During a mass celebrated at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Las Vegas, Nevada, numerous parishioners claimed to have witnessed an event they describe as miraculous. The incident occurred on December 12, during the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, when attendees reported the appearance of a human face in a fabric placed on a pedestal holding an image of the Virgin.
Testimonies from Those Present
Ben Yzaguirre, one of the witnesses, told local media: «I believe it is a miracle, a sign from Heaven. It is beautiful to see, and I am glad to have been part of it.» Other parishioners shared similar experiences on social media, with comments like «I was there at this mass. Miracles happen.» Father Edmund Nnadozie, who officiated the celebration, confirmed that approximately 800 people witnessed the phenomenon without anyone manipulating the fabric.
Religious Context and Historical Parallel
The event has been compared to the Guadalupan tradition originating in 1531, when according to Catholic devotion, the Virgin Mary appeared to the indigenous Juan Diego on the hill of Tepeyac, Mexico. In that foundational account, the image of the Virgin was imprinted on Juan Diego’s tilma as a supernatural sign. Father Nnadozie linked both events, suggesting that «perhaps Our Lady was sending us a message: ‘Hey, I’m still here, I know today is the celebration of my day, and I can still show myself.'»
Reactions and Pastoral Significance
While some skeptics attribute the phenomenon to pareidolia—the psychological tendency to recognize faces in random patterns—or to group influence, the parish community has received it as a blessing. The priest emphasized that «God chooses when a miracle occurs, and a miracle can happen in Las Vegas,» adding that these events have a community significance that transcends the personal sphere. The news has circulated widely, accompanied by photographs showing the folds of the fabric where the faithful identify the face.
Original source: www.unilad.com (published on December 24, 2025)
Photo: John Schaidler on Unsplash
