Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
"Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, known locally as La Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe,[1] is a church building in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. The church has been called "one of the most endearing" of the city's landmarks.[1] It is open daily, with services in English available on Saturdays and mass in both Spanish and English on Sundays.
"The church tower is topped with a wrought-iron crown hoisted by angels designed to resemble one worn by Empress Carlota of Mexico." (link 1.)
Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Entrance
"Perto Vallarta's Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) is a city icon, it dominates Vallarta's downtown skyline and is one of the favorite symbols and landmarks of the city, not only in photos but also shirts, logos and postcards.
"...one of the most important city monuments and the spiritual center of the Catholics in town (religion in Vallarta).
"
There is always activity around and within the church, the church bells are rung by the sextants 30 and 15 minutes prior to each service, but it reaches almost a level of frenzy in the 12 days of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Festival (also known as Feast of Guadalupe), held every year from December 1st to the 12th.
"During these festivities you'll notice a mix of both traditional Christian and Aztec motifs, young warriors dance in the streets, processions advance through the streets and include lots of banners, music, singing, and colorfully decorated floats mainly with scenes that include the Virgin and Juan Diego, commemorating the miraculous apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe to the Indian peasant called Juan Diego on December 12th, 1531. These festivities are attended by tens of thousands, locals and visitors.
"The foundations of the church were started in 1903, but at the time there was already a small chapel there dedicated to Virgin Guadalupe. In 1915 father Francisco Ayala arrived and he, with foresight, suggested that a bigger temple than the one that had been designed be built instead.
Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Interior
Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Altar
"... existing foundations were strengthened and finished by 1917, including the main pillars and walls. Construction really started earnestly in the early 1920s around the still functioning chapel, including the blessing of the "eucaristía", the main bell. The official start date, celebrated at the church each year with a mass, is October 12, 1921.
"Construction work halted completely in 1926 when a conflict between church and state escalated to outright war, known as the Cristero War, which ended in 1929.
"Church construction started in 1930 with the beginning of the dome. By 1940 the entire building was finished, except the two towers.
"December 12, 1951, the chancel and the Hammond organ installed in it were used for the first time (notice the date). The father at that time, Rafael Parra wanted the main tower finished at that date, but this wouldn't be the case until
1952.
Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Crown at Night
"The crown" the Parish, what better t han a crown. It was placed on the main tower in 1965 (based on the city historian, Carlos Munguía Fregoso) and was sketched by the priest Rafael Parra Castillo, the same person who designed the tower. The original crown was designed and sculpted by José Esteban Ramírez Guareño in 1965.
"The crown IS NOT, as normally found online, a replica of one supposedly worn by Carlota, the mistress of Emperor Maximilian in the 1800's, which furthermore - as explained on the Parish website - only would have been a tiara based on her hierarchy within the nobility.
Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Tower At Night
"...finally finished in 1987 and what we know as the Our Lady of Guadalupe church was finally ready.
"The church itself, not a cathedral, as many name it (it's not presided by a Bishop), is not really a sophisticated architectural design, it's a mix of styles that is result of the different parish priests' tastes and ideas that appeared along the way, elements are neoclassic, like the main building, the crown is reminiscent of baroque European temples, the side towers have a renaissance touch, and so on. "(Link 2.)
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Photos: Taken in November 2019 by Amy Wilson while on holiday in
Puerta Vallarta, Mexico. Thank you.
(Also see Blog Post 12/1/13 with photos by Suzanne Wilson.)
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