History

History of Guadalupe House

Built mostly in the nineteenth century, according to old town maps, some of the building dates to the early 1700s or before. This historic home is located across the doorstep from the Presbyter to tell the pastor the name of the beautiful lady appearing to her in the Grotto. When Bernadette exclaimed to Père Peyramale “I am the Immaculate Conception,” the Pastor realized it was the Mother of God who was requesting Bernadette to ask for a chapel and for people to come in procession on pilgrimage.

Today, pilgrims from all over the world retrace the footsteps of St. Bernadette who surely passed by both the front and back of Guadalupe House to “go tell the priests” and ultimately to reveal the name of the most beautiful lady in the Grotto.

Before acquiring the property, the North American volunteers in service named it
Guadalupe House, honoring the Patroness of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadalupe,
befitting the first American Lourdes Hospitality. Purchased in 2004 through a generous private interest-free loan, a decade later and mortgage-free, development of dreamed
renovation plans began. As originally hoped, the two car-length garage named after the saint to whom Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared, Juan Diego, was redesigned as a private residence for priest-chaplains.

The Renovation and Restoration Plan includes both structures, the exterior courtyard and entry. The house is need of major repairs and modern updates honoring the historic charm and legal preservation requirements.