NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Every year on Good Friday, many New Mexicans make the annual pilgrimage to El Santuario de Chimayó and Tomé Hill. This year, Good Friday falls on March 29.
El Santuario de Chimayó Pilgrimage
The New Mexico Department of Transportation met with local emergency response personnel to prepare for pilgrimage and ensure all people are safe while participating. The majority of people walk along roads, including US 84/285, which goes From Santa Fe to Española, through Pojoaque and Nambé. Located between Santa Fe and Taos, the Santuario de Chimayó is considered a sacred pilgrimage site. Many people make the journey for the ‘Tierra Bendita,’ or holy dirt there.
NMDOT says crews will take the following steps to ensure everyone makes it to and from their destination safely.
Crews will set up traffic control devices and pedestrian walking signs.
Walkers will be guided to the on/off ramps at interchanges between Santa Fe and Cuyamungue.
At the Cuyamungue Interchange, orange barrels and signage will guide the walkers away from the mainline and onto the east frontage road.
Temporary stop signs will be placed at interchange locations to allow walkers to pass.
All cattle guards along the routes will be covered.
Additional signage and electronic message boards will also be placed along parts of N.M. 76 and N.M. 503 to alert motorists of the high volume of pedestrians on the roadway.
Portable light plants will be placed in the area of the Pojoaque Wellness Center, and the intersections of N.M. 503 and CR 84; N.M. 503 and CR 98; N.M. 103 and N.M. 76 and on N.M. 76 at mile marker 8 (Apple Shed) to provide additional lighting for those walking at night.
There will be trash receptacles along all traditional walking paths.
Tomé Hill Pilgrimage
People take the pilgrimage up Tomé Hill to reach three crosses that sit on top of the hill. Tomé Hill is located south of Valencia.
Tomé Hill pilgrims are asked to follow the rules below:
No animals are allowed on the hill on Good Friday. This includes, not limited to, dogs, cats, horses, sheep and goats.
Show respect for the sight by limiting the use of cell phones and other electronic devices.
Do not leave additional crosses on the hill. Any crosses left will be removed by the land grant personnel.
Use caution when going up and down the hill. The Town of Tome Land Grant is not responsible for any injuries sustained while on or around the hill.
Vendors of any kind are not allowed on or near the hill and will be asked to leave by Land Grant personnel.
Please keep the site clean by using trash cans.
