Governor signs bill into law formally recognizing Virgen del Pozo 10K

The Virgen del Pozo 10K Marathon, held every third Sunday of May since 1954, is considered Puerto Rico’s oldest continuous long-distance road race. (Facebook via ATT Runner)

By THE STAR STAFF

Gov. Jenniffer González Colón has signed into law a measure designating the third Sunday of May as National Virgen del Pozo (Virgin of the Well) Marathon Day, formalizing recognition of the long-running 10-kilometer race held annually in Sabana Grande.

The Roman Catholic Church has never acknowledged the validity of the apparition that inspired the event.

The bill, House Bill 694, authored by District 21 Rep. Omayra M. Martínez Vázquez, is now Act 23‑2026. It mandates that the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, along with the Municipality of Sabana Grande, develop and promote a marketing campaign to highlight the marathon’s cultural and touristic significance. Both entities endorsed the measure, calling the race an important symbol of local identity and a driver of cultural, athletic and religious tourism.

The Virgen del Pozo 10K Marathon, held every third Sunday of May since 1954, is considered Puerto Rico’s oldest continuous long-distance road race. Its origins trace back to the alleged apparition of the Virgin Mary seen by three children near a well in the Rincón sector of Sabana Grande, where she reportedly identified herself as Our Lady of the Rosary. For many believers, the story has long served as a symbol of faith and spiritual protection.

However, the Catholic church has consistently maintained that the promoters of devotion to the Virgen del Pozo are not an officially recognized church group. The governor said in a statement that she is a devotee of the Virgen del Pozo.

In a warning circulated back in 2007 within the archdiocese, church officials underscored that the association linked to the Sabana Grande apparition has never been recognized by ecclesiastical authorities. Citing documents from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Puerto Rico Bishops’ Conference, the archdiocese reaffirmed that the group’s practices and leadership have been formally disapproved.

Church authorities cautioned believers against devotions rooted in unverified revelations, noting they pose “great risk” to proper religious practice when not guided by church teaching or ecclesiastical approval. Priests were instructed to educate parishioners about the matter and dissuade them from joining the association, referencing long-standing pastoral guidelines that require parish approval for any devotional visits or images entering a community.

The archdiocese urged clergy to seek guidance from the archbishop, auxiliary bishop, or vicar general when dealing with uncommon or questionable devotions to prevent inappropriate religious practices and preserve authentic Catholic devotion.

Despite the church’s stance, the newly enacted law elevates the visibility of the Sabana Grande marathon, underscoring both its historic roots and its importance to the southwestern town’s cultural identity.