Felipe Torres Hurtado, the head of the Apostolic Administration of Baja California, wanted to bring more people of the Franciscan order into Ensenada to improve the culture and religion of the area.

The other side of the nave, facing St. Sexta was built and then converted into a movie theater to raise money for construction.

However, they were unable to raise enough money in time, so they had to build the Guadalupan Hall to project 16 mm films.

Benjamín Orozco, working on much of the interior, adding black marble pieces, the altar and altarpiece, stained glass windows, and baptismal font.

The towers were blessed by Cardinal Sebastiano Baggio, accompanied by Archbishop Girolamo Prigione and Bishop Emilio Carlos Berlie Belaunzarán on November 9, 1984.

[2] The Diocese of Ensenada was split from the Archdiocese of Tijuana in 2007,[3] resulting in the Sanctuary's status being elevated into a Cathedral in a celebration taking place on May 23.

[2] In 2011, some of Pope John Paul II's relics, including a capsule of his blood, visited the cathedral as a part of a tour throughout Mexico.

[1] José Lizaola made five paintings of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the church, taking inspiration from the Nican Mopohua.