Congregants at a Catholic church in Las Vegas, Nevada, are convinced they experienced a divine miracle during a recent holiday service, after a human face seemingly formed in the wrinkled fabric near the altar.
The Moment the Congregation Erupted
The event unfolded at St Thomas More Catholic Church during a mass celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. Father Edmund Nnadozie was delivering his sermon when the attention of the congregation shifted dramatically. Parishioners erupted, claiming to see a distinct face materialise in the folds of a cloth draped over a pedestal holding a statue of the Virgin Mary.
Attendee Ben Yzaguirre captured photographs of the phenomenon. He told local broadcaster Fox5 Vegas: 'I believe it's a miracle, a sign from heaven. It's beautiful to see, and I'm glad I was able to be a part of that.' The images quickly spread across social media, where other worshippers who were present shared their awe. 'I was there at this Mass. Miracles happen,' one user posted on X.
Faith Versus Pareidolia
While the faithful hailed the occurrence, sceptics were quick to offer a scientific explanation. Many online commentators suggested the congregation experienced pareidolia – the common psychological phenomenon where the brain perceives familiar patterns, like faces, in random stimuli.
However, Father Nnadozie emphasised the timing and circumstances made the event profoundly significant. He noted that roughly 800 people were present and that no one had touched the fabric. 'I looked at it, I'm like, 'Oh, wait a minute,' I looked at it again, and that was the face of, you know, it's Our Lady,' he said. The priest suggested it could be a message: 'I think maybe Our Lady was sending a message to us, 'Hey, I'm still around, I know today is a celebration of my day, and I can still show myself.''
Echoes of a Historic Miracle
The perceived miracle powerfully echoes the original story of Our Lady of Guadalupe. That event dates to 1531 in Mexico, when the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to an indigenous man, Juan Diego. As proof for a doubting bishop, an image of Mary miraculously appeared on his simple cloak, or tilma, which he had used to carry roses.
That original tilma, displayed in Mexico City, has baffled scientists for centuries due to its unexplained preservation and the mystery of the image's creation. For the Las Vegas worshippers, the appearance of a face on cloth during her feast day feels like a direct connection to this centuries-old story of faith and wonder.
Yzaguirre reflected that the experience's impact extended beyond the church walls. 'Sometimes the world or the community needs these things as well, and it's not just for us to keep to ourselves,' he said. Father Nnadozie concluded with a simple, powerful statement: 'God chooses when a miracle happens, and a miracle can happen in Las Vegas.'
