompanied by an image of the Virgin Mary standing between the Cuban and U.S. flags.
Volunteers rearrange the abundance of flowers placed at the feet of the image of Our Lady of Charity at The National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity in Miami Sept. 7, 2026.
A statue of Miami Auxiliary Bishop Agustín Román can be found looking out over the bay in Miami at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity. The Cuban-born and exiled Bishop Román was the founding rector of the shrine, and also served as auxiliary bishop of Miami, becoming the first Cuban bishop ordained in the U.S.
Photography: Cristina Cabrera Jarro | FC
